“I don’t want people knowing I came here to find Vic, so...” She lifted a shoulder. “I guess so.”
A beat. Then, “Um. You don’t have to tell me—”
“I have a four-year-old daughter.”
Given the clues she’d dropped, it didn’t blow him over. The way she cared for—rescued—Wren. Twice. Still, it took a second for him to nod. Swallow that information down. “I see. But...” He frowned. “Wait. She is fine—wasfine. What’s that about?”
“I gave her up for adoption.”
Oh. His chest fisted, ached, and he managed not to pull her into an embrace. But he met her eyes. “That’s tough.”
“Yes. And now. I mean ... sometimes I know in my bones it was the right thing to do. But...”
“It’s still an open wound.”
“I feel selfish.”
Ah. No wonder her father’s words about her selfishness cut to the soul.
“I think adoption just might be the most unselfish thing in the world—”
“I used to think that. Still do, most of the time, but ... then I land a Grammy or go on a world tour and look out into a crowd of thousands and think ... you’d better be happy, because you gave away your kid for this.”
Oh. Wow. “That’s a pretty brutal thought.”
“I’m saying it nicely. The words in my head don’t pull their punches.” Her mouth made a grim line. “And maybe they’re right. Truth is, until recently, I didn’t think about her every minute of every day like a mom should. Or does. I ...walked away. And now I don’t know how I feel.”
“Okay. Let’s just get to the bottom of this.” He led her to the bench. “Let’s talk about thewaspart of the sentence. Is she not okay now?”
He sat opposite her.
She sighed. “Her name is Zoey. Her middle name is Anne, after my adopted mother. I told them and they kept it.”
“They sound like good people.”
“They are. From Oklahoma. My manager found them for me. He’s a doctor. Her mom was a nurse. They couldn’t have children of their own ... they really loved her. They’d send me pictures sometimes. Updates.”
Past tense, and his chest tightened. “And then?”
“They were in a car accident over Thanksgiving. The mom was killed, the dad, Bryce, is currently paralyzed. It’s possible he could recover, but it’ll take years of therapy.”
He nodded, swallowed, a buzz starting deep in his brain.
Not now!
“Bryce reached out and asked me to take guardianship. Otherwise, she goes to foster care.”
“Bryce doesn’t have family? Grandparents?”
“His wife’s parents died years ago. He just has his mother, and she’s struggling with Alzheimer’s. So...”
Oh wow. He drew in a breath.
“See, I am selfish to even consider saying no. Or a coward because then what? I tell the world what happened?”
“You could keep it private.”
She cocked her head at him. “Have you seen my life?”
