They met with Edith Strong on the terrace of the retirement home. While the temperature was high, there was a slight breeze and sitting in the shade proved comfortable.
As Michelle predicted, Edith was delighted to have them visit. When Penny expressed curiosity about her wheelchair, she invited her into her lap and gave her a ride around the terrace.
“Another vehicle with no roof,” Josh said softly to Michelle as they watched the two enjoying themselves.
“I told you Mrs. Strong would like Penny. And from the look on the faces of some of the other residents, I bet they all are delighted to have her here.”
A few minutes later, Josh began his questions. Michelle was surprised at all Mrs. Strong remembered, and how much she knew about her family.
At one point, the older woman looked at her as if picking up on that surprise. “Your grandmother and I were best friends before she interfered in your mother’s life. I disapproved and our friendship cooled. But there’s no truth to the rumor that elderly people forget things. I’m as sharp as I ever was. As was Eugenia, until the end, right?”
Michelle nodded, intrigued by the glimpses of her own life when she was a baby. Caroline had said their father loved their mother, but it seemed more real when Edith Strong talked about their obvious love for each other.
The old sense of loss rose when she heard again how her grandmother had manipulated her daughter’s life in such a cruel fashion. Had Eugenia Talmadge not interfered, Michelle’s life might have been vastly different.
As they walked back to the car an hour later, Michelle’s desire to find her father was strengthened. She wanted to know what he’d done with his life over the years. To discover if he was in need, or had moved on and made a new life for himself.
Josh lifted Penny over the side of the red car and set her on the car seat, then opened the door for Michelle.
“You okay, babe?”
She nodded. “I will be once you find my father. It’s so sad, isn’t it. They were so in love and to be separated like that. You know, my sisters and I have a theory that when our mother got sick, she just gave up. I wonder what would have happened if she hadn't died. Do you think she would have gone looking for him?”
“Yes.”
She stared at him hopefully. “Really?”
“Sure. You had to get your determination and perseverance from someone, probably your mother. If she’d lived, I bet she’d have discovered the deception your grandmother initiated and tracked down Sam to tell him everything.”
Michelle smiled, the ache in her heart easing a bit. “Thanks, Josh. I don’t know that for sure but it’s nice to hear.”
He placed a finger beneath her chin and raised her face, lowering his until Michelle could feel the puff of his breath against her cheeks. “Honey, I’m sorry today’s been tough. But we have some new clues. I’ll find your father.”
Nodding, Michelle couldn’t move.
Mesmerized by the look in his eyes, she remembered his blunt statement on the riverbank last weekend. Heat seeped into her, hotter than that from the sun. Why was being around this man enough to melt any common sense she possessed?
“And if you keep looking at me like that, I’ll move it to the number one priority at the agency.”
He brushed his lips across hers and then straightened.
“Wanna go for a ride!” Penny said impatiently.
“Okay, miss bossy,” Josh said with a laugh. Let’s go eat lunch and then Michelle can show us the old family homestead.”
“You want to see Talmadge Hall?” she asked in surprise. “Why? Do you think you can find some clue my father left, like an old letter in the crack of a tree?”
He grinned as he made sure Penny was fastened in securely. “Nope, just want to see where you were raised.” His gaze met hers. “Any problem with that?”
Secretly pleased, Michelle shook her head. She hadn’t missed Talmadge Hall a single day since she left. But if Josh wanted to see it, she didn’t mind.
Sated from lunch, they were all quiet as Josh drove down the wide drive that led to the antebellum home. The yard was kept up. Rosalee came by once a week to keep an eye on things. It was for sale, but taking a long time to sell.
The place had an air of desertion surrounding it, she noted, as he drove down the long driveway. The trees on either side were in full leaf, the Spanish moss heavy. There were dead leaves on the veranda, and a branch or two that had obviously fallen during a recent rainstorm. No one had lived in the house since they’d put it up for sale. It’d probably be another few days before the grounds keepers were back for the biweekly lawn mowing.
Taking her keys, Michelle let them into the old mansion. It smelled musty and stale. The place had been listed for sale for a couple of months, but Caroline said there’d been little interest.
“No wonder you don’t like my car, if this is where you were raised,” Josh said slowly, taking in the crystal chandelier, the fine furnishings and expensive paintings.
Michelle turned swiftly and crossed the entry to stand deliberately in front of him. “I might have judged your car hastily, Josh. Don’t make the same mistake about this house. It was a shrine for Eugenia Talmadge, but not a place to call home by her granddaughters.”
He put his big hands on her shoulders and drew her closer.
“Let’s shock your
