Beau walked from the pub to the parking lot, still uneasy from his conversation with Raissa. Everything the woman had said made sense, yet he was still hesitating over doing the one thing he knew had to be done. He passed the parking lot and kept walking, circling once around the block, his mind whirling with all the possibilities, most of them not good.
Finally, unable to come up with a good reason to delay any further, he pulled his cell phone from his pocket and pressed in Sabine’s number. Maybe she wouldn’t answer. Maybe she’d be watching a movie or painting her toenails and this entire conversation could wait until he was ready. Like maybe 2056.
But she answered on the second ring.
“Sabine,” he said, “it’s Beau.”
“Hi, Beau,” she said. “How are you today?”
“Er, fine. I’m fine. Um, Sabine, I have some news for you.”
“Oh.” Her previously pleasant voice took on a somewhat fearful tone. “What is it?”
“I think I’ve found your family,” he pressed forward before he could change his mind.
He heard the sharp intake of breath and waited for her response.
“Oh my God,” she said finally. “So fast? I mean, I’m glad, but I can’t believe it. I guess I never really thought you’d find anything…after all these years, you know?”
“I understand. Sometimes you just need a fresh eye and a stroke of luck,” he said, mentally cursing the television special on war criminals.
“I guess so. So what now? I mean, what am I supposed to do? Do I write to them, call them? I know I can’t show up on someone’s doorstep and expect them to be happy about it.”
“That’s all been taken care of for you,” Beau explained. “The family is quite wealthy, and I was certain they’d want all contact made through their attorney. I’ve spoken to him already and provided him with the information I had. He’s spoken to the family and apprised them of the situation.”
“So what do I do now?”
“They want to meet you. If you’d like, I can set up the meeting and go with you if that would make you more comfortable. I know this is very scary, and awkward, so please let me know how I can best help you.”
“Yes…I, um, yes, that would be fine. I mean, set up the meeting and let me know what they say.”
Beau felt his jaw clench involuntarily. “All right then. I’ll call you as soon as I know something.” He flipped the phone shut and shoved it in his pocket, trying to convince himself that everything had already been set in motion before his phone call. That call hadn’t changed anything.
At least that’s what he was going to keep telling himself.