Love Deserved, page 23
“Actually, there is a name I like, and I think it will be perfect.”
“What is it?”
Leaning in to kiss our daughter’s head, I stared at her for a moment before I answered Mia. “What do you think of Shaelee Morgan McAllister?”
Mia covered her mouth. Tears filled her eyes as she nodded her head. I had her approval, but I didn’t doubt I would get it. We named our baby girl after us and Mia’s mother. It was adorable, just like the tiny bundle of joy that Mia and I created.
Life couldn’t get any better.
Epilogue
~Mia~
My knee bounced as I sat on the sofa inside my family’s lawyer’s office. I wasn’t nervous about speaking with Jarrett Michaels. He had been the family lawyer since I turned sixteen. What had me on edge was the fact that he wouldn’t divulge the information he had to share over the phone. Whatever news he had, it was colossal.
Shaelee’s whimper drew my attention to her and Ayden. He sat beside me, holding our daughter as he tried to rock her to sleep. I couldn’t believe she was already two and a half months old. She still looked tiny when she was in her daddy’s hands.
Across the room, Andi and Bentley chatted with my father. She’d come with me frequently to speak with Jarrett about work-related legal matters. Bentley and Ayden were just along for the ride. We planned to go out to lunch once we finished here.
I gazed at my father again as my heart pinched. He had lost much in his lifetime. Losing my mother was the hardest thing. To think she’d died over a pack of lies…
My stomach flipped.
The door to Jarrett’s office opened as he walked into the waiting room. “Hello, everyone. Thank you for your patience. I was on a phone call verifying the last bit of information I have to discuss with you. Would you all please follow me into the conference room?”
One by one, we stood and made our way to the room. Inside, we found seats around the large oval table. Ayden held Shaelee in his arms as we sat beside each other. I assumed he wanted me to be free to sign papers if Jarrett had something that needed my signature.
Andi sat at my other side as Bentley took the seat beside her and my father. Once everyone settled, we focused on Jarrett, who opened a file in front of him.
“Before we begin, please know I have verified this information. What I’m about to tell you is, without a doubt, true and undeniable.”
“You’re worrying me, Jarrett.” Humor sounded in my father’s voice, but I knew it was to hide how he really felt. He was nervous. I could tell by the way he twisted the wedding ring on his finger. Even though it had been years since my mother passed, he never removed his ring.
“Trust me, Shane. The information I’m giving you is better than you could have expected.”
“Okay then. Out with it, man. You have us on the edge of our seats.”
Jarrett nodded. “Last month, Selena Giles met her fate. She passed away in the Arizona Correctional Complex around seven a.m.”
“That is… unfortunate.” My father’s gaze moved to the table as he placed his hands atop it. “What does her death have to do with us?”
Jarret looked over the paper in his hands, then glanced at my dad and me. “According to the letter I received from her lawyer, Selena Giles made some deathbed confessions.”
“If this is about Izzy, let me stop you.” Dad regarded me before he looked at Jarrett. “I received my results from the paternity test a couple of months ago. I know I’m not Izzy’s biological father.”
“Selena confessed the same before she died, but there was more.”
My dad’s forehead wrinkled as he frowned at Jarrett. “More? What else did she share?”
“After you brought the paternity issue to me a few months ago, I looked into this situation further.” Handing my father a paper from the file he had, Jarrett cleared his throat before he continued. “Selena was ready for you if you asked for a DNA test. She could have cheated the tests if you asked for proof.”
“How?” Dad waited for Jarrett to answer.
“Selena kept your wife doped up so she wouldn’t know what was happening. In fact, she drugged your wife the night she gave birth. Your wife didn’t know what really happened.”
“And you do?” I didn’t mean my question to sound rude, but the news Jarrett delivered to us was difficult to process. I was skeptical of everything.
Jarrett tapped his fingers against the folder in front of him. He observed me for a moment before nodding his head. “Selena confessed that the night you were born, your mother delivered you, but she delivered another baby, too.”
Every nerve in my body tingled. “Are you saying I have a twin?”
“Yes. Selena sold the child to a couple on the black market. They couldn’t have children, and because of the husband’s previous suicide attempts, they couldn’t adopt. After contacting Selena, she promised them a child and said it would be available in a few weeks.”
“Morgan couldn’t have known she was pregnant with twins.” My father raked his fingers through his hair and exhaled. “So, you’re saying I have another child out there?”
“Yes, Shane, you do. But this story gets more bizarre. Once Selena brought the baby to the couple, she made a deal. She asked for access to the child’s DNA. The adoptive parents were so happy to have a baby, they agreed to her request. Selena planned to use that DNA if you asked for proof of paternity,” Jarrett answered.
My father gripped the arms of his chair and leaned forward. “Are you sure about this?”
“It’s why you’re here. I had one of the private investigators I work with track down this couple to interview them. Unfortunately, both the husband and wife have died. After some digging, we located the file they kept on the adoption. Shane, we tracked down the child they received from Selena.”
“Does this person know who they are?” Dad clenched his hands in his lap. I wanted to tell him everything would be okay, but I couldn’t speak. The news stunned me, too.
“I haven’t spoken with this person. They have no clue about this because my investigator collected their DNA without their knowledge. We tested it against yours.”
Jarrett’s explanation had my dad snorting. “Are you talking about the sample I used for my paternity test on Izzy?”
“Yes. The results came in yesterday, so I spent yesterday and today confirming everything. You can have another test done to double-check that the information is correct, but I was thorough.”
“So I have another child out there. Who? Is it a girl or a boy? Do they know I’m their father?”
Jarrett laughed as my dad asked question after question. It excited him to learn he had another child. The news thrilled me as well. Izzy hated me all of her life. Was it possible I had a sibling who might actually care about me?
“Shane, I need you to take a deep breath. Everyone in the room should take one.” Jarrett pointed to the paper he handed my father. “The name of your child is in that letter.”
My father lifted the sheet of paper and began reading it. We sat in silence as anticipation built. I couldn’t wait to find out who my sibling was. Did I have a twin brother or sister?
A few seconds later, the paper fell from my father’s hands. He covered his mouth with the other and stared blankly. “I can’t believe this.”
“Dad? What’s wrong?”
He tried to answer me, but no words came out of his mouth. After several seconds of trying to respond, he finally stood and walked over to my chair. Then he handed me the letter.
“You won’t believe this unless you read it yourself.”
Taking the letter in my hand, I began reading the regular jargon the letter contained. It was like the one Ayden received. I had to flip to the second page when I reached the most significant part. As soon as I read the name, it hit me.
“Oh, my God.” Covering my mouth, I glanced at my father. “This is real?” Once he nodded, we both glanced at the person beside me. Andi’s brows knitted as confusion covered her face.
“What’s wrong? Do I know this person?”
“Better than anyone.” I laughed at the thought. No wonder we were always close. “It’s you, Andi. According to the DNA test, you’re my twin sister—fraternal—but a twin.”
It took a minute for the news to sink in. Once it did, Andi’s eyes welled with tears. My father handed her the letter that verified the information we had just learned. As she read it, she covered her mouth with a shaking hand.
“Bernadette and Alan Williams were my adoptive parents. I knew they adopted me, but I never knew who my birth mother was. I assumed the woman was too young to care for me.”
Dad placed his hand on her shoulder as she gazed at him. “You were a victim like we were, Andi.”
A wide range of emotions hit my friend. I could see how excited she was to learn the truth. We’d always felt like sisters more than Izzy and me. Guess this explained why. Still, I knew the news had to upset her. Andi’s entire life had been a lie.
“I can’t believe this. I wish…” Her voice cracked as tears formed. “If only I had known Morgan was my mother. I would have spent more time with her before she died.”
“At least you met her and got to know her. She loved you, Andi. It’s why she asked Dad if you could live with us when you were younger.”
“Do you think my adoptive mom knew where I came from? After all, she was one of Morgan’s dancers.”
“Both of your parents were good people.” My father placed his hand on Andi’s back and patted it. “If they had known, they would have returned you.”
“I guess in a way they did. It’s why I ended up at Music Haven after they died.” Andi gazed at our dad as he motioned her to stand. As soon as she did, he wrapped his arms around her, crushing her to his chest. “I may have suffered through hell when I lost your mother, and I went through a lot of hell while raising a child that wasn’t mine. To learn I have a daughter as kind and wonderful as you… The pain and suffering were worth it.”
Andi hugged our father just as tightly as he did her. They had a special moment that I admired. Nothing about it made me jealous. I was happy to share my father with my best friend.
As soon as they broke their embrace, Andi’s arms wrapped around my neck. “This is the reason we feel more like sisters than friends. We really are sisters.”
“I’m glad it’s you, Andi. You’ve always been more than a friend. You’ve supported me for as long as I can remember. That’s what a real sister does.”
We hugged for a long time, crying and laughing. The one person who’d caused pain in my life was finally out of it. The child she lost wasn’t my niece or nephew, but it had been Wesley’s kid. I felt sorry for him in that aspect, but I wouldn’t dwell on it.
I smiled as Ayden and Bentley joined our celebration. My life was finally complete. I had a sister I adored, a father who was back in my life, and a husband who loved me. But most of all, I had a beautiful baby girl to raise. One day she would inherit Music Haven, and I would be the one teaching her how to run the business. It was everything I ever wanted.
Music Haven was a place where dreams came true. I made sure it happened for others. Fate made sure it happened for me.
The End
Afterword
Dear Reader,
Thank you for taking the time to read Love Deserved. I hope you enjoyed the story. If you did, please consider telling your friends or posting a short review. Word of mouth is an author’s best friend and much appreciated.
This is the end of Mia and Ayden’s journey . . . for now. You’ll see them again in a spin off novel I have planned for Darius Stone. I’ll be sharing more about this story in my newsletter and on social media, so be sure you’re subscribed and following.
I am also writing a prequel story to this trilogy which I hope to release in 2019. There will be some short stories as well. Stay tuned for more interesting tales ahead, but rest assured, Mia and Ayden have found their happily every after.
If you’d like to connect with me or keep up on my latest news, you can find me all over the web. I have a newsletter filled with goodies too. You can find the link to the signup form, as well as links to my social media, under the “Contact Information” section of this book. Also, I have other books available. To learn about those, please visit the section: “Also by Kelli McCracken”.
As always, thank you for your continued support.
Acknowledgments
This is a special shoutout to the people that helped make this books possible, as well as the people who encourage and inspire me. Your time, dedication, and compassion are priceless. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
To Rhonda, for your keen eyes, skills, and for always taking my projects.
To my beta readers, Renee, Karie, Andrea, Sharon, Tiffany, Jackie, Michelle, Kim, Danille, Wendie, Lisa, Karen, and Tracy, for your feedback, encouragement, and inspiring emails.
To my Street Team, those wonderful readers who tell people about my books, for the ones who leave reviews, and those who dedicate time to promoting me.
To my Backstage Pass Team, for the continuous love and support you give me. Thank you for believing in me.
To Elena, my closest and dearest friend, the person who I could never do this without. Thank you for everything you do, and for being you, my soul sister.
To my children, the most amazing people on the planet who love me unconditionally and keep me full of life. I love each of you with all of my heart.
To my husband, my best friend, my hero, and the love of my life. Thank you for everything. I can’t describe what you mean to me in words, but you are the key to my heart. I love you, babe. Always and forever.
About the Author
Kelli McCracken is an author of rock star-themed contemporary and paranormal romance. She loves penning a good, sexy story that stirs emotions and tantalizes the senses. Kelli Currently has four published series with many projects outlined and ready to be penned.
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When she’s not writing, chatting with readers, or plotting her next story, Kelli loves to read, listen to music, and enjoy time with her family.
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She resides in Northeast Kentucky, is the mother of four, and has been happily married to her husband, James, for fourteen years.
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Catch up with Kelli on the web or email her at:
kelli.mccracken.books@gmail.com
*Additional links under ‘Contact Information’.
Contact Information
Website
Newsletter
Author Fan Page
Kelli McCracken Reader Group
Also by Kelli McCracken
Only in Time (Touched by Magic, Prequel)
Longing for You (Touched by Magic Series, Book 1)
Colliding with You (Touched by Magic, Book 2)
Kelli McCracken, Love Deserved
