Chasing Secrets by Jill Cooper

Author:Jill Cooper [Cooper, Jill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-06-24T16:00:00+00:00

At the foot of my bed sits my waiting luggage, filled with as many of my personal possessions as I can muster up. What stays and what goes? It’s almost impossible to decide what’s important because nothing matters anymore. Nothing.

I lay on the bed, curled up in a ball as tight as I can and cry into the satin fabric of my comforter. This was my home and where I belonged, but now…I’m being forced to move by the courts even though all I want is to stay.

A light knock at the door quells my sobs for a moment. I sit up and wipe my face, but I doubt I look presentable. My eyes must be red and swollen, but do I even care? I feel like I’m caught in the middle of a bad dream.

“Come in.”

The door opens, and it’s the detective in charge of the case, Bruce McClain. I hate him even if it’s not his fault. He’s the one who is gathering evidence against my parents, and it’s his fault I need to find somewhere else to live. I’m seventeen years old and being stuck in foster? That’s laughable. I can take care of myself, and I don’t want to leave my home.

“I just wanted to make sure you’re all right. I could hear…how upset you were.”

“Wouldn’t you be? Ripped from your family home with only a few bags to your name. I have to go live with strangers? This is laughable. I have a staff. Just let me stay.”

“It’s not up to me. It’s up to social services.”

I nod. “Thanks for caring.” I roll my eyes and swing my legs off my bed. I stare down at the bags at my feet, and I’m not sure I can really do this.

“I know it’s hard, but it’s only temporary.”

“Only temporary?” I snort. “I found her bones, the baby I’m supposed to be, buried in the wall. I might be only seventeen, but I’m not stupid. I know what it looks like, but my father never would—” His face is unmoving and unconvinced of anything I say. I lose the gumption to change his mind.

Truth is, I don’t know what happened any more than he does. My parents were arrested two days ago, and they refuse my calls, won’t allow me in to see them. Don’t know if they’re embarrassed or just guilty.

But I need to see them! All I need to hear is…that they love me.

Bruce nods and stares down at the ground. “Once the DNA tests are back, and it’s proven—your birth mother is ready to take you in.”

Cathy Summers. I met her twice briefly. She showed me pictures of her home. So simple. A trailer in one of those mobile home parks. I shouldn’t judge her. She gave birth to me. She’s my mother, but I hate all of this. I stand up and roughly yank my bags by the handles. “Don’t I get a choice? A say? I’m not going anywhere with her!” I storm out of the room and take my bags down the hall toward the stairs.

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