Chapter Thirty-Six
Kane Waters stared at Jesse for a long, uncomfortable moment. “What the hell are you talking about? My wife has parents, aunts, uncles, cousins… She wasn’t abducted as a child.”
“I believe she was, and I’m prepared to prove it.”
“How so?”
“First of all, she knew my name when she first saw me, even though she doesn’t remember why she knew me. When I showed her photos from our childhood, she knew the name of our grandparents’ dog.”
“It’s true,” Carolyn whispered. “What he’s saying… It’s true. I know him. I don’t remember him, but I know him. I remember the dog…”
“Are you saying that you think it’s true you were abducted?” Kane asked.
“I… I don’t know.”
“May I make a suggestion?” Memphis said gently. “A simple DNA test will resolve the matter definitively.”
“Would you be willing?” Jesse asked Carolyn, holding his breath until she nodded.
“I want to know the truth,” Carolyn said.
“If you lead the way to your local law enforcement, they could assist us,” Memphis said. “We could do it ourselves, but I assume you’d prefer to have a neutral party involved.”
“Wouldn’t that make it an official criminal case?” Kane asked.
“It’s already a criminal case.” Jesse called on a reserve of patience he hadn’t known he had until he needed it.
“I’m a U.S. Marshal, and so is Memphis. I’ve been looking for my sister for all this time, and I believe I’ve finally found her.
She was taken from her rightful family for reasons unknown to both of us.
” He looked directly at Carolyn when he said, “If you love her, I’d think getting answers to how and why would matter to you as much as it does to me. ”
“He does love me, and it does matter.” Carolyn placed her hand on top of Kane’s. “It matters to me. I need to know if this is true. Can you understand that?”
“I want to, but I worry about how it’ll affect the rest of our life.”
“What does that mean?” Carolyn asked.
“Just the kids and our family and… everything.”
Carolyn glanced at her husband. “You mean your family and how they might react to finding out your wife was abducted and raised as someone else’s child?”
Kane looked so uncomfortable that Jesse deduced that was his primary concern.
Jesse wanted to cheer for her and hoped that Kane was merely in shock and not putting what his family might think of the situation ahead of what was best for his wife.
He was glad Carolyn had stood up to Kane and made her wishes clear.
Jesse still couldn’t believe that he was sitting across from his Jordan, talking to her, reminding her of who they’d once been to each other.
“Let’s do the DNA test,” Carolyn said. “How long will it take to get the results?”
“We can ask them to put a rush on it, but it’ll take a day or two.”
“What’ll you do in the meantime?” Carolyn asked.
“We’ll find a place to stay and wait.”
“If it comes back that we’re siblings, what happens then?”
“There’ll be a full investigation, beginning with the people who raised you as their own.”
“Could they… Would they… go to jail?”
“If we’re able to prove that they kidnapped you and kept you from your rightful family, then yes. Possibly.”
“It’ll be important,” Memphis added, “that you do not tell them about any of this until we get the DNA results and next steps are determined. Telling them would be seen as impeding a federal investigation and could lead to charges for you, which we wouldn’t want to have happen.”
“Charges for us?” Kane said, incredulous. “We were minding our own business until you showed up with this story about my wife. And now you’re saying we could be charged if we tell people about it?”
“That’s exactly what Memphis is saying.” Working a hunch, Jesse said, “Do you know something about Carolyn’s past that might be pertinent to the investigation?”
“What? No, I don’t know anything about any of this.”
“And you’re sure about that?”
“Yes, I’m sure. For God’s sake, Carolyn, are you going to just sit there while this guy accuses me of doing something?”
“I don’t know what to think about anything,” she said. “Is my whole life a lie?”
“I’m not a lie! Our children certainly aren’t a lie! Do you believe these two strangers over what you know to be true?”
“What I know to be true? I believe that this man is most likely my brother, because what reason would he possibly have to make this up? How would I know his name or the name of our dog if what he was telling me was false? Do you care at all about me knowing the truth of my life, or are you so concerned about what people will think that you can’t think past the gossip of it all? ”
“That’s not fair.”
“It’s entirely fair, and you know it.” To Jesse and Memphis, she added, “His father is the mayor. They’re all about appearances.”
Kane stood so quickly, his chair nearly toppled over. “I’m going to get the kids.”
“And you won’t say anything about this to anyone?” Jesse asked.
“I wouldn’t want to be charged with a crime. I’ll see you at home, Carolyn.”
“I’m sorry about him,” she said. “He’s… It’s a shock to him, of course.”
“Are you safe with him?” Memphis asked.
“Oh God, yes. He’s a wonderful husband and father. Honestly, he was taken by surprise. We both were.”
Jesse wasn’t sure if he believed that, but she would have no reason to lie to him. “I’m sorry to cause you and Kane any angst, but I had to know… I hope you understand.”
“I do, and I’m very sorry for what you’ve been through for all these years. I can’t imagine what it’s been like for you.”
“It’s been hell. Absolute hell.”
“Can you tell me about what happened?”
“Are you sure you want to know?”
She hesitated, but only for a second before she nodded. “I want to know everything.”
After dinner and yet another viewing of KPop Demon Hunters with the kids, Sam and Scotty tucked in the twins and read them one story each before kissing them good night and wishing them sweet dreams.
“Is all your homework done?” she asked Scotty when they were in the hallway.
“Yep.”
“What are you doing now?”
“Watching the Caps game.”
“Can I watch with you?”
He gave her an arch look. “Are you settling for me because your boyfriend’s not here?”
“So what if I am?”
“Haha. You can hang with me if you want to.”
“I want to.”
That was how she ended up snuggled up to Skippy in Scotty’s bed, watching a hockey game she had no interest in and playing with his hair for as long as he’d allow it. “You’re getting very handsome, young Scotty.”
“I’ve always been handsome.”
She snorted out a laugh. “Okay, then.”
“Another girl asked me to the dance today. What is happening?”
“They’re noticing your handsomeness—and your kindness, which is far more important.”
“I just want to go with my friends.”
“Then that’s what you should do, but let them down easy.”
“I was nice about it. I said I already had plans to go with my buddies, but thanks for asking.”
“That’s perfect.”
“I don’t need headlines that say, ‘First Son Is a Douchebag.’”
“Scotty! That’s two dollars for the swear jar.”
“What? That’s highway robbery.”
“Oh, look, the players are fighting!”
“Best part of the game.”
“Was that a tooth that came out of that guy’s mouth?”
“Yep.”
“So gross.”
“I can’t wait until I’m finally allowed to check in high school hockey.”
“What does that mean?”
“I can smash another guy against the boards and ring his bell.”
“But can’t they do that to you, too?”
“They’d have to catch me first.”
Sam laughed. “You’re a trip, young Scotty.”
“My parents tell me that all the time.”
“Do you know how extremely blessed your parents feel to have you in their lives?”
He took her hand and squeezed it. “Likewise, Mama.”
“Even with all the White House nonsense?”
“That makes me the coolest cat in school.”
“Really?”
“Oh yeah. Everyone thinks it’s lit.”
“I assume that means good?”
“Duh.”
“Huh, well, I have the opposite problem at my ‘school.’”
“They’re just jealous of your life as a GOAT.”
“As a what?”
“Greatest of All Time.”
“I am kind of great.”
“And you wonder where I get my self-esteem.”
“I don’t wonder.”
They cackled with laughter that made her whole day.
“I wish Dad was here, but this is kinda fun.”
“It’s the best. Let’s do it more often.”
“I can’t compete with the sexiest man alive.”
“Stop it. You don’t have to compete with him, even if he is, in fact, the sexiest man alive.”
“I heard one of my teachers call him that. Revolting.”
“I mean… I can see how it would be for you.”
“Don’t make it weird.”
“You’re the one who brought sex into it.”
“Mom!”
The BlackBerry vibrated in her back pocket. “Speaking of sex…” Sam took the call from Nick. “Hey. Have you landed?”
“Not yet. We’re still in the air, but I wanted to say goodnight.”
“I’m glad you called.”
“What goes on there?”
“I’m watching the Caps game with Scotty and Skippy.”
“And she’s being inappropriate,” Scotty added.
“He got a two-dollar swear jar fine for using the word DB.”
“Not my son.”
“Your son has a sassy mouth. He gets that from your people.”
“No one in the world believes that,” Scotty said, making Nick laugh.
“I miss you guys.”
“We miss you, too,” Scotty said.
“One of his teachers said you’re the sexiest man alive, which was, and I quote, ‘revolting’ to your son. Not so much to me.”
“You see what I’m dealing with over here, Dad?”
“I’m sorry for your troubles, son, but thank you for dealing with her while I’m gone.”
“Someone’s gotta.”
“I’ll let you guys get to bed.”
“Good luck with the NATO thing,” Sam said. “Better you than me.”
“The whole world is grateful that it’s him and not you,” Scotty said.
“He’s grounded for the foreseeable future,” Sam said.
Nick laughed at their banter. “Love you guys. Tell the twins I love them.”
“We love you, too, and we will,” Sam said. “They missed you tonight. We all did.”
“Miss you more. Talk to you tomorrow.”
“Night, Dad.”
“Night, buddy.”
“So that was my dad, the president of the United States of America.”
“Yes, it was.”
“That’s why I’m the coolest cat in school and why you’re the GOAT at work.”