Chapter Eight #2
“Here let me carry those.” Fin took the large bag from her. “Head on into the kitchen, I’m sure the girls are stuffing their faces right now.”
Once they’d convinced Elsie to eat something hot, they all retired to the living room where the girls were chomping at the bit to open more presents.
“I have something for you as well Harper.”
“Oh, Elsie you shouldn’t have. With the ice storm we had, I wasn’t able to get out to shop for anybody.
“No worries young one, I didn’t shop, for much anyway. This got delivered to me so I brought it to you.” She dug into her oversized purse and handed Harper a thick brown padded envelope.
“What is it?” Puzzled, Harper held the dirt-colored priority package and looked at the return address. “New York? I don’t know anyone in New York.” Turning the envelope over, she pulled the open here tab that slices through the top and pulled out a small stack of paper clipped papers.
“This is from a law office.” She eyed Elsie; eyebrows raised. “I don’t know who Barrett; Baker & Brown is.” She looked toward fin for some help.
“Let me take a look.” He read the first page then leafed through the next few before he turned to Harper. “Honey, these are court papers releasing this case.” Fin continued to leaf through the rest of the stack.
“What case, and releasing it from what?” She was really confused. She didn’t remember ever getting into any trouble with the law. “And why am I getting all this stuff?” She motioned to the papers Fin was still reading.
“From what I can tell, these are adoption papers.” He looked at her before continuing. “Usually, those kinds of papers are sealed for privacy.”
“Okay but why me? I don’t know anyone that was adopted.”
Fin pointed to a spot on the form. “Here it lists Frank and Lila Stevenson as the birth parents to a girl named Chloe, born March 23rd.”
“Those are my parents but that doesn’t make any sense. They never put me up for adoption and that’s not my birth date. So, what does this all mean?”
Harper couldn’t process everything Fin was telling her. He put his arm around her, pulling her closer. “It seems that you just might have an older sister if I’m understanding this information right.”
“What?” Harper looked from Fin to Elsie and back to Fin before she started to sway where she stood. “You’re kidding right?” How could this be? Mom and dad would have told me something like that wouldn’t they?
Fin handed the court papers to Elsie and grabbed ahold of Harper. “Okay, come on, let’s get you to a chair before you pass out on us.” The sofa was closest, and he propped her up with some pillows behind her.
“Is that better?” When she focused on him long enough to nod, he turned to the kitchen. “Don’t go anywhere, I’m going to get you a drink.”
When Fin returned, Harper felt as though she was breathing more calmly and sipped from the glass. She looked up when Elsie spoke. “Seems there’s something else in this priority pack.” She extended a red envelope to Harper. She tried to focus her eyes.
“To my sister Harper,” she read on the label. Somehow, finding new energy at the thought of having family, she ripped it open revealing a hand-written letter on lined notebook paper.
To my dearest sister Harper,
I know this news must come as a shock to you and I dearly hope it doesn’t ruin your holiday festivities.
I think I was in as much shock when I received the news as you may be feeling right now.
First, I should say my name is Chloe Summerfield.
I was put up for adoption when I was two days old.
I grew up with a wonderful family who made sure I knew at an early age about being adopted.
By the time I was old enough to start asking questions, our parents had already passed away.
I’m sorry that you had to go through that alone.
She looked up to Fin, smiling. “She says that adoption records are automatically sealed to protect all parties, so she never thought twice about trying to look any further once she found out our parents were dead. Then she went to law school and eventually figured out that since they were dead, she was able to petition the court for all the information. That’s when she found out she had a sister, me. ”
Harper was so overjoyed she could hardly keep the tears at bay. She continued to read.
I have two brothers that I grew up with, but I would be forever grateful for the chance to meet you in person, even if only just once and…
“Oh my god, she says she’s coming to Holly to meet me.”
“Harper, that’s fantastic.” Fin squeezed her in a tight hug.
“I totally agree and I have Santa to thank for this because this has been the best Christmas ever and I’ve gotten everything I wrote to him about.” She looked over to see Elsie smiling back at her. Fin broke into her thoughts.
“Does she mention when she’s coming?”
Harper scanned the paper, speed reading to find the information. She looked up at Fin and Elsie in disbelief. “She’ll be here in five days.”
The End
Thank you so much for reading How the Mountain Man Stole Christmas.