Читать книгу Beach Baby - Joan Kilby - Страница 9

LUKE MANN WAS LYING wounded in an abandoned warehouse next door to the safe house, the envelope undelivered. Reid hadn’t the foggiest notion how the agent was going to get out alive. Ever since Amy and Beebee had arrived a week ago, neither he nor Luke had made much progress.

Reid’s gaze kept drifting from the monitor to the window overlooking the beach and the broad curving bay. The tide had receded a mile or more; children waded in pools between sandbars, and shorebirds with long narrow beaks prodded the sand for worms and mud shrimp.

Beebee’s strawberry curls popped up from behind a log. The little girl’s chubby limbs beneath her pink sundress were bare and already turning brown after a week in the sun. She toddled a few steps before crouching to pick up a shell embedded in the coarse gray sand.

Reid smiled when she sat down abruptly to examine her treasure. Beebee was adorable—until she was frightened or thwarted, then look out. The kid had a pair of lungs an opera diva would envy.

A moment later Reid was frowning, scanning the beach. Where the heck was Amy? It wouldn’t be the first time Beebee had gotten out of the house and wandered off by herself. Keeping a watchful eye on the little girl, Reid moved to the side window from where he could see another angle of the beach. Still no sign of Amy.

Beebee stood and continued her meandering progress down the sandy beach. Muttering under his breath, Reid thrust his bare feet into sandals and went through the family room and out the open French doors to cross the lawn. As he dropped over the retaining wall onto the sand, Daisy overtook him and galloped ahead.

Reid caught up to the toddler in a few strides. “Beebee!”

A sunny smile lit her round face. “Weed!”

Dropping to a crouch, Reid nudged Daisy and her slurping tongue aside and brushed off the grains of sand stuck to Beebee’s cheek. “Where’s Mommy?”

“Me find shell,” Beebee said happily, thrusting the broken cockle under his nose.

“Very nice,” he said. “Let’s go show your mom.” Getting to his feet, he took her hand and started leading her back to the house.

Beebee followed, chatting away. He lifted her over the low concrete wall and carried her through the house, calling to Amy. He came to the ground-floor bedroom she shared with Beebee and pushed open the door. Amy was pacing between the crib and the bed, speaking to someone on the telephone.

“So I have an appointment this morning?” she said, her eyes alight with excitement. “Cool! Thanks again.” Amy hung up and turned to Reid.

“Look who I found wandering down the beach,” he said.

“Beebee, you naughty girl,” Amy scolded gently and tried to take her daughter.

“Me find shell,” Beebee informed her, showing no inclination to leave Reid’s arms.

Reid readjusted his hold on the sun-warmed little girl and she snuggled into his side. “I’ll put a hook on the French doors,” he told Amy. “In the meantime, you should keep a better eye on Beebee. She could have been lost or drowned.”

“I put her in her playpen in the living room. She must have climbed out.” Amy twined one long golden lock around her finger. “Can you do me a big favor?”

“Maybe,” Reid said warily, thinking he could guess what was coming after overhearing her phone conversation.

“Can you look after Beebee for a couple of hours?” Amy asked. “I have a job interview.”

“How long will you be?” His publisher’s deadline was looming and he was way behind on his weekly page quota.

“A couple of hours, three at most,” Amy said. “Please, Reid, just this once. An L.A. production company is filming a movie in Vancouver and they’re looking for extras. They pay a hundred dollars a day and guarantee at least ten days work. You know I could use the money.”

Beebee was wriggling in his arms so Reid set her on the floor. She toddled off to put her shell among her growing collection on the windowsill.

“Okay, go ahead.” He transferred his gaze to Beebee. “Looks like it’s you and me, squirt.” She glanced up at him with a trusting toothy grin that would have softened the hardest heart. God knows, it reduced his to a puddle.

Amy bestowed Reid with a brilliant smile. “Thank you. You’re seriously cool for an old dude.”

“Amy,” he began. “There’s something we need to talk about.” He’d spoken to Elaine on the phone yesterday and she’d given him the go-ahead to tell Amy who he was but between his book, Beebee and helping Amy with job applications, he hadn’t found a quiet moment to talk.

“Can it wait until I get back?” she said. “I’m already late.” Without waiting for an answer, she bent to hug Beebee. “Be a good girl for Reid and don’t run away again. I’ll see you both in a little while. Wish me luck.”

“Sure,” Reid said, ashamed of his relief at the temporary reprieve. “Break a leg.”

Lunchtime came. Reid piled phone books on a kitchen chair and sat Beebee down with a peanut-butter sandwich and a glass of milk. She ate out the insides, smearing her face with peanut butter and leaving the crusts. Daisy wagged her tail hopefully, never taking her eyes off the dangling strips of bread.

Tara glided into the kitchen looking tired and disgruntled in spite of her immaculately pressed mint-green T-shirt and beige shorts. She rummaged in the fridge for an orange and grumbled to Reid, “The kid woke me up at six this morning.”

“Tawa!” With a grin, Beebee offered the tattered remnants of her sandwich to the older girl.

Despite herself, an answering smile tugged at the corners of Tara’s mouth but she frowned and replied brusquely, “Beebee eat.” Rolling her eyes at her father she added, “She’s got me talking like a two-year-old.” Tara peeled her orange over the sink, fastidiously placing each scrap of peel into the garbage as it came off. “There are toys and laundry all over the living-room floor. That was Mom’s favorite room.”

“We never use it since she passed away,” Reid said quietly. “Maybe it’s time someone did.” He handed Beebee her milk. She slurped it, dribbling most of it down her chin. Reid wiped her face with a cloth and said to Tara, “I remember when you were this age. You were so neat you hated having a mess on your face or hands.”

“I still do.” Tara pulled apart the juicy segments with her fingertips and shook the drips off before popping one into her mouth. “Why did Amy come here, anyway?” Tara demanded. “How long are they going to stay?”

Reid hesitated. Tara deserved to know the truth, too, but telling her before he talked to Amy didn’t seem right.

“I don’t know how long they’ll be here,” Reid said at last. “Amy’s looking for work and that takes time. She’s a little mixed up right now. I wish you’d be more friendly. You used to look up to her when we lived in Halifax.”

“Yeah, well, I was just a kid back then. Anyway, it’s not like I knew her that well. Most of the time when you went to see the Hockings, you went on your own.”

“My family knew them when they lived in Vancouver,” Reid explained. “Your mom didn’t have the same connection.” Or interest, he added silently.

“Whatever,” Tara said. “I’m going to the community center with Libby after lunch to see what they’ve got for summer art courses. Can you drive us?”

“I would but I have to look after Beebee and we haven’t got a car seat for her.”

“Yesterday you couldn’t take me to the mall because you had to help Amy with her résumé,” Tara complained.

“The mall isn’t far,” Reid pointed out. “Amy walked from there carrying Beebee and a duffel bag.”

Tara blew out an explosive breath. “You think Amy’s so great! She’s got her stuff all over the bathroom, she won’t eat anything we eat and now she’s got you babysitting. Everything’s changed since she arrived.” Tara glared at him. “She’s taken over our house.”

She’s taken over you. Tara couldn’t have said it more clearly if she’d spoken the words. Reid was seeing another side to his quiet sweet-natured daughter. He shouldn’t be surprised she was jealous of the time he spent with Amy and Beebee; she’d had him all to herself for three years since Carol had died.

“Her parents are old friends and I’ve known Amy since she was a baby. Putting her up for a couple of weeks until she sorts herself out doesn’t seem too much to ask.”

Tara rinsed off her hands and dried them. “She’d better be home in time for us to go to my violin recital tonight. You can’t bring that baby.”

“I know,” Reid assured her. “I’m sure Amy’ll be home any minute.”

After lunch Reid tucked Beebee into bed for a nap and went back to work. At first he kept an ear out for Amy but as time passed and she didn’t return, he got deeper and deeper into his story.

“Where my mommy?” Beebee suddenly spoke at his elbow.

Reid started. Still engrossed in his narrative, he answered distractedly, “She’ll be home soon.”

Beebee tugged on his sleeve and Reid dragged his gaze away from the monitor to see her staring at him with bright blue unblinking eyes. “Want Mommy.”

Out in the bay, water covered the sandbars and wind surfers skimmed the white-flecked waves. He glanced at his watch. Four o’clock. The tide was in but Amy wasn’t.

By six o’clock Tara was in a flap. Her recital was at seven and they needed twenty minutes to drive to the hall. After tears and angry words, she called a friend for a ride and stomped out the door without Reid.

After dinner, Reid sat on the couch with Beebee on his lap and switched on Nina’s current-affairs show. Tonight she was interviewing a man who’d narrowly missed being hit by a chunk of meteorite that had fallen through his roof while he’d been eating breakfast.

“That’s your grandma,” he whispered into Beebee’s ear.

Nina had done something different to her hair. The chin-length blond strands had been tweaked into a wayward whimsical style. The sparkle in her eye, her vivacious laughter had her guest hanging on her every word. And the way that red suit clung to her figure—she and Amy could have been sisters. Reid had to admit, Nina still had it.

Sometimes he thought about calling her and getting together for a drink, for old times’ sake. Then he remembered how the old times had ended and realized that wouldn’t be such a good idea. Anyway, she was probably happily married, with a family.

Amy would be thrilled to find out her biological mother was in the entertainment business. For Amy’s sake, he prayed that Nina would be as thrilled to hear from her daughter. Elaine had told him she’d given his address to Nina’s mother. He’d waited for Nina to call but so far nothing. Maybe she wasn’t interested in meeting their daughter. Or maybe his presence put her off. Regardless, he had to tell Amy the truth tonight. Surely he could find the words to make her realize how much he cared, how the lie had been forced upon him….

He glanced at his watch. Seven o’clock and Amy still wasn’t home. He was starting to get seriously worried. Two or three hours, she’d said. Here it was ten hours and counting. Where was she? Why didn’t she call?

Reid switched off the TV. What if Amy’d had an accident or been abducted? She could be injured or in trouble. His writer’s imagination combined with a father’s sensibilities had no trouble conjuring scenarios of death, dismemberment and disaster.

Reid dragged a hand through his hair and racked his brain trying to remember if she’d written down the number or address of where she was going. If it was anywhere, he decided, it’d be in the spare bedroom she and Beebee were occupying.

NINA PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY of the house where Amy was staying just before 8:00 p.m. The evening air was sultry with a whiff of salt and the two-story white house glowed in the twilight.

Nina checked her reflection in the rearview mirror. She’d removed the heavy studio makeup after her show and now her skin looked pale and somehow fragile. There were faint shadows under her blue eyes and she’d chewed all the color off her lips. Whipping out her lipstick, she reapplied a pale pink gloss and quickly ran her fingers through her hair. She was as ready as she’d ever be.

Her high heels sank into the white gravel driveway and she quickly moved to the concrete path leading to the front door. Who lived here? she wondered. Someone with a few bucks, if the late-model SUV in the carport was anything to go by. The beat-up wooden sailing dinghy with a broken mast and peeling paint next to the SUV seemed out of place.

Her stomach gave a faint rumble, reminding her that after she’d finished work she’d driven straight here without changing her clothes or stopping for dinner. Too late now. She buzzed the doorbell and pressed her palms against her linen skirt. Through the frosted-glass strip beside the door, she could see a light on in a back room but the front of the house was dark. She should have called first instead of just turning up. Amy might be out. She might be busy. She might—

The front door opened to reveal a man in a sleeveless T-shirt and shorts. His rumpled dark hair was cut close at the sides and laugh lines framed his mouth and eyes.

“Reid?” She froze to the spot. Even after all these years, she would have known him anywhere.

“Nina?” He went still. “What are you doing here?”

“Me?” she croaked. “What are you doing here?”

“I live here,” he said.

Low blood sugar combined with shock caused Nina’s knees to buckle and black spots swam before her eyes. Reid sprang forward and gripped her elbow. “You’d better come inside and sit down.”

He led her through the foyer and into a formal living room strewn with toys, unfolded laundry and movie magazines. Nina sank gratefully onto a soft couch. Reid placed the back of his warm hand against her clammy forehead. It could have been a gesture of tenderness and concern but his voice was brusque. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” she lied, feeling anything but. She’d come here to meet her daughter and found Reid instead. She could hardly believe it was him standing before her. She’d known he was back in Vancouver ever since he’d been interviewed in the local media. She knew he’d been married and had another daughter, that his wife had died a few years ago.

He looked the same, though a little older, of course. His features had lost the softness of youth and were stronger, more defined. Like an optical illusion, one second he was her closest friend and lover, then she blinked and he was a stranger. In spite of everything, she looked hungrily for the humorous twist to his mouth, the twinkle in his dark eyes. But he wasn’t smiling; he was scowling at her. Time alone couldn’t extinguish the rancor they’d parted with.

“Where’s…” Nina swallowed hard at the fresh ordeal of speaking their daughter’s name. “…Amy? My mother said she’s looking for her biological parents. I guess she found you first.”

Reid cast her an odd glance. “Uh, yeah.”

“I had no idea this was your house,” Nina said. “Or I would never have…I mean, I would have called first.” This was so awkward; she, who lived to talk, had no idea what to say to him. Nina glanced around. “So, where is she?”

“She’s…out.”

“When do you expect her back?”

“She’s missing, actually,” Reid admitted. “I’m getting worried.”

“Missing!” Nina sat up straighter. “How…where? When was the last time you saw her?”

“She left this morning around 9:00 a.m.,” Reid said. “She was going into Vancouver to audition for a walk-on part in a movie.” He moved a teddy bear out of the way so he could sit beside Nina. “She was very excited about it.”

Out of habit, Nina pulled a notepad and pen out of her purse and jotted down the time and place, glad of something concrete to focus on during this surreal experience. “So she’s an actress?”

“She’s performed in high-school productions. As far as I know, this is the first professional job she’s gone for.” He ran a hand through his hair. “She wouldn’t leave Beebee this long unless something happened.”

“Is Beebee—” Nina began then thought she heard a childish giggle and stopped. “What was that?”

Reid tilted his head. “I don’t hear anything.”

“Never mind. Neither do I, now. Beebee is an odd name. Is she our—?” Nina tapped the pen against the paper. This was too weird. “Is Beebee Amy’s little girl?”

“Yes.” Reid lifted his head, still listening. “I put her in her crib but she keeps getting out. I’d better check on her.”

Before he could move, a tiny girl with flaming curls and yellow sleepers wriggled out from behind the couch, giggling madly, and ran into the hallway and toward the front door. Over the top of the low divider separating the living room from the foyer Nina could see a small determined hand trying to turn the knob.

“Beebee!” Reid cried. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Oh, she’s so sweet!” Nina exclaimed, forgetting everything else in the joy of seeing her grandchild. “She’s got my mother’s hair.”

“Don’t be fooled by that angelic face,” Reid said. “She’s an escape artist.” He lunged across the room, tripped on a stuffed elephant and fell sideways into a pile of towels. “Oof! Don’t let her get away.”

Beebee gave the doorknob a final twist and the door swung open. Nina heard a last gleeful chuckle and then the little imp pattered down the steps and disappeared into the night.

“Damn! I forgot to turn the dead bolt after I let you in.” Reid struggled to right himself amid the tangled laundry. “You can’t take your eyes off that child for a minute.”

“Then why did you?” Nina picked her way across the room through toys and clothes. “If you’re supposed to be looking after her, you’re not doing a very good job.”

“Just…get…her!” Reid swore as a pair of toddler’s overalls wrapped themselves around his ankles and brought him to his knees.

Nina paused in the doorway to scan the yard. Beebee was running down the driveway as fast as her little legs could carry her. Nina took off after her, her high heels wobbling dangerously in the loose gravel. “Beebee! Come back here, darling. Come to—” She broke off, the word grandma sticking in her throat. “Come to Nina.”

The headlights of a car approached, on a collision course with Beebee barreling straight for the road. Nina shouted, “Beebee, stop this instant!”

Beebee slid to a halt and spun to face Nina, her mouth a startled O. Her surprise at this stranger speaking so harshly swiftly turned to mutiny. She drew in a lungful of air then emitted an ear-piercing shriek. The passing station wagon turned a corner but Beebee’s high-pitched noise went on and on, like a car alarm that wouldn’t turn off. A couple walking their miniature poodle down the street frowned at Nina and whispered to each other.

“It’s a game we play,” Nina called to the couple, laughing. “I’m her…her older female relative.” She marched over to Beebee and picked up the child who was still screaming and as stiff as a board. “Beebee, stop,” she pleaded in an urgent undertone. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Ow, yeow, yikes.” Arms flailing, Reid hopped over the sharp gravel in bare feet. He reached for Beebee. “Come here, honey.”

“Weed!” Beebee kicked off from Nina’s stomach, launching herself out of Nina’s arms to dive into Reid’s waiting embrace. She threw Nina an angry, suspicious glare then buried her face in Reid’s shirt.

“Oomph.” Nina doubled over. “What is wrong with that little banshee?”

“You scared her.”

“I scared her?”

“She makes strange at first,” Reid said. “Beebee, this is Nina. She’s…” He glanced at Nina and she shook her head. “A friend of your mommy’s.”

“Where my mommy?” Beebee asked plaintively.

“She’s coming.” Reid stroked her damp curls off her forehead. In his arms, she heaved a deep sigh. “Let’s go inside and put you to bed.” He walked back to the house on the grass and pointed out the first star glinting in an indigo sky. “Make a wish, Beebee.”

“Mommy,” Beebee said and stuck her thumb in her mouth.

“She’ll be home soon.”

Nina held the door open for him to go through. “Ou-yay ouldn’t-shay ake-may omises-pray ou-yay an’t-cay eep-kay.”

Reid set Beebee on the floor. “Go get your dolly. It’s bedtime.” Then he looked at Nina as though she were demented. “What on earth are you saying?”

“Ou-yay ouldn’t-shay—”

“She’s forgotten all about her om-may. She’s not even paying attention to us anymore,” he added, nodding at the toddler.

Beebee was busy piling clean laundry onto Daisy’s back and giggling when it fell off. Dog and child distributed clothing around the room—a sock behind the couch, a T-shirt next to the window.

Nina, too frazzled to sit still, followed behind, picking up the clothing as she went. “We should call the police.”

“Too soon.” Reid locked the door and bolted it, then slid the chain across. “She has to be gone twenty-four hours before they’ll file a missing-persons report.”

Nina dumped her armload of clothing onto the couch and began to fold the individual items, finding the mindless activity soothing. “Is there no way to contact her? An address or a phone number?”

“I’ve searched her room. She didn’t leave anything written down that I could see,” Reid replied.

“How long has Amy been here?” Nina looked around at the clothing and toys. “They seem very settled in.”

“A few days…maybe a week.”

Maybe a week? Reid had always been a little absentminded, lost in his own world, but even for him, the answer was vague.

Before she could probe further, the front door rattled as someone tried to enter. A second later the bell rang. Reid strode across the room, unlocked and flung open the door. Beebee tried to shoot through the gap only for Reid to grab her by the scruff of her pajamas and haul her unceremoniously into his arms.

A young woman with waist-length blond hair hurried inside. Nina felt the butterflies in her stomach buffet her rib cage. At last. Her daughter. Frozen to the spot, Nina watched her in amazement. She was beautiful. She was real.

“Amy!” Reid exclaimed with relief. “Where have you been? What happened to you?”

Amy lifted Beebee out of Reid’s arms and hugged her to herself. “Mommy’s here.” She glanced at Reid over Beebee’s shoulder. “The bus I was on collided with a dump truck in the tunnel. They just sideswiped each other but it caused a pileup that took hours to sort out.”

“I heard about the accident on the radio coming out here so I went around by the bridge,” Nina said. “Are you all right?”

Amy glanced at her with a puzzled frown. “Not a scratch on me. Ambulances took us all to Emergency to get checked out.”

“Why didn’t you call?” Reid demanded. “I know you don’t have a cell phone but you could have borrowed one.”

“I didn’t have your number with me. Crazy, huh? I never thought I would need it.” Amy stroked Beebee’s back while the little girl played with her hoop earrings. “There was a public phone booth in Emergency but no phone book. I guess I could have dialed directory assistance but I didn’t think of it at the time. I’m sorry if you were worried.”

“How did you get home?” Reid asked.

“They brought out another bus.” Amy peered around Beebee to study Nina curiously. “You look familiar. Are you by any chance…?”

Related? Did she see the resemblance? Nina wondered breathlessly. She could, in the eyes and the shape of the mouth. “I’m…” she began, but her breath had lodged in her chest, preventing her from speaking.

“You are!” Amy said. “You’re Nina Kennerly from the TV show Chat with Nina. Reid watches you every night.” Amy turned to Reid. “You didn’t tell me you knew Nina Kennerly. Are you two friends?”

Reid threw Nina an unreadable glance. “Something like that.” He touched Amy’s arm. “Maybe you should get Beebee settled. She’s had a lot of excitement tonight.”

“I’ll put her to bed,” Amy said and carried her child down the hall to their bedroom.

“I didn’t know what I should say when she asked me who you were,” Reid said quietly. “What are you going to tell her?”

Nina began picking up toys and piling them into a toy box in the corner. “The truth, of course. That’s why I came out here tonight.”

Amy returned and flopped into a chair, blowing out a sigh that fluttered her wispy bangs. “Whew! What a day. But I got the part as an extra.”

“That’s great,” Reid said.

“How exciting,” Nina added warmly. “What role do you play?”

“I’m a tourist.” Amy glanced at her, at the toys in her hand, and wrinkled her brow. “Excuse me, I know you’re Nina Kennerly but are you, like, Reid’s girlfriend or something?” When neither Nina or Reid replied, she said, “Am I being nosy? Just tell me to mind my own business.”

Nina sat on the arm of the couch, looked at Reid, then back to Amy. Her throat suddenly felt very dry. All the speeches she’d mentally composed to break the news gently fled her brain and she blurted, “I’m your biological mother.”

No one moved in the frozen silence. Time itself might have been suspended were it not for the quiet ticking of a mantel clock. Amy stared. Nina gazed steadfastly back, her heart pounding in her throat. She usually had so much to say she couldn’t get it all out but, at the moment, her wits and her voice failed her.

Finally, Amy blinked and swallowed. “My mother?” she said in a choked voice. “The woman who gave birth to me?”

Nina bit her lip and nodded. Was Amy pleased? Disappointed? It was hard to tell.

“I don’t understand,” Amy said. “How did you find me?”

“Elaine called my mother to tell her you were in town looking for me and gave her Reid’s address.”

Amy’s gaze flicked to Reid. A faint frown crossed her features as if there were a connection here she didn’t understand and couldn’t work out.

“I know Elaine Hocking is your real mother,” Nina went on in a rush. “I know I can’t ever take her place and I wouldn’t want to but if I could in some small way be part of your life, part of Beebee’s life—” she drew a breath “—I would be so happy.”

Amy went completely still for another agonizing minute. Then tears leaked from her eyes and she rose from her chair to start forward only to falter, as if unsure.

“Oh, my dear.” Nina’s eyes flooded as she pulled her daughter into an awkward embrace. “Oh, my dear sweetpea.”

Amy drew back, blinking with surprise. “Sweetpea?”

Nina felt heat bloom in her cheeks. “It’s a pet name I had for you. I didn’t know your real name, you see. I shouldn’t have burst out with it. I must sound silly and sentimental.”

Amy shook her head, wiping her eyes with the heel of her hand. “It’s cool.”

Nina let out a long breath, easing but not releasing her pent-up anxiety. It still didn’t seem possible that this young woman should be her daughter. Her daughter.

Amy turned to Reid with an amazed smile. She’d recovered her composure and was coming alive with excitement. “Can you believe this? Nina Kennerly’s my mother! Ever since I found out the Hockings weren’t my biological parents I’ve been going crazy wondering who I am, where I came from.” She swung back to Nina. “And now you can tell me who my father is.”

Taken aback, Nina threw Reid a swift glance. “Surely you know.”

“I told you, Jim and Elaine wouldn’t give me any information.” Amy clasped her hands in front of her. “Please, I want to know all about him. Was he good-looking and smart? Was he kind?”

“He was all those things and more.” Nina frowned at Reid, silently demanding to know what the hell was going on. She’d assumed Amy knew who he was, but apparently not.

“He sounds wonderful,” Amy said.

“I was very much in love with him,” Nina said, suddenly wistful. “For a while we talked about getting married.”

“That’s so romantic,” Amy said. “What went wrong?”

“I…we had a terrible fight. We were both so young, and I knew I couldn’t provide for you on my own. His parents arranged for a private adoption.” Nina glanced at Reid again, eyebrows raised. He gazed back at her with a stony expression.

“Do you know where my father lives now?” Amy said. “Do you think he’ll want to see me?”

“Well,” Nina began, looking from Amy to Reid. What was going on here?

“I know he will.” Reid cleared his throat. When he spoke again it wasn’t with his customary assurance. “Amy, I don’t know how to tell you this. I’ve wanted to say something for years. I should have told you this past week—”

“What is it?” Amy broke in impatiently. “What do you know about my father?”

“I am your biological father.”

Amy turned to him, shocked back into speechlessness. Her excitement turned to disbelief. Finally, she spluttered with nervous laughter. “What! You can’t be.”

Reid stepped forward, a hand tentatively extended. “Please don’t be upset.”

She pulled away from him, her face crumpling. “I’ve known you all my life. You’re a friend of my parents. Of Jim and Elaine. You’re Uncle Reid.”

“No,” he said soberly. “I’m your father.”

“I’ve been here a week,” Amy cried. “You knew I was looking for my birth parents but you never said anything.”

“I couldn’t at first. I promised the Hockings—”

“You’re just like them.” Angry tears spilled over as she backed away. “You lied to me, too. I don’t want you to be my father. Do you hear me? You’re not my father.”