Patty
Having already committed to learning the answer once and for all, Kinley didn’t hesitate to tear open the small envelope. A picture dropped out first, nearly catching on the breeze. Ryder was faster.
“What’s that?” She leaned against his arm, both of them squinting at the photo of some pinkish document.
“It’s your birth certificate,” Ryder said.
“But I have mine.” She’d looked at it often enough, willing the wordunknownunder the father slot to morph into a name. An answer.
“This one has your dad’s name on it.”
Lee Daniels.
“No. No way. That’s not possible.” She hopped up from the bench, letting Ryder keep the photo as she paced. “Why? How? Leehatesme. He can’t possibly . . .”
Ryder stood, capping her shoulders with sturdy hands. “It’s just a photo, Kin. Photos don’tproveanything. Take some deep breaths.”
The flutter of the breeze rattled the torn edges of the smaller envelope, drawing Kinley’s attention back to it. “I think there’s more.” She dropped back onto the bench, pulling out a couple of pink sticky notes.Melba still has the original?one said. The otherChippendale. Melba’s office. Secret drawer?
“What do they say?” Ryder asked.
“I-I need to go home. Clear my head.” Kinley handed over the sticky notes, unsure what to do—to think—anymore. “Do you think it’s true? Do you think for some sadistic reason, Melba is holding on to myoriginalbirth certificate?”
Ryder led her to the truck. “I’m not sure. It doesn’t make sense that she’d have it.”
Does Lee know? Has he known thiswholetime?
In a blur of events, they retrieved the Buick and Ryder followed Kinley back to the cabin. She needed to pick up Fiona in another hour and didn’t feel comfortable leaving the car at Tillie’s house.
On the front porch, she heard Pickles hiss through the cracked window screen, whether at Rowdy or Ryder she wasn’t sure. Before she could unlock the door, Ryder’s phone rang. It gave her a reason to fake a smile. “I swear you’re the only person who has reception out here. Is your phone magic or something?”
He flashed her a half smile. “Something. Sorry, it’ll just be a minute.” He stepped off the porch, pacing at the side of his truck. Kinley stood with Rowdy, stroking the dog’s neck and straining her ears to listen in, but his low tone was impossible to make out.
“I’m sorry, Kin. I have to go.”
“Everything okay?” Concern shook her, worrying someone close to him might’ve been hurt.Or worse.
Popping up to the second step, he kissed her. “Everything is fine. More than fine, I think. But I have to go to city hall for a bit. Will you—”
“Go, Chief. I’ll be okay. Promise.”
“Tomorrow morning, we can go talk to Lee together if you want. Just . . . don’t do anything rash, okay? If you spook Melba, who knows what’ll happen to your birth certificate. I suspect Lee’s the only one who’ll be able to get her to admit she has it,ifshe does.” After one more kiss, he and Rowdy sped off down the dirt road headed for town.
* * *
“This is a bad idea.” Ava obsessively scanned the wooded trail, unable to give Kinley a decent glare because she kept looking over her shoulder. Had it not been for the magic of Bonita’s blueberry scones, Kinley wouldn’t have a lookout, even if a paranoid one. “Doesn’t this fall under breaking and entering or something?”
“It’ll be quick. Promise.”
Ava let out a laugh that suggested it’d be anything but. “You better not get me arrested. I locked up an hour early for you.”
“Melba’s at garden club tonight, right?” Kinley asked as the massive log cabin and heavily landscaped yard came into view through the thinning trees. The Daniels family had never wanted for anything, and they had no shame showing it off.
“Yes. She’s the president.”
“We shouldn’t have anything to worry about. Plus, if wedoget arrested, I know a guy.” Kinley meant it as a joke, but Ava didn’t laugh. Truth was, Ryder would be displeased. The tip about Melba’s unlikely cooperation conjured up another plan to take back what rightfully belonged to her. Melba couldn’t accuse her of stealing something that didn’t belong to Melba in the first place.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Ava demanded as Kinley scoured the perfect spot to dart across the expansive lawn to the garage door.
