“And your passport.” Michelle handed them both over to Lili.
“We didn’t know where you’d gone,” Caroline started to explain.
“I’m really sorry if I worried you.”
The phone rang.
“And so the start of another fun-filled day,” Michelle said, returning to the kitchen and answering the phone in the middle of its second ring. “Shipley Home for Wayward Girls. Michelle speaking. How can I help you?” She extended the phone toward her mother. “It’s Dad.”
“Hey,” said Caroline in greeting.
“Have you spoken to Peggy?”
“Not yet.”
“Call me after you speak to her.” He hung up.
Caroline stared blankly at the phone in her hand. “Yes, sir. I’ll take care of that immediately.”
“You don’t think it’s a little early to be calling anyone?” Michelle asked, as Caroline pressed the digits of Peggy’s phone number.
“Why don’t you make us some coffee?” Caroline suggested.
“I can do it,” Lili offered.
“I’ll do it,” Michelle said.
Peggy answered the phone immediately. “What’s wrong?” she said instead of hello.
Caroline immediately filled her in on the events of the last twenty-four hours.
“Holy shit,” Peggy said. “How can I help?”
“Do you know anyone at the San Diego DNA Medical Clinic in Mission Hills?”
“I don’t think so. But let me ask around and get back to you. What time were you thinking of heading over there?”
“As soon as it opens. Probably around nine.”
“Make it ten. It’ll give me more time to make some calls. I’ll meet you there.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“You couldn’t stop me if you tried. Besides, you’ll need a witness, right?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll see you at ten.”
—
The clinic occupied the bottom floor of the modern white stucco, two-story building located at 40 Upas Street. Hunter was already waiting in the building’s lobby when Caroline, Michelle, and Lili arrived.
“You really didn’t have to come,” Caroline told him—the same thing she’d told him on the phone after talking to Peggy. While all DNA clinics tested for paternity, the clinic in Mission Hills was one of the few in the state that also offered maternity testing. Mothers, it seemed, were generally expected to know their own children.
“I want them to test me, too,” Hunter said.
“They don’t need…”
“I want them to test me, too,” he repeated, as if she hadn’t spoken.
“Okay. If you think it’s necessary.”
“I think it’s necessary.”
“Why don’t they test all of us?” Michelle said. “Maybe I’m not really your daughter either.”
“Michelle,” Caroline and Hunter said in unison.
“Sorry—a failed attempt at levity. But hey, you guys—a gold star for presenting a united front. I think that’s a first.”
Hunter turned his attention to Lili. “How are you this morning, Lili? Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“She was up kind of early, did some exploring of the neighborhood,” Michelle said.
“You let her go for a walk?” Hunter asked Caroline.
“I—”
“That’s probably not such a good idea,” he told Lili. “If the press were to get wind of this…I think it’s best that you stick around the house until we get the results of the test.”
The front door opened and Peggy marched into the lobby. She was wearing a pair of gray slacks and a pearl pink blouse, and was obviously dressed for work. She walked directly over to Caroline and hugged her. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay.”
“The rest of you?”
“Just peachy, thank you,” Michelle said.
Peggy’s gaze moved past Hunter and Michelle to the girl at their side. “This must be Lili.”
“Lili,” Caroline said, “this is my friend, Peggy.”
“Very nice to meet you,” Lili said.
“What do you think?” Hunter asked. “You knew Caroline when she was seventeen. Do you think they look anything alike?”
“I don’t know,” Peggy said, all but swallowing Lili’s face with her eyes. “They’re different, but at the same time, there’s something so familiar…I just don’t know.”
“Excuse me, but isn’t that what we’re here to find out?” Michelle asked.
“Micki’s right,” Hunter said, snapping back into lawyer mode. “There’s no point in speculating. Let’s just get on with it. Were you able to talk to anyone?”
“I made a few calls,” Peggy said, “and I finally managed to connect with the person in charge. He said he’ll do everything he can to get the results back to you in a timely fashion.”
“He understands the need to be discreet?”
“He does. He gave me the name of his most trusted technician, said she’s been with the clinic ever since it opened.”
“Then shall we proceed?” Hunter asked, opening the door to the inner reception area.
“Ready?” Caroline asked Lili.
“Ready or not,” said Michelle.