“Jane, darling,” Pamela called out, rising from her seat in the waiting area. Her eyes immediately flicked to Gabe with barely concealed irritation. “So you were serious about bringing…. him.”
“Gabe is here to support me,” Jane said firmly, feeling Gabe’s solid presence beside her as they approached the reception desk.
The next hour was a blur of paperwork and preliminary tests. Gabe stayed with Jane where he could, sitting beside her in waiting rooms, standing just outside examination areas, hispresence a constant reassurance. Much to Pamela’s obvious irritation.
When they were finally settled in a small consultation room waiting for the doctor, Pamela, having inserted herself into their presence despite Jane’s clear reluctance, leaned close to Gabe.
“I can’t believe how she’s putting on this act about her concern,” Jane whispered. “It’s so transparent.”
Gabe’s expression was thoughtful as he glanced at Pamela, who was fidgeting with her phone across the room. “I don’t want to hurt your feelings,” he said quietly, “but I think Pamela has a hidden agenda. She wanted you here alone and is clearly not happy to see me here.”
“I know,” Jane admitted, relief flooding through her that Gabe saw it too. “I have the same feeling.”
“Be careful,” Gabe warned gently. “Don’t get attached to whatever picture she’s painting.”
Jane almost laughed. “There’s no way I will get attached. But I do wonder about that side of my family. I never knew anything about Pamela’s family, my grandparents on the other side.”
Gabe shrugged slightly. “If Pamela is anything to go by, maybe you dodged a bullet.”
Jane had to agree with him, but still, curiosity gnawed at her. Who were these people? What was her genetic heritage beyond the Christmas family she knew and loved?
“But maybe now’s your chance to ask her about it,” Gabe said suddenly. “I’ll go get us something to eat and drink. I’ll stay gone for an hour. You can talk to her.”
“I...” Jane’s heart lurched, not sure she wanted Gabe to leave. But he was right. She might get this one chance to talk to Pamela and get some answers.
Gabe excused himself, telling the nurse he’d be back shortly and asking her to let him know if the doctor came while he was gone.
The moment the door closed behind him, Pamela’s entire demeanor changed.
“I thought he’d never leave,” Pamela scoffed, moving to sit closer to Jane. “Jane, sweetie, you can do so much better than him.”
Jane felt instant offense rise in her chest like a wave. “I don’t think they come much better than Gabe. He’s a hero. Literally. He’s a Navy SEAL.”
“Oh!” Pamela looked contrite for a few seconds, but the expression was gone as quickly as it came, sliding off her face like water. “Well, that’s... impressive.” She waved a hand dismissively. “So, Jane, I thought after this, you and I could have a family lunch.” She smiled beguilingly. “You know, catch up. You can tell me about your life.” Her eyes swept over Jane appraisingly. “You look marvelous and so happy.”
Jane stared at her, flabbergasted.Did she just say that?Pamela was so off track it was laughable. “You had thirty years to catchup,” Jane pointed out, her voice cold. “I don’t feel my life is any of your business.” Her eyes narrowed. “But since you might be responsible for me having a slow, painful death one day...” She saw Pamela’s eyes darken and knew she’d hit a nerve. “You can tell me about your side of the family. Start with this grandmother who may have handed me a premature death sentence.”
Pamela went rigid in her chair. “My mother left me when I was a baby,” she said, her voice tight. “I was raised by a woman whom my father married to give me a mother. Or a free nanny, more like. Then he left us, and I was raised by her.”
Was Jane supposed to feel sorry for her? “I can relate,” Jane said flatly. “My mother left me, too, when I was three.”
“My real mother died,” Pamela said scathingly, as if that made her abandonment somehow more noble.
“So did mine,” Jane told her, her eyes devoid of all emotion, knowing that her barb wouldn’t even penetrate Pamela’s hard skin, and if it did, she didn’t have a heart for it to hit. “Did your mother die of this disease?”
“Uh...” Pamela’s hesitation gave Jane a creepy feeling, like spiders crawling up her spine. “Yes. She did.”
“I’m sorry,” Jane said, though she felt nothing of the sort. “That must’ve been rough for her.”
“It was,” Pamela said quickly. “But I got a new mother, and she did what she could. My father was a traitor. He didn’t want kids, just needed an offspring.”
“Again,” Jane said, her voice flat, “I can relate. The woman who gave birth to me did the same thing your father did. It must be in their blood.”
Pamela gave her a tight smile. “I know I did wrong by you, Jane. I can’t make up for the past, but I’m trying to prevent you from having a tragic future.”
“Too late,” Jane told her, knowing fully well the woman in front of her had no clue what she was referring to. Too late! She’d already lived through her tragic future. “So what was your father like?”
“Not a very nice man,” Pamela’s voice was filled with venom. “He died a couple of months ago from old age.”
