Chapter 16

sixteen

LIAM

Later that night, I found Paul in the living room. With his legs stretched out in front of him and a book open on his lap, he looked totally relaxed.

"How are you feeling?" I asked.

"Sore. I took more pain relief half an hour ago, but it hasn't kicked in yet."

"Once the swelling goes down you'll feel a lot better."

"I hope so." Paul closed the book he was reading. "I thought if I came down here I might be able to take my mind off what happened."

I looked into his worried eyes. "Did it work?"

"Not really, but I discovered the top ten fishing spots in Colorado." He held up the fishing guide he'd been reading. "Your friend must like the outdoors. Most of his shelves are filled with books about hunting."

"A lot of international guests stay here. They usually hire an outfitter and head into the mountains to go hunting." I moved farther into the room. "Do you mind if I join you?"

"That's fine. To be honest, I'd enjoy the company. Every time I close my eyes I see the face of the man who tried to kidnap me. Have you heard anything from the FBI?"

I sat on the sofa and shook my head. "The police and the FBI are still searching for him. It looks as though he had help from someone who works at the airport."

"How did he leave without triggering some kind of alarm?"

"He knew where to go to avoid the security cameras. By the time the security staff saw the license plate of his getaway vehicle, it was too late."

Paul shifted uncomfortably.

"Do you need a cushion or a pillow?"

"I'll be okay. I just need to move my leg. My knee's still sore."

I hoped the man who had attacked Paul felt worse. "Where did you learn to defend yourself?"

"Before Amy came to live with me, I was a high school teacher. The school ran regular self-defense classes. Until today, I've never used any of the moves we learned." He looked at the folder in my hand. "What have you got there?"

"I asked one of my colleagues to review your adoption. They've given me a copy of your Post Adoption Supervisory Report."

"What does that mean?"

I opened the folder and handed him the document. "How much do you know about the adoption process?"

"Not much."

"One thing a lot of people don't realize is how long it takes to adopt a child. Sometimes it can take up to eighteen months. In your case, it took twelve. Once it's finalized, a Post Adoption Supervisory Report is completed. It covers a huge amount of information as well as recommending different resources if there are issues that need to be addressed."

Paul's eyes skimmed across the first page of the document. "My mom and dad were both present at the meeting."

I knew he was talking about his adoptive parents, not his biological ones. I waited for him to read the next page. "The social worker who was handling your case organized a finalization hearing a month after the report was completed. At that meeting, your parents were given permanent legal custody of you."

"What about my biological mother?"

"She didn't have anything to do with this part of the process."

Paul closed the folder. "Do you mind if I hold on to the report for a few days?"

"You can keep it. I know it's a lot to take in, but I want to make sure you're fully prepared for the results of the DNA test."

"What about Alex Quinn? Does he know anything about my adoption?"

"He didn't know he had a sibling. Neither did his aunt and uncle."

Paul took a deep breath. "I guess I'll have to wait until I see the DNA results. But if Alex isn't my brother, who am I?"

I turned toward him. In a lot of ways, I could understand the fear and betrayal I saw in his eyes. After my husband left me, I'd felt the same way. Rebuilding my life without the two most important people in the world was overwhelming. And when my father turned his back on me, I'd felt as lost as Paul.

I wanted him to know he wasn't alone. "It doesn't matter who your biological parents are. You were raised by a mom and dad who loved you. A piece of paper will never change that."

"It changes everything I believe about myself. Mom used to tell me stories about my grandparents. Each Christmas I bake my grandma's secret cookie recipe." Paul's eyes filled with grief. "It was all a lie. Every single word my mother told me was untrue."

"I don't know why your parents didn't tell you about your adoption," I said softly. "But they must have had a good reason. The woman who could be your biological mother was in an abusive marriage. Perhaps your parents were worried your biological father would find you. Keeping you safe would have been everyone's top priority." I looked at the report, then back to Paul. "If Amy was in the same situation, what would you do?"

He froze. "How much do you know about Amy?"

My heart sank. I'd seen firsthand what some children lived through, and I prayed to God that Amy wasn't one of them. "I only know your sister was raising Amy on her own."

"My sister wouldn't put Amy's father's name on the birth certificate. As soon as she told her boyfriend she was pregnant, he told her to leave and never come back. She was constantly worried he'd find her and want custody of Amy."

I couldn't imagine living my life like that. But I'd decided a long time ago that judging the choices someone else made was pointless. Besides, I was the last person who should be telling someone how to run their life.

"Will you look for Amy's biological father?"

"No, but if Amy wants to look for him when she's older, I'll help her as much as I can." Paul dropped his gaze to the folder. "Why does life have to be so complicated? "

"It's only as complicated as you want it to be. Your parents loved you. From what you've said, they wanted you to be happy. One day, they might have told you about your adoption, but you'll never know. The only thing any of us can do is trust that we're exactly where we're meant to be."

"I wish I was meant to be in Paris," Paul said wistfully. "I could be drinking hot chocolate and eating croissants in front of the Eiffel Tower."

I smiled. "I like how your mind works, but a house in Colorado is as exotic as I can manage."

Before I knew what he was doing, Paul placed his hand on mine. "I'll take the house in Colorado any day. Thank you for everything you've done for us."

"I'm only?—"

"Don't say it," he said. "You're doing so much more than your job. You've made Amy feel as though this is an adventure. It could have been a lot worse."

I didn't need to be reminded just how bad it could have been. If Paul had been kidnapped, Amy's life wasn't the only one that would have been turned upside down.

I looked down at our hands and moved mine away. I cared about Paul far more than I should, and twice as much as I wanted to. And for me, that was more dangerous than hiding from the terrorists.