“He was my father,” Susannah murmured. “And I never knew him.”
Daniel looked up at her, muted grief in his eyes. “He was a far better father to me than Arthur, Suze. I’m sorry you never knew him.”
Frank Loomis had one other mourner. Angie Delacroix stood off to the side, also pale and sober. A uniformed officer stood behind her.
Susannah squeezed Daniel’s hand. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
Luke walked with her and she was grateful for him. Hand in hand, they stopped in front of Angie Delacroix. “Miss Angie,” Susannah said, “I need to know. Did you tell me the truth that night?”
“Everything I said was true. Frank never knew what happened to you. He would have come forward. It haunted him that you were his and he couldn’t claim you.”
Somehow that helped. “Why did you tell me?”
“Because Charles told me to.” Then she lifted her chin. “But I would have anyway. For Frank. You have his eyes.” She sighed. “Frank was a better man than he knew.”
By now Susannah had read most of Charles’s journals. She knew he’d used Angie Delacroix to listen for gossip for his blackmail schemes and to bring him wealthy women who’d believe he had the gift of clairvoyance. “You brought my mother to Charles.”
“She had money. Charles wanted it. I’m so sorry you were caught in the middle.”
“Why? Why did you do his bidding all those years?”
Angie’s eyes filled. “Whatever Charles made him do, Paul was still my son.”
Luke tugged Susannah’s hand. “Come on. The family’s waiting for us.”
The family. The very words were enough to chase away the sadness. Susannah walked to where Mama Papa and Luke’s father stood with Leo, Mitra, Demi, and Alex, and was enfolded in a group embrace that made her smile and want to weep all at once. But it felt good. I belong to these people. They’re mine. And I’m happy.
“Come,” Mama Papa said, taking her left arm. “We go home now.”
Mitra slipped her arm through Susannah’s right. “And later, we’ll go shopping.”
Luke waved her on. “I’ll push Daniel. You and Alex have girl time with my sisters.”
“That’s nice to see,” Daniel said huskily as the women chattered to raise Susannah’s spirits. “Suze has never had that before.”
“She’ll have it for as long as she wants it,” Luke said, muscling Daniel’s chair forward through the soft earth with his good arm.
“So what do you intend to do with my sister?” Daniel asked, very seriously.
Luke had to swallow his grin. Exactly what I did last night and this morning. But he kept his voice serious. “I could say it’s none of your business.”
“But you won’t,” Daniel said dryly.
“I want her to be happy. I don’t want her to wonder who her family is, ever again.”
Daniel crossed his arms over his chest. “You do realize this could make us related.”
“If I do it right, yes. I can deal with it if you can.”
“I can.” Daniel was quiet a moment. “I wouldn’t mind being an uncle. Just sayin’.”
Luke smiled. “Then I guess I really have to do it right.”
About the Author
KAREN ROSE is an award-winning author who fell in love with books from the time she learned to read. She started writing stories of her own when the characters in her head started talking and just wouldn’t be silenced. A former chemical engineer and high school chemistry and physics teacher, Karen lives in Florida with her husband of twenty years, their two children, and the family cat, Bella. When she’s not writing, Karen is practicing for her next karate belt test! Karen would be thrilled to receive your e-mail at karen@karenrosebooks.com
