Left Together (26 page)

“You’re
really okay?” Noah asks, relaxing.

“Yes,”
she assures her brother. He sits down next to her. “What’s going on?”

“Don’t
know.”

“My
phone is on the counter behind you,” she tells me. “Did Mary call me?”

I
check her phone. “No.”

Moments
later, the front door opens, then closes again. “Kacie?” Jade calls out.

“In
here!”

Jade,
Mary Spencer, and some guy file into the kitchen. “I’m glad you could make it,
Noah. I thought it would be best for you to be here for this,” the attorney
announces. I try to read her facial expression for a clue. She better not be in
this house to deliver bad news. Kacie doesn’t need that right now.

“What the
hell’s going on, Mary?” Noah searches for information, then looks at the
newcomer. “Who’s this?”

“I’m
sorry if I made you worry,” Mary tells him. “I didn’t mean to. This is an old
friend of mine, Andrew Grant. He and I have worked together on cases in the
past.”

“Mr.
Grant, this is Kacie Foster, her brother, Noah, and her boyfriend, Evan
Pierce,” Jade introduces. He acknowledges us with a nod of his head and a quick
hello. “Please, have a seat. Can I get anyone something to drink?” When my eyes
lock with Jade’s, she winks and gives me a small smile. She’d warn me if this
was bad, right?

Mary
kisses Kacie’s head and pats my arm before going to sit on the opposite side of
Noah. When they decline her offer, Jade takes the chair next to me and this guy
goes for the next spot. “Andrew is one of the best private investigators in the
state of Florida,” Mary says. “He’s a very busy man, so I only call on him when
it’s absolutely necessary.”

“Why
would I need a private investigator?” Kacie questions. I’m on the wrong side of
her because she can’t hold my hand this way, so I reach under the table and put
my hand on her leg.

“On my
way to check on you at the hospital last week, I went to speak to Sean Murphy
prior to him being released from custody. He said something that wasn’t sitting
well with me. Once I saw how your mother was acting, I was reminded of things
that have happened and it began to come together. I needed validation, and this
man is the only one who could get it for me,” Mary explains. “He was actually
able to come up with the proof faster than I thought. I knew you’d want to know
right away, which is why we rushed over unannounced.”

“Proof
of what?” Kacie cautiously asks.

Mary
motions to the stranger at the table. He opens the file sitting in front of him
and clears his throat. “I’ve been doing this job for a few decades, Ms. Foster,
and the only way to deliver a life-changing discovery like this is bluntly.”

Kacie
glances at Jade, then back to Mr. Grant. “Okay. What is it that you have to
tell me?”

Just
as he said he would, Andrew Grant spills his news as simple and direct as he
can. “Sophia Foster is not your biological mother.”

Kacie

Like
most kids and teenagers, I had gone through many dreams, goals, and things I
would’ve changed if only given the opportunity. Just about every girl I’ve met
wanted to be a singer or actress at one point in their lives. The fame and
fortune of it is way too enticing to ignore. Once I got into my early teens, I
realized I didn’t have enough talent to sing or act, so I thought maybe
something like modeling would be better. Wearing designer clothing and
strutting down a runway didn’t seem all that hard. The only problem with that
was unless I wanted to model kids’ clothing, my short stature wouldn’t allow me
to do that, either. Eventually, my sophomore year of high school rolled around
and the harsh reality that I’d have to pick a career which would require a
college education set in. That’s when the little voice in my head became louder
and reminded me how it had been telling me to teach for quite some time. My
goals were revised almost weekly and ranged from wanting to get a better grade
in some class only to show I was capable, improving my running or swimming time
over a certain distance, or seeing how far I could push my luck before getting
grounded, only to sneak out anyway. There were plenty of times I would have
given just about anything to change things such as my hair, my height, a
teacher, or even the boy who would follow me everywhere I went on the
playground. However, there was one thing that remained constant regardless of
my age, what I wanted to be when I grew up, how fast I made it to the opposite
end of the pool, or who my teacher was. I desperately wanted someone, anyone,
to tell me I was
not
Sophia Foster’s daughter.

After
twenty-two years of wishing, I had regretfully accepted the fact that her
tainted blood was running carelessly through my veins. Needless to say, hearing
someone tell me the exact opposite after all this time is more than
overwhelming. I always imagined what my reaction would be. Probably something
along the lines of jumping up and down excitedly, or screaming for joy. Right
this moment, though, I’m not doing anything. Perhaps it’s because I’m afraid to
believe it. If my heart allows even the smallest amount of hope and this turns
out to be false, the disappointment may be what sends me over the edge.

I can
feel five sets of eyes staring at me, waiting for the information to sink in.
No one says a word while I sit in front of them, trying to decide what to make
of my current situation. Hell, they may not even be breathing. Am
I
breathing? My focus is fixed on a random spot in the middle of the table. What
do I say? What do I want to know from this man who walked into my home and
threw my calm, ordinary day into a tailspin? Does he have all the answers? The
most important question finally comes to me. It’s about the person who has
meant the most to me since the day I was born.

“My
father?” I ask, directing my attention to the man with the folder.

He’s
not the one to respond because he wouldn’t know the answer I’m desperate to
hear. “Marie was your grandmother, Kacie,” Mary promises, easing my anxiety.

Feeling
life come back into my body, I begin to slowly sort through the questions in my
head, but decide it’s probably best to wait for him to give me all the
information he has. “Please tell me everything you know.”

Mr.
Grant unfolds his hands and shuffles around a few papers. He doesn’t waste time
diving right in. This guy is experienced at providing information quickly.
“Despite the perfect marriage Sam and Sophia Foster pretend to have, there has
been very little monogamy since their wedding day to as recently as two weeks
ago. You were the product of one of Dr. Foster’s affairs. At the time, your
father had just made partner in his practice. Sophia was not about to be
excluded from what would come of that, nor did she want anyone to know of the
infidelity. She faked a pregnancy to a point where she supposedly went out of
town to stay with family until you were ready to be delivered. Your birth
mother was very young at the time…um…” He shuffles the paper, quickly looking
through them. “She was just shy of her twentieth birthday.”

“Who
is it?” my brother interrupts. “Just fucking tell us who her mother is.” Noah
has had to deal with so much bullshit over the last few weeks that I’m not
shocked by his sudden, atypical outburst. Everyone has a breaking point.
Unfortunately, all of the bullshit is because of me. The guilt creeping into my
heart is deserved. He doesn’t need this.

I
reach over and put my hand on top of his. “Noah,” I whisper, instantly getting
his attention. “You don’t have to stay here for this. I’m so sorry you have to
deal with more shit because of me.”

His
overly-stressed eyes soften as he puts his other hand on top of mine. I’m
comforting him as he comforts me. “I’m not going anywhere, kiddo. For the
record, none of this is because of you.” He turns back to Mr. Grant. “I
apologize for snapping like that. Please get to the point and tell us who
Kacie’s mother is.”

“Kristen
Nolan.”

I’ve
never heard the name before, but Noah obviously has. His eyes are wide with
surprise and his mouth falls open. He attempts to close it a few times, but is
unsuccessful. Again, no one moves or speaks.

“No.
That’s not possible. There has to be some kind of mistake.” Noah faces Mary.
“What the hell?”

“You
remember her,” Mary says. “I was afraid you may have forgotten.”

“How
the hell could I forget her?” My brother, who is normally so calm and
unshakeable, pushes away from the table.

“Noah?”
I ask. Evan slides his chair closer to mine so he can put his arm around my
shoulders. My body automatically leans toward him.

“Kristen
had been my babysitter for a few years. Once she graduated high school, she was
hired as a full-time, live-in nanny. We grew to be very close, even friends.
With Mom being too busy and Dad always working, she became my primary caregiver.
They even brought her along on vacations so they could put up the ‘one big
happy family’ pretense without actually having to be bothered with me.” He goes
quiet, remembering. “Then one day, she wasn’t at school to pick me up. Robert
was, but he didn’t explain anything. When I got home, I ran straight to her
room. Everything was gone, even the furniture. Mom walked in to find me
screaming for Kristen all through the damn house. I didn’t understand how she
could just leave without saying goodbye. How she could leave
me
. Mom
yelled, saying I was never allowed to speak of Kristen again. Even though I was
twelve-years-old, it took a long time to get over her not being there. I didn’t
sleep well for months. She was for me what Gram was for you.”

“I’m…”

“Kacie,
don’t you dare apologize one more time,” Evan warns from beside me. When our
eyes meet, he continues gently, “None of this shit is your fault.”

“But
it sure feels like it is.”

Noah sits
back into his chair and grabs my hand. “Evan’s right. Stop blaming yourself for
things that are out of your control. Let’s just hear what else Mr. Grant has to
say, then we’ll deal with it, okay?”

“Okay.”

“I do
not have specifics on the how and the why. Only Sam or Kristen can give you
that. What I do know is being only nineteen-years-old with no family to help
support her, Ms. Nolan signed a contract to hand you over to the Fosters the
day you were born, then disappear. She was never to have contact with anyone
associated with you or the family, regardless of the reason.”

“What
do you mean she had no family to help support her?” I wonder.

“Her
parents had already passed away,” Mr. Grant simply states. “She was provided an
undisclosed amount of money to assist with medical bills and relocation. Any
violation of the contract would result in not only her having to pay back the
entire sum given to her, but also a huge lawsuit that would have probably
resulted in her going to jail. Sam and Sophia did not want her to even speak of
you to anyone. They insisted that no one ever learn of her connection to you.
The nursing staff and other limited personnel were also forced to sign a
contract so information was not leaked out that way, either.”

“How
were you able to find all this out then? I mean no disrespect, but I’m trying
to understand,” I say.

“No offense
taken, Ms. Foster,” he assures me. “Let’s just say that there’s a very good
reason Mrs. Spencer only uses me in desperate situations.” Mary and I exchange
a glance. For the first time since coming into my home, Mr. Grant’s voice turns
sympathetic. “I truly hope you’re able to find some kind of closure. All of the
information I was able to gather is in this folder for you, including her
current address. I wish you nothing but the best, Kacie,” he concludes and
rises. Mary follows his lead.

“Thank
you for everything,” I whisper. The tears are starting to form as the reality
begins to settle in. He nods and exits the room, Mary trailing him.

“Are
you okay?” Jade asks, sitting next to me and giving me a hug. “I would have
warned you if I knew what the hell was going on. I was yanked out of a meeting
with Mary’s grandson and a client.”

“I’m
not really sure.” I push my uneaten lunch away. The food is no longer
appetizing. Mary comes back into the kitchen when I stand up. “Is there
anything you can do to get her out of the contract with my parents?”

Mary
smiles as if she knew I’d ask. “I’ll draw something up. We can take it to Sam
and see if he’ll sign it.”

“Oh,
he’ll sign it. Don’t worry about that. Will my mom…” I catch myself. Sophia is
not
my mother. “Will Sophia have to sign anything?”

“No.
The original contract was only signed by your father. He was smart that way and
it makes things much easier for us.”

“Let
me know the second it’s ready.”

“I’ll
have it by tomorrow morning.”

“I
want to be there when you go,” Noah says. “Call me and I’ll find out where he
is, then we’ll all meet.”

“This
isn’t something I feel comfortable asking you to do, Noah.”

“You
didn’t ask him, Kacie. You didn’t ask any of us, but we’re all going,” Evan
says with a look that dares me to challenge him.

“Wait.
Tomorrow’s Saturday. This can wait until Monday.”

“I
don’t care what day of the week it is,” Mary interrupts. “There’s nothing I
want more than to help you get the life you deserve to have.”

“The
life you should’ve always had,” Jade interjects. “I rode with Mary, so I have
to go and get my car. Want me to come right back?”

“No.
There’s a lot I need to think about. If you’re around later, maybe we can grab
dinner.”

“Okay.”
Jade collects her things and follows Mary toward the front of the house,
stopping before she’s out of view. “Hey, Kacie?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t
overthink it. Sometimes good shit actually happens when we least expect it.” As
if my friend’s words needed any validation, Evan steps up behind me, puts his
hand on my hip and his lips on my cheek. There’s no doubt in my mind that
having Evan in my life is the best thing to have ever happened to me.

Shortly
after Jade leaves with Mary, Noah says he has to get back to the hospital. The unwillingness
in his eyes is clear. I assure him I’ll be fine and he doesn’t have to worry.
It takes me promising a phone call the second he’s needed in order to make him
comfortable enough to go to the front door.

“I’m
going to lie down for a while,” I say to Evan, who’s watching me very
carefully. “I guess this was a little too much excitement for one day.”

“Give
me a minute to clean up the mess. I’ll come with you,” he offers.

“Actually…,”
I start as I walk over to the cabinet where I keep the key to the vacant room.
“I want to be alone for a few minutes, if that’s okay.”

“You’re
running away,” he mumbles.

“I’m
not leaving the house, Evan.”

“I
didn’t mean physically.”

Without
intending to, I made him feel unwanted or, worse, unneeded. His eyes betray the
fear over the possibility I’ll distance myself from him because of what I
learned today.

Closing
the gap between us, I lay my head on his chest and rest my hand on his side.
Automatically, his strong arms pull me in. “I’m sorry.”

“What
the hell are you sorry for?”

“For
upsetting you. Just knowing you’re here is the only reason I haven’t gone
completely psycho. If I didn’t have you, I’d be halfway to my dad’s house to
rip his fucking head off.”

His
chest vibrates from chuckling. “Damn. That would be very entertaining to
watch.”

“You
still may get the chance.” I lean back to see his blue eyes looking down at me.
“There will be times I will need to retreat into my own space, but I’m not
going anywhere. I’ll never go anywhere unless you’re coming with me. Right now,
I need to sit in a quiet room and think about this.”

“Are
you sure?” He doesn’t want to let me go, but a calmness has fallen over him.

“Yeah.
I’m sure.”