Tess picked up invisible cookie crumbs with her fingertip. “But then, a few years later, around the time I learned that Sophie had gone to Vanderbilt and appeared to be doing very well for herself, I found you on the Internet as a high school teacher. In your biography, you said that you were caring for your brother, Dylan. That concerned me. I wondered why an eighteen-year-old girl was working full time and caring for her brother. I couldn’t let it go. I was retired by then, and Gainesville was just twenty miles from where Rudy and I were living at the time, so I took it upon myself to contact the PTA and volunteer in hopes that doing so would provide me an opportunity to meet you.”
“Which it did.”
“I struck up a friendship with you. When you told me about your parents and your brother, I felt responsible.”
“Youwereresponsible for placing me with that family.”
“And I knew that I was. I liked you at once. And, of course, I liked Dylan at once, too. He reminds me of Ian. Pale skin, brown hair, brown eyes.”
Fresh understanding filtered in. Tess had always doted on Dylan.
“I wanted to help you, as a way to make amends for what I’d done and for your parents’ deficiencies. I also wanted to build a relationship with the two of you. Rudy and I have five granddaughters and we now have three great-granddaughters. Here was a boy. Here was another chance to know and care for a little boy. You and Dylan have made our lives, Rudy’s and mine, so much richer these last ten years.”
“When I wanted to leave Gainesville for Dylan’s sake, you encouraged me to apply for a position in Misty River.”
“Yes, because our cabin was here. I love this place, and I had reason to believe you’d love it, too.”
The villain who’d switched her at birth was the same woman who’d functioned as a grandmother to her and Dylan. Tess had taken care of them more dependably than any of Leah’s actualrelatives ever had. Tess had picked up Dylan from school foryears. Tess had brought Leah food when she was sick, given her gifts every birthday and Christmas. Tess and Rudy had functioned as her trustworthy babysitters.
What was it that she needed to communicate to Tess?
“It was wrong of you to switch Sophie and me.” She definitelydidneed to say that.
“Yes,” Tess acknowledged. “It was. Unequivocally.”
“You played God when you did that, and no one has the right to play God. Not for any reason. Regardless of what Jonathan did to Ian, Jonathan was the father I should have had.”
“I’m very sorry, Leah.”
“He and his wife could have given me...” Her voice broke. The depth of her emotion took her by surprise. “Stability and the chance to pursue my education, which I would have cherished.” Yet it sounded like Jonathan was a snake. So while growing up as his daughter would have granted her some advantages, there was no telling what hardships it might also have served her.
“Are you going to tell Sophie and her family what I did?”
“I haven’t decided. Imagine how they’ll feel if I do tell them. As terribly as I felt when I learned I wasn’t biologically related to Dylan.” Tears piled on Leah’s lashes. “Your actions will decimate them.”
“Are you going to turn me in to the police?” Tess asked after a time. “Or to a reporter?”
“No.”
Tess handed her a napkin. “I won’t blame you if you do.”
Leah blotted her eyes. “If I tell Sophie and her family the truth, I can’t say how they’ll respond to you. But I’m not interested in bringing you down. You took your revenge, but I won’t be taking mine.”
Tess’s composure finally slipped, revealing regret. “I truly am sorry.”
Leah couldn’t bring herself to tell Tess she was forgiven.
“Do you think, given time, we can continue as we have been?” Tess asked. “You, me, Dylan, and Rudy?”
“I don’t know.” Leah stood. “I honestly don’t know.”
They looked at each other for an agonizing stretch of time.
Then Leah walked from the cabin.
As she drove home, she wished with a yearning that stole her breath that she could go to Sebastian’s house, pour out her story, and find comfort in his arms.
God, her spirit howled,where are you?
