Page 41 of Counting the Stars

“All I know is that my parents ran away from home shortly after they graduated high school. I never met any blood relatives. I have no idea who my grandparents are or if they are even still alive. I could have cousins or extended family living right around me and I wouldn’t know.”

Aly and Michelle watch me wide-eyed as if expecting me to reveal some dark, life-altering secret.

“Umm…that’s basically it.”

“Wow.” Aly finally breaks the odd silence. “I mean, I thought I didn’t know much about my family, but this is…wow.”

“Did you ever ask about other family members?” Michelle cocks her head to the side, still trying to make sense of what I just told her.

“It’s funny, you know? I don’t remember ever asking or really wondering. I would see my classmates with grandparents and cousins or whomever, but I was just kind of happy in my own little world. We had each other and that was enough. There is one thing, though.”

Both girls lean in close.

“A few years before everything happened, my sister and I went rummaging through our parents’ closet. We were trying to get a sneak peek of our Christmas presents and discovered a high school diploma from my mom. The school was located in Manhattan.”

“Manhattan,” Aly repeats. “As in New York?”

“Yup. We showed the diploma to my mom. She just mumbled about it being a lifetime ago and told us to never speak of it again.”

“Have you ever traveled to New York?” Michelle asks.

“No. If we went anywhere, it was always within driving distance of where we lived at the time. We never brought up the subject again, but my sister and I always wondered whether our parents originated from New York. If so, that means they traveled thousands of miles to begin their new lives. Why? What motivated them to go?”

“There are a lot of reasons to move thousands of miles away and start over. I did it to get away from my ex, and you did it because you needed a change,” Aly answers. “New York is super expensive. Maybe they moved to somewhere moreaffordable, or for a job, or simply because they wanted nicer weather.”

“Maybe,” Michelle ponders. “But if they left for new career opportunities or better weather, wouldn’t they keep in touch with their family or friends back home? What if something bad happened and they had to flee a dangerous situation?”

“I don’t know.” I contemplate Michelle’s idea. “Mari and I never felt unsafe, but you do make a good point about not keeping in touch with people from back home.”

“Exactly.” Michelle points a fork at me. “It’s not like phones or computers didn’t exist back then and—” She slams her palm on the table. “Maybe your parents were in the Witness Protection Program!”

Aly chokes on her coffee. “What on earth would give you that idea?”

“New York has some sketchy areas. Maybe they saw something they shouldn’t have or were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It happens more than you think.” Michelle goes on the defense, but she’s not wrong. I know she’s been studying criminal cases for one of her classes.

“Have you ever considered trying to find other relatives?” Aly asks.

“I’d be lying if I said I haven’t considered researching or doing one of those DNA tests, but the unknown is kind of scary…especially if Michelle is actually right.”

“Sorry about that.” Michelle shrinks back in her seat.

“It’s okay. I know you’re just considering the possibilities and looking out for my well-being.”

“There’s always an upside,” Aly adds. “You might have a rich uncle who has no heirs to leave his millions to, or maybe you’re a descendant from royalty.”

“You also make a good point.”Geez, my brain feels like mush right now.

“You’ll never get answers if you don’t try. Did you know that Jax loves to study history—specifically, family trees?”

“I remember he enjoyed studying his. He likes studying others as well?”

“Oh yeah, he winds up going down these crazy rabbit holes. Like, he’ll take a famous military general and find all the lineage connected to them. If he thinks he’s on to something, he’ll stay up all night trying to put the pieces together. I think it’s kind of boring, but it makes him happy.” She pauses to lick some icing off her finger. “Anyway, if you’re okay with me telling him your story, I can see if he can dig up anything. Of course, if you’re not comfortable about him knowing, this conversation will never go past these doors.”

“I’m okay with you telling him. Actually, I’d rather you tell him so I don’t have to go through it again.” I look over at Michelle, who gives me an understanding nod. “Will you tell Carter everything too?”

“Of course!” Michelle says. The more I think about me telling the guys, the more I believe it would be way awkward. Having my friends tell them makes more sense.

“Thanks, you two.” I turn to Aly. “I can’t imagine Jax finding much. I really don’t have much information to give him.

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