Dark of Night by Colleen Coble

Author:Colleen Coble [Coble, Colleen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2023-01-10T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Two

Lake Superior’s mood was turbulent. The storm had left a huge surf in its wake, and the sound of the waves rose above the ship’s engine motoring past. With Jon at her side, Annie walked up the hillside to the little cottage behind the lighthouse. Taylor stood on the wet grass, staring at the waves rolling to the beach.

The sun slanted through Taylor’s hair, revealing the yellow glints that grew more obvious every day. That wasn’t Taylor standing there. It was Sarah. Her baby sister, Sarah. Annie had to pound that into her head because the last thing she wanted to do was slip and call her Taylor. Annie had to show she had accepted the DNA results and was welcoming her home with open arms.

Having Jon with her might not have been a good idea since Sarah was so jealous, but Annie didn’t think she could do it alone. Jon’s presence steadied her and let her catch her breath.

Squaring her shoulders, Annie walked across the springy grass toward where Sarah stood. Jon gave a slight cough as they approached, and Sarah turned. Her blue eyes widened as she took in the two of them heading her way. She looked toward the water as if she wanted to flee, but she stayed put and her gaze focused on Annie.

Somehow Annie found the strength to smile. “You’re Sarah, my little sister, home to us at last.”

Until the words spilled out, she hadn’t known what she was going to say. Tears filled her eyes, and she wanted to hold out her arms, but the way Sarah crossed her arms over her chest warned Annie the gesture wouldn’t be welcomed. Sarah wasn’t going to fall into her arms and forgive all of Annie’s shortcomings and oversights.

“So you’re finally here now that you know. What about the whole past week when you ignored me and told me to stay away from Kylie? I was good enough to be a paid employee but not good enough to be called an aunt? Not good enough to be trusted?”

“You’re not being fair, Tay—Sarah,” Jon said. “What would you have done if the situation were reversed? What if Annie came to you with a fake name, contacts to change her eye color, and dyed hair?”

Sarah blinked and looked down. Annie wasn’t sure if she was trying to understand what Jon had said or if she didn’t want to look at her.

Her gaze came up. “And would she have believed me if I’d shown up on her doorstep and announced I was Sarah? She would have tossed me out on my ear.”

“That’s not true!” Annie took a step toward her. “I told you’ve I’ve been looking. Mason sent off a DNA sample after a child’s body was discovered just a day or so before you showed up here seeking a job. I never stopped searching for you.”

Sarah’s mouth twisted, and she shook her head. “I don’t believe you.”

“Ask Mason,” Jon said. “He can show you the email and the record of the DNA sample.

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