Catherine removed the Sophia Burke file and opened the folder. Above the typed name Sophia Rossi, was the scribbled name Sophia Rossi Burke... Catherine searched the pages. There was a plethora of outdated information. Nonetheless, written above the text on the second page was a telephone number. Catherine couldn’t resist. She used the blocked house phone.
Derek answered his wife’s cellphone. The past few weeks were too much. She wasn’t up for solicitors or blocked numbers. “Hello?”
Catherine hesitated, questioning the correctness of the number. She expected a woman’s voice. “I’m sorry, I’m looking for the beautiful baby girl I was forced to give away thirty-three years ago.”
Derek listened. Sophia had said she didn’t want to know her birth parents. Nevertheless, this may be their only chance to learn the truth. “I’m sorry; my wife is indisposed right now. She’s had a difficult few weeks.”
“Yes, that’s the reason I’m calling. I never wanted to interfere with her and her adoptive parents. But now....” Catherine wasn’t sure how to finish that sentence. Now she was lonely and wanted to at least meet her daughter? Now she thought her daughter might be more open to learning about her birth mother? Now she had nothing better to do...
Thankfully she didn’t need to finish the sentence. Derek interjected. “Tell me the date you gave birth.”
Catherine sat taller. Who was this man demanding information? She sure as hell wasn’t intimidated. She’d loved Nathaniel Rawls and outlasted Anton Rawls... this man was nothing in comparison. However, she answered, “July 19, 1980.”
Catherine heard muffled voices. Then a woman’s voice, “Please, don’t call again. My parents are dead. I don’t know you.”
Marie sat straighter. Of course she deserved this response. Nonetheless, part of reasoned maybe she could fill a void left by the death of her daughter’s adoptive parents. If nothing else, she could look out for the young woman from afar, as Anton and Nathaniel had done. “I’m sorry, I won’t call you again.”
Resolutely, the young woman swallowed her emotions. “Wait, if you could give me your number, I’ll think about it. Then when I’m ready I can call you.”
Catherine breathed a sigh of relief... this was more than she’d expected. “Yes, of course.”
Derek’s voice came back through the receiver, “You may give me the number. When my wife is ready, if she is ready, she will call you. Please do not call her phone again.”
Catherine heard her daughter’s sobs in the background and gave the number of a disposable phone to her son-in-law. After he repeated the number, he disconnected the line.
Catherine grinned. She’d found her daughter. Her daughter was married – to a man named Burke. She needed more information. That was all right, as before, she had the time. And without a doubt, Catherine was up for a new challenge.
CONVICTED
(#3 in the CONSEQUENCES Series)
You must stick to your conviction,
but be ready to abandon your assumptions.
—Denis Waitley
Coming: Late 2013 – Early 2014
Aleatha Romig
Aleatha Romig voted #1 "New Author to Read" on Goodreads! She has lived most of her life in Indiana, growing-up in Mishawaka, graduating from Indiana University, and currently living south of Indianapolis. Together with her husband of twenty six years, they've raised three children. She works days as a dental hygienist but enjoys spending her nights writing. She also likes to spend time with her family, friends, and patients. Her pastimes include: exercising, reading, and writing.
Aleatha enjoys traveling, especially when there is a beach involved! In 2011 she had the opportunity to visit Sydney, Australia, to visit her daughter studying at the University of Wollongong. Her dream is to travel to places in her novels and around the world. CONSEQUENCES is her first novel. TRUTH, book 2 of the CONSEQUENCES series, is scheduled for release in November 2012! The final installment, CONVICTED will follow... stay tuned!
Contact Aleatha:
Please share your thoughts about Consequences on:
*Amazon, Consequences by Romig, Customer Reviews
*Barnes & Noble, Consequences by Romig, Customer Reviews
*Goodreads.com/Aleatha Romig
Stay Connected…
“Like” Aleatha Romig @Facebook.com/Aleatha Romig, to learn the latest information regarding Truth, Convicted, and other writing endeavors.
And, “Follow” Aleatha Romig on Twitter!
Table of Contents
Copyright
Acknowledgements
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Afterward
Convicted
About the Author