Swim Deep - Page 107

I pushed the thought aside, recognizing it as self-pity. My mother was clearly very emotional. I wanted to understand, not spread my sense of rising alarm at the news onto her.

“But my birth certificate says that Dad and you are my parents—”

“It was amended. It’s common, to have an amended birth certificate with the adoptive parents’ names on it. The amended copies are the only ones we have.”

“Do you know the names of my biological parents?”

“I don’t. I’m sorry, again, if you think that was selfish of me. But I didn’t want to know. I never did. You came to us when you were only two days old, and I wanted it to be a clean slate. Like I said, you were ours from the moment we laid eyes on you.”

“But Mom… someone has to know who my biological parents were. Does Dad?”

“No, honey. He felt the same way about it that I did. But there would be a sealed copy of your original birth certificate somewhere, inaccessible to the public. If it’s something you would want to pursue, you could, Anna. I think it takes a court order, for you to see it. But I don’t know why the courts would deny you, given that you’re an adult now.”

I just sat there, thinking of that document locked away in some dark file, the names typed in on the form.

Mother. Father.

“Anna?” my mom asked weakly. “Are you okay? You are angry, aren’t you,” she stated rather than asked, dread in her tone.

“No, I’m not,” I insisted. “I mean… it’s shocking, that’s all. I’m spinning.”

“Of course you are. But it doesn’t really change anything. Not the essentials. Not about the way we feel about you. About your childhood. Everything. You are and always will be Anna Marie Solas, our beautiful, talented, adored daughter.”

(Light from my darkness.)

I realized the phone shook next to my ear.

“I love you, Mom,” I said.

“I love you, too. So much. And so does your father. Can I have him call you? As soon as he gets in? He’ll want to hear your voice. He’ll want to know you’re okay. Anna? You are okay, aren’t you?”

I heard the doubt in her voice. And the congestion. There was no doubt, she was crying. Just like I was, I realized, touching my wet cheeks.

“I’m fine,” I insisted thickly. “I just… ” I swiped at my cheeks. “I’m feeling kind of emotional, that’s all.”

“Course you are. And you must have a million questions.”

I gave a bark of laughter. “You know, I really don’t, at this point. Well, one I guess. Jessica—”

“She doesn’t know. I’ll leave it up to you, whether or not you want her to know.”

“Okay,” I said in a muffled voice.

“If you decide you want to get access to the original birth certificate, I’ll completely support you. I’ll take time off and come and try to help you with the process. I’ll take time off, either way,” she added decisively. “I’d like to come and visit soon. Spend some time with you.”

“I’d like that too. We’ll work something out, after I’ve had time to let things settle a little,” I said, even though I wondered if anything would ever be settled in my life again.

“Is Evan there with you? I don’t want you to be alone right now.”

I briefly imagined my mother’s horror if she ever heard Noah Madaster’s accusations. I certainly wouldn’t allow her to be there to see those names printed on the newly revealed birth certificate. She and Dad would blame themselves for not telling me I was adopted, and then inadvertently sending me into the arms of my own—

STOP. Don’t go there.

Mother. Father.

For a few seconds, my lungs locked. I struggled to inhale. I covered the receiver on the phone, and finally took a lurching breath. I removed my hand from the phone. A bizarre calm overcame me.

“Yes. Evan is here, Mom,” I said.

Tags: Beth Kery Romance
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