Lost & Found by Jenna Gunn & Oona Ryda

Author:Jenna Gunn & Oona Ryda [Gunn, Jenna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-10-03T16:00:00+00:00

“To Whom It May Concern: In the event of my death, I wish for my son, Henry William Dows to be adopted and raised by Mikail George and Gina Hamilton.”

He clears his throat. “It’s signed, forever grateful, Alison Marie Dows.”

“That’s all?” Gina asks, her expression just as disbelieving as mine.

He nods. “That’s it.”

Gina blinks about fifty times in a row.

After a minute, I ask, “So, what if we’re not able to provide him a home?”

Anthony’s expression turns uncompromising. “There is no option. He’d go to an orphanage.”

With a nervous pitch to her voice, Gina asks, “What about a father?”

“It appears she used a fertility clinic. I’m working on confirmation.”

“I’m stunned,” whispers Gina. “Can someone just do this, name people to become the parents of her child?”

“It’s within her rights,” he replies with a nod. “Of course it’s your right to refuse as well.”

I lean back in my chair and force some air into my heavy lungs. “We need a little time to process this.”

Kate’s hand moves to my shoulder. She squeezes it gently. “We can keep Henry here for a few days while you sort things out. You can stay too, of course.”

Anthony slides his glasses off. “The adoption papers will be ready in a day or two. This is pretty fast and easy. Isla Rosa has easy adoption laws in a case like this. I’ll need to fax them to Gina, since she can’t be here in person. I’ll get you, Mikail, to come into the office when I get them done. Do you have any other questions?”

The biggest question I have pops out of my mouth. “Why us?”

He chews on the end of his glasses arm for a few seconds. “Honestly, I don’t know. Other than her being good friends with Gina for so long. That’s my best guess. She obviously saw something in the two of you that made her feel safe about her son’s future.”

Gina leans closer to her camera and asks, “What about her family?”

“Great aunt is all she had left and she’s in her upper 70s. She has poor health. Lives in the assisted living place. ”

We all sit in a weird silence, except for the baby. He makes cooing noises as he pulls at Kate’s necklace. His innocence is equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking.

Anthony begins gathering up his papers. “Okay, well, that’s all I’ve got. I’m sure this comes as a shock. I know how I’d feel if it was me.”

He stands up from the table with his briefcase. Henry giggles when he approaches and tugs on the little black t-shirt the baby is wearing. “Be good, kiddo.”

He shakes Wolf’s hand. “Thanks for helping out. Kate, thanks for all you’ve done. I’ll be in touch, Mikail. And if you think of any other questions, please call me.”

Without a backward glance, he strides out of the kitchen. A second later, the screen door closes with a ‘thwap.’

“You okay?” Kate asks.

“Huh? Sorry, I was just sort of trying to figure out if this is a dream.

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