Sandra might not have left her with many happy memories, but the woman had equipped her with knowledge that had enabled her to get a job after leaving the homestead.
If only her boss wasn’t such a not-so-great person.
When the ringing of her phone interrupted her thoughts, Angela hesitated before answering it. She knew Patty wouldn’t like it if she chatted too long during work hours.
However, ever since Kiara had been making phone calls trying to get hold of Cole Halverson, Angela had answered every call. Regardless of whether she recognized the number or not.
She wiped her hands on her apron, then pulled her phone from the back pocket of her jeans.
“Hello?”
“Good morning.” The man who greeted her had a deep voice that resonated through the phone, rich and commanding, with a hint of gravel that made her picture someone tall and broad-shouldered standing at military attention. “Am I speaking with Angela Reynolds?”
“Uh… yes. I am she… uh, I’m her.” Angela rolled her eyes at her own stupidity. “I am Angela Reynolds. How… how can I help you?”
“Did you phone Cole Halverson wanting information about his date for a gala?”
Technically, it had been Kiara, but Angela had been there for each conversation. “Yes. I think I look a lot like her.”
“Is there a reason you’d automatically think you might be related to her instead of just seeing an uncanny resemblance in a stranger?”
Angela sank down on one of the stools in the bakery’s kitchen, wishing that Kiara was there.
“I’m adopted,” she said. There didn’t seem to be a reason to not be honest about that. “So I thought maybe I had a sibling somewhere.”
“Would you be willing to take a DNA test to confirm whether or not you are related to her?”
“I suppose.” Angela hesitated. “Are you related to her?”
“No, I’m a friend of the family. They asked me to make contact, just in case it really is simply a coincidence. They don’t want to get their hopes up until they have confirmation.”
Hope flared in her heart. Had they been looking for her? “Oh. Okay. That makes sense.”
“I’d like to meet with you in person, if possible.”
Angela hesitated. “Um… sure.”
“And do you have a couple of minutes to answer a few questions?”
She glanced toward the doorway that led to the front of the bakery. Patty wasn’t there, but her niece was manning the shop, and she reported everything back to her aunt.
“I’m at work at the moment, and I… uh… shouldn’t be on the phone for very long.”
“That’s understandable,” the man said, apparently not upset by her putting him off. “When would be a better time for us to talk?”
“Maybe around four?” If he agreed to the time, Kiara would be there when he called.
“Four would be fine. I’ll give you a call then.”
“Um… what’s your name?” Angela hoped he’d answer her question because she knew Kiara would want that information.
“I’m Jude Kessler,” he said readily enough.
Angela immediately began formulating an image in her head. She wished he’d told her a bit more about himself. But all that she really needed to know was that the woman with Cole Halverson had trusted Jude Kessler enough to send him to check her out.
"I’ll talk to you later,” Jude said.
When he cut off the call, Angela stared at the phone for a long moment before getting back to her feet. Sliding the phone into her pocket, she made her way over to the sink to wash her hands before returning to her dough.
