Zack looks at the iMac computer on the perfectly neat desk, a small notebook next to it. “Where does she go to school?”
“Lauren homeschools her, for the most part,” Jasper says. “For a while, we had her in a program that allowed her to ski all winter and do school in the summer, but when she got onto the national circuit, it was just easier to do it ourselves. She loves school, loves to read. She’ll graduate at the end of the summer. College isn’t really in the cards right now, she’s...well, we have a lot of hurdles to overcome before we look into the future.” He glances at his watch. “It’s late. You have to be tired. Why don’t we show you to your room and you can get some rest.”
They are halfway down the hall when Juliet’s phone rings. She listens for a minute, eyes darting over to Jasper, then to Zack, and then thanks the person and hangs up.
The men watch her. Her face is unreadable. Finally, she speaks, a small catch in her throat.
“Well, we have one hundred percent confirmation. Zack, you are Mindy’s biological father.”
Jasper looks at his watch again, lips thin, his face suddenly pale. Zack barely notices. He stands in shock for a few moments, trying to wrap his head around what his heart hasn’t let him fully experience. His girl. He’s found his girl. This is real. It’s happening. He starts to smile.
“My God. I didn’t even want to hope, I mean, I didn’t think I’d ever find her. I don’t know, what do we... God.” He has no words for the emotions he is having. He looks at Jasper, who is not looking joyful. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. This situation isn’t of either of our making.”
“You’re her father as much as I am, Jasper. Lauren is her mother as much as Vivian was. Don’t think I’m not aware of this. It’s hard for all of us, but we’ll figure it out.”
Jasper claps him on the shoulder but doesn’t say anything. Kat wakes from her nap in front of the fire and woofs at them, as if she too is celebrating.
“We should call the Nashville cops, let them know. They’ll want to get moving on this right away,” Juliet says.
“No. We should call Lauren, tell her first.” Jasper already has the phone in his hand.
Zack nods. “Yes, you’re right. Lauren first. I think the cops can wait until morning.”
And inside, all he can think is, She’s yours. She’s yours. But who stole her away? Because whoever did killed Vivian.
49
VAIL HEALTH HOSPITAL
Lauren hangs up the phone and stares out into the night.
She should be ecstatic. There is a good chance Zack will be enough of a match that they can at least do an initial stem cell transplant. Maybe he’ll even be a perfect match, and Mindy will go into remission. This is the best news they’ve had in weeks.
But the pervasive dread stalking her edges closer, and she shivers in fear.
Mindy is, thankfully, still asleep. It seems the worst of the flu bug has passed and she is going to be okay. They need her as healthy and strong as possible before the transplant, because it’s going to be hell on her. Isolation, heavy chemo to kill her immune system, then the transfusion itself, almost an afterthought, strange blood snaking into her body, into her very essence, possibly making her whole.
She dials Dr. Oliver’s line without bothering to glance at the time. She knows it’s late, but she also knows this is news he’ll want to hear as quickly as possible.
He answers right away, knowing she’d only call him if there is an emergency. She’s been very careful not to abuse the privilege of having his personal phone number.
“Lauren? Is everything okay with Mindy? I know she caught the gastro floating around, but I thought she was improving.”
“She’s been feeling badly, but I think we’re past the worst of it. That’s not what I’m calling about. I’m sorry to bother you so late, but I wanted to let you know right away. We’ve found Mindy’s biological father.”
His intake of breath is gratifying. “How’d you find him?”
“My sister ran a DNA search and discovered his wife in the system. It’s a long story, but he’s here, in Colorado. At my house, actually.”
“Okay then. I’ll have to send out my own tests, of course, and see if the cellular match will work, but this could be very good news, Lauren. Don’t get your hopes up too high, though. Often siblings are a better match than parents. Does he have any other children we can test?”
“Not that I’m aware of. It’s a rather...difficult situation, Dr. Oliver.” She blows out a deep breath. “It seems the doctor who helped me adopt Mindy did so illegally, and Mindy was stolen from this couple. The mother was murdered. It’s terrible, and we’re all very upset to learn that we’re going to be involved in a scandal, but right now, all of us are focused on the next steps for healing Mindy.”
He whistles, long and low. “Goodness. Well, I’m sure we’ll have time to discuss everything in detail tomorrow. I’ll get on the phone right now, and we’ll be ready to do the testing first thing in the morning. Can you have her father—biological father—at the hospital at 5:00 a.m.?”
“Of course. See you then.”
“Lauren?”
“Yes?”
“This really is good news.”
“I know it is. I’m just trying to temper my hopes.”
“Understandable. Get some rest.”
He clicks off and she shoves the phone in her back pocket, and thinks back to that first night, seventeen years ago, when she brought Mindy home.
Frantic. That is the only word for this feeling. The baby won’t stop screaming, no matter what she does. She gives it her breast, though she knows there will be no sustenance, but hopes the child’s basic instincts will take over and then Lauren will slip the nipple of the bottle in her mouth, too. It doesn’t work. She warms a fresh bottle, changes another diaper—there’s been nothing but urine since she brought her home, but she doesn’t know how much the baby should go, considering she hasn’t eaten yet. Lauren walks and joggles and swaddles and sings, and still the child cries, pitifully, turning her insides out, and making Lauren’s ears ring.
“Shhh, baby, shhh. It’s okay, Mommy is here.”
Of course, Mommy isn’t here, but Lauren can’t think of that now, can’t think of anything but the crying, the crying, the crying.
Lauren remembers these first few nights with such clarity: the fear, the sorrow, the knowledge her life will never be the same, that they are all changed. The abject horror of the child’s screams, Lauren knowing somehow it is her own fault for wanting the child so much, though that is silly, it’s no one’s fault, but she had a moment where she thought the baby blamed her and was punishing her. She understood, she did. If you were inside of one woman for nine months, and suddenly, that familiarity and warmth was gone and in its place an inexperienced stranger who can’t even feed you...yes, Lauren supposed she would have screamed her head off, too.
If something goes wrong, don’t go near the hospital. Take her somewhere else. A clinic. A friend.
Two days into the crying, desperate, she’d gone to the emergency room. The baby was quickly diagnosed with jaundice and put under a lamp. After the first couple of bowel movements, the frantic crying ceased, and Lauren’s world righted itself.
She should have known. She should have realized something was wrong. She was too wrapped up in her guilt, in the idea that she wasn’t worthy, to recognize actual distress.
She hovered over the baby until Jasper came along, and he had a way with Mindy that Lauren envied. She always quieted for him, always ate for him, always napped for him. Their date nights consisted of wine and pizza and a movie from Blockbuster so they could be close if Mindy woke and needed them.