Jenny gripped Parker’s hand tighter. He moved subtly closer to her. It didn’t surprise him in the least that Dale, on her other side, did the same thing.
“It was clear there was nothing anyone could do for the injured young woman. Linda stayed with Jenny’s birth mother. She regained consciousness just before she died. She said her name was Mandy, and she begged Linda to take care of her baby. To see to it she found a good home for her. Linda asked her what her last name was—the woman hadn’t been carrying any identification. She said ‘Smith’. Linda questioned her on that, but Mandy shook her head and said it didn’t matter. And then she said something that frightened Linda, and me, when she shared it a few hours later. She said, ‘Don’t let my family have Marissa Jayne. They’ll kill her just like they’ve killed me.’ Linda tried to get her to explain, but she slipped into a coma, and then, a few minutes later, she was gone.
“At the time, I worked with the department of children’s services. Linda contacted me. I was able to check recent birth records and found a registration for a Marissa Jayne Smith, mother named Mandy. So, between us, we saw to it that the records showed that a Mandy Smith had died claiming no family, except for her infant daughter, who she asked Linda to care for. The other nurses present, who’d done their best to help the young woman, overheard the request, except they hadn’t caught the baby’s name.”
“You and Aunt Linda…circumvented the adoption process?” Jenny seemed to be having a hard time wrapping her head around what her mother was saying.
“I fell in love with you at first sight—as did your father. And, we were all afraid for you,” Camille said. “Linda said your birth mother was clearly terrified of her family. We didn’t know what she’d meant, and there was no time, really, to wait and see. We didn’t know if maybe whoever had struck Mandy had done so deliberately, and would come looking for you. So, we acted quickly…we falsified the adoption papers, and I immediately resigned from my job, without telling my supervisor anything. They didn’t know I now had a daughter. But in the end, as it turned out, no one came looking for you.” Camille closed her eyes then opened them again. “No one asked about you—until three months ago. Linda just found out the day I called you that someone had been asking about that accident and looking into the old files. A private investigator.”
“What do you mean…asking?” Jenny looked at Ari, and then she turned to look at him and then Dale. “Like…they were trying to find me?”
“Linda doesn’t know for certain. You know that she’s Director of Nursing now. She only learned of the inquiry by happenstance, when a colleague mentioned a private investigator had been asking questions. Linda couldn’t dig too deeply or ask too many questions without raising suspicion.”
“Your mother and I wanted you to know. To be aware, in case someone comes here, looking for you. Though I don’t know if anyone will. And I don’t know for certain if that person would be a danger to you, or not. If they would cause trouble for us because our adoption of you didn’t go through proper channels.”
“So, you have no idea if someone means Jenny harm. Just that they’re looking for her.” Parker kept his hand holding Jenny’s and his gaze on her parents.
“I know this is a mess,” Camille said. She looked at her daughter. “One of the reasons we wanted to come here was to meet your friends, to see your support group, face to face. You’re not alone, and that’s the biggest blessing of all.”
“Though I don’t know if anything can be done about this situation if someone does come here,” Jason said.
“Of course, something can be done.” Jackson looked at Parker then turned to address Jenny. “You know the way things are here, right?”
“Adam keeps a close eye on security,” Jenny said.
“Adam? I don’t think we’ve met him,” Camille said.
“Adam Kendall. He’s the sheriff. Long before we came to live here,” Jackson said, addressing Jenny’s parents, “Adam started keeping track of strangers who came to town. A few incidents had occurred when people’s lives had been at risk, so it seemed a wise thing to do. We witnessed this town’s response up close and personal when Ari was in danger. Everything is going to be okay.”
“I know there may be consequences to be faced, for the actions I took all those years ago.” Camille’s words, quiet yet certain, touched all of them. Jason slipped his arm around his wife.
“What actions?” Jackson asked.
“You’ve lost us.” Cord did a credible job of looking confused.
“Adopting a baby that had been left, orphaned and all alone in the world?” Trace said.
“A poor little baby girl with no one in the world to care for her and then giving that baby a loving family?” Addison looked around the table. Every Benedict Parker was related to did a damn fine job of appearing completely guileless.
Then everyone looked at the Collinses. They seemed to understand the message they’d just been sent.
“I…we don’t know what to say.” Jason tucked his wife in closer. Tears shimmered in his eyes. The man was clearly too choked up to say anything else.
“We’re all family, here,” Ari said.
“And this is Lusty.” Shar smiled.
“And Lusty takes care of her own.” Laci raised her coffee cup in a toast.
Jenny looked around the table. Parker read love and gratitude on her face. He squeezed
