“What do you mean, he isn’t dead?”
A shock wave burst through my body. Numbness washed over my skin. I couldn’t feel my fingers or my toes. The world was tumbling, moving away from me, and I was scrambling to catch it.
Tart squeezed my arm. “Your father isn’t dead. He never has been. I’m sorry that you were lied to.”
I recoiled, slouching into my chair. “But why? Why would my father—my adopted one—lie?”
Tart’s lips flattened in distaste. “Because Vince didn’t want you to ever find your father, I suppose. Like I said, we thought if we hid you in an orphanage, no one would find you or abuse your abilities—if you had them—for the wrong reasons.”
She released my arm and picked at a doughnut. “For years Vince had tried to persuade your father and me to work for him, but we didn’t like him. There was something about Vince your father didn’t trust. Not long after you were born, I stopped seeing your father. We went our separate ways, but we always remained in touch.”
Tart plucked a tissue from her purse and dabbed her eyes. “I’ve spent several years tracking you down, and I was heartbroken when I discovered that the man we had wanted to keep you from had been the person who adopted you.”
It was my turn to offer her comfort. I squeezed her hand. “If it makes you feel better, Vince taught me that my clairvoyance was a gift. He taught me to use it for good. Well, okay, I thought it was for good, but the whole time he was actually bleeding the government for money. So maybe he did abuse my gifts somewhat, but now I’m here trying to help genuine folks.”
“I’m glad,” she said, “and I’m sorry we gave you up. If there was one big regret I have in my life, it’s that.”
Tart dusted doughnut crumbs from her hands and rose. “Well, that was all I wanted. I’ve seen that you’ve grown into a beautiful and capable young woman.” She smiled, her eyes holding a world of happiness. “That’s all I could’ve ever wished for you.”
She nodded to me and started to leave my kitchen.
My head fell. I’d spent a lot of time pushing her away. It didn’t seem right to keep doing that. As much as I hated to admit it, to finally know my mother was a blessing, a boon in my life.
To waste that gift now would be immature of me.
I extended my hand. “Wait.”
She stopped and turned around. When she hitched her eyebrow in question, it was like I was looking in a mirror. “Yes?”
I gestured toward the spread of doughnuts. “I don’t know about you, but I could use some eggs. What do you think?”
A slow smile spread over Tart’s face, and I crossed to the refrigerator and gathered ingredients to make a real breakfast.
By the timewe finished eating, much of my unease toward my birth mother had vanished. I understood her decision-making process regarding me better than I had before.
Besides, there was nothing like bonding over fried eggs and doughnuts, right?
“I won’t be staying in Haunted Hollow long,” she explained. “I only wanted to meet you and talk with you.”
“I’ll be sure to give you my number so you can always reach me.”
Tart squeezed my hand. “I’m just glad I have such an upstanding daughter.”
My doorbell rang, and I remembered the previous night and what had happened to Ruth. Realizing whoever was ringing my doorbell was probably someone to give me the skinny on the current situation, I politely asked my mother to wait in the kitchen.
I opened the door. Ruth and Alice stood looking ready to wage battle.
Ruth threw her arms in the air and rushed past me. “Kency let me go late last night. Said she got what she needed. She doesn’t seem worried about the fabric, but I think she’s lying.
“Alice told me y’all broke into Birda’s house but didn’t find the knife.” Ruth rushed into the kitchen before I could stop her.
I groaned. Well, there went my mother’s idea that I was an upstanding citizen.
“Oh, hello.” Ruth whirled toward me. “For goodness’ sake, Blissful, why didn’t you tell me you had a visitor?”
“Because you didn’t give her a chance.” Alice entered the kitchen. “And then you start spouting off about how Blissful and I broke and entered Birda’s house.”
I raised my hand. “Whoa. For the record we didn’t break anything.”
