“What do you mean?”
“You said that this wasmychance to get out of here. That’s not going to happen if I have to leave you behind.”
Kiara slouched back in her seat. “Let’s cross that bridge when we get to it.”
“I’m not leaving here if it means leaving you behind,” Angela said again. “We’re already at that bridge, and I’m telling you that this is how we’re crossing it.”
Kiara gave a huff of laughter, and sat forward to lean her arms on the table. Her hazel gaze sparkled with love, something that Angela felt for her as well.
It was why she refused to consider any future without Kiara at her side. They might not be biological sisters, but Angela couldn’t imagine her life without Kiara. They’d been through a lot together, and Angela wasn’t sure she would have made it through so well if it hadn’t been for Kiki.
"We'll figure it out together," Kiara said softly. "We always do."
The clock inched its way to four o’clock with infuriating slowness. Kiara made grilled cheese sandwiches that neither of them had much appetite for, while Angela paced between the kitchen and the living area, checking her phone every few minutes.
At exactly four o'clock, the phone rang.
Both women froze, staring at the device on the table. On the second ring, Kiara nodded encouragingly at Angela.
"Hello?" Her greeting sounded weak, so she cleared her throat, then repeated it before she tapped the screen to put it on speakerphone.
"Good afternoon, Angela. This is Jude Kessler."
His voice was just as she remembered—deep and steady, with a quality that somehow made her feel like he could be trusted. "Hi."
"Do you have a few minutes to talk now?"
"Yes." Angela sank into her chair, and Kiara immediately moved closer. "Um, my sister is here with me. Is that okay?"
"Of course.”
Angela felt a rush of relief that he had accepted Kiara’s presence so easily. “Thank you.”
"I'd like to ask you some questions about your adoption, if that's all right."
Angela's stomach clenched. "Okay."
"How old were you when you were adopted?"
"Two or three.”
"Do you remember anything from before that time?"
Angela glanced at Kiara, who nodded encouragingly. "No. Nothing at all. I've tried, but it's all blank."
"That's not uncommon," Jude said, his deep voice gentle. "What about your adoptive parents? Are they still alive?"
"Sandra, my adoptive mother, passed away a few years ago. My adoptive father…" Angela hesitated, not sure how much to reveal. "We don't live with him anymore."
"I see." There was a pause, and Angela could hear what sounded like typing in the background. "Were you told anything about your birth family? Given any details about why you were available for adoption?"
Angela swallowed past a growing tightness in her throat. "Not really. Just that… that my birth parents weren’t good. That they couldn't take care of me properly."
"Angela, I need to ask you something, and I want you to know that whatever you tell me will be kept in complete confidence." Jude's voice became more serious. "Were you happy with your adoptive family?"
The question hung in the air. Angela looked at Kiara, whose expression had grown concerned.
"I… I was sometimes. Sandra was okay most of the time but…" Angela hesitated, wary of revealing the truth. "But my adoptive father, Jim, isn’t a very… warm man."
