River recovered first. “Not only is she cute, but she’s also smart as a whip.”
“If you want me to help I can,” Bronson said. “I can do some research and the two of you can do a DNA test with a swab of your cheek.” He glanced from, River, to me, waiting.
I felt Capri rest her hand on my shoulder in silent strength.
Looking over at River, I asked, “Will your family be upset?”
A lump formed in my throat as I waited for her to say she wouldn’t do it, that she had all the family she needed, or deny what was right there looking us both in the face. What she said instead had chills running down my spine.
“I don’t have any family that would be upset, I was abandoned by the river as a newborn.”
Everyone in the room, except for Stormi, made some sort of incoherent noise. My daughter, ever the ray of sunshine once again, announced, “Just like my mommy, but she was left at the lake.”
I didn’t keep secrets from my child and some may say she was too young to be told the story of how my life began, but I believed we had an even deeper bond because of everything we shared.
River’s eyes went as big as saucers at the confession. “It sounds like we have many unknowns to figure out, but that we have more in common than just our appearances.” She took a deep breath. “Before I answer, I have to add to my statement. I said I had no family that would be upset, but I do have two kids I’ve adopted, so I don’t come into this alone.”
While she had just divulged something momentous about herself she didn’t offer more. I could tell her walls were still up and that secrets, maybe even demons, lurked behind her mesmerizing eyes. I found myself hoping that one day we’d be at a place in our lives—as sisters or not—that she’d feel comfortable enough to share.
Something told me that River could use friends as much as I could.
I didn’t know the woman, but after hearing that, my opinion of her was off to a good start and I could sense as the words were spoken that there was a story that came with them. I found myself thinking that if we went through with the test, that no matter the results, I wanted to know what her past entailed.
“That’s amazing,” Capri praised. “You didn’t tell me that.”
River laughed. It transformed the woman right before my eyes. The wall dropped a bit and the cool demeanor she put off—one I suspected was a coping mechanism—wasn’t visible.
“It probably has something to do with me being the therapist and you being the client. I try to keep my personal life separate from my work. You talk, I listen and all that.”
Now it was everyone else's turn to laugh.
I turned my head to look at Capri over my shoulder. From everything I heard and knew, she’d come a long way at being present and embracing relationships since the past that haunted her had been resolved. With things settled and the love of her husband, Paxton, who saved her life, Capri wanted everyone to have what she had now. Friendships, happiness, and love.
So when she said, “Yeah, yeah, but we are friends too, or wewillbe.” She flashed River a beautiful smile. “And with me, come a lot of other amazing ladies.”
I looked back at River and she almost looked sick to her stomach. I knew exactly how she was feeling, not being used to having so many people in my life. And while I was by all meansnot used to it, since it was new for me too, in only a week I had found myself excited about the possibility.
“Well, I—”
Not giving her time to argue, Capri spoke again. “Just wait and see, okay?”
I couldn’t see Capri’s face, but I knew the look she could give—I saw it a few times at the party and over the week— and it was damn hard to say no or deny her anything. Paxton told me once that denying the woman a thing was impossible and I believed him.
River just nodded and Capri’s hand that had still been resting on my shoulder left, and I heard her clap in glee.
“So are we doing this?” I asked, getting back to the big subject at hand.
“Doing what?” Stormi asked, confused.
I looked at her. “I’ll explain it to you later, baby.”
Being a fairly easy-going child, she simply shrugged a shoulder and replied, “Okay.” Then she dug back into her cinnamon roll she still hadn’t finished.
Looking back to River, I waited, watching the indecision cross her face. Then finally, her features settled as she came to a decision.
“We’re doing this.”
Something akin to a tsunami of nerves made waves in my belly, but I wouldn’t back down. I glanced at Bronson and he gave me a tender smile, which I returned.
