Page 76 of A Reclusive Heart

“Catherine told me that you would like to speak with me. My name is Aubrey and I...I...oh, my God,” came the warm greeting that ended abruptly, tearing Jamie’s attention from the impressive list of milkshakes to find a middle-aged woman with kind eyes staring helplessly at her.

“Are you okay?” Jamie asked as he watched Aubrey go pale and realized that she was seconds away from passing out. Jamie quickly scrambled out of the booth and took the woman’s shaky hands in hers and quickly helped her sit down.

When Jamie moved to pull her hands away, Aubrey refused to let her go. She threw Nick a pleading look only to find him watching them intently. Really helpful, Jamie thought dryly as she turned her attention back to the trembling woman.

“Are you okay?” Jamie asked, not sure what else to say.

“Not really,” Aubrey mumbled weakly.

“Aubrey, are you okay?” a man sitting at one of the tables behind them asked.

“I-I’m fine, John,” Aubrey said with a watery smile. “I’m perfect, in fact.”

“Are you the man that I spoke to last week?” Aubrey asked, her gaze never leaving Jamie.

“Yes,” Nick said, drawing her attention to find him watching her.

“Jamie, I would like you to meet Aubrey O’Shea,” he said before adding, “Your mother.”

“What are you talking about?” Jamie mumbled weakly.

Her mother was dead.

Her father wouldn’t lie about that.

He wouldn’t be that cruel, Jamie told herself as she glanced back at Aubrey to find her watching her through eyes that looked like hers. She-

“You have no idea how long I’ve waited to hold you again,” Aubrey said around a broken sob as she dropped Jamie’s hands and pulled her into a hug that Jamie was too stunned to refuse, but once she found herself in Aubrey’s arms, she was helpless to fight it. It felt...

Perfect.

“I am so proud of you,” her mother whispered fiercely against the top of her head as she pressed a kiss against her hair. “So proud, Jamie.”

She didn’t realize that she was crying until she felt Nick kneel behind her and run a soothing hand down her back. “Shhhh, Jamie, it’s okay.”

It really wasn’t okay, Jamie thought as a loud sob rocked her body. She was so happy, but at the same time, she was scared out of her mind. She was terrified that this was just a dream and any second now, she was going to wake up.

Please don’t let this be a dream.

“I never wanted to let you go, Jamie,” her mother whispered hoarsely. “I quit school to have you and worked two jobs, but it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t nearly enough. When I had to choose between putting food in your stomach or a roof over your head, I made the biggest mistake of my life and gave you to your father. I shouldn’t have done that. I should have worked harder and found a way to make it work, but you were so small and I just couldn’t watch you go hungry again. I’m so sorry, Jamie, so sorry,” Aubrey said, squeezing Jamie tightly.

“She tried to come back for you,” Nick said softly as he continued rubbing her back. “She saved every penny and when she went back for you two years later, your father refused to let you go. I don’t think he wanted to deal with people asking toomany questions. Your father convinced her that you were being taken care of and that she would only confuse you and hurt you by getting involved in your life, but she’s been keeping an eye on you. She loves you so much,” Nick said, pressing a kiss against the back of her head.

“Is that true?” Jamie asked, swallowing hard as she watched her mother’s lips pull up into a watery smile and-

“I’ve always been your biggest fan, Jamie.”

EPILOGUE

One year later...

“Is this the line for the bathroom?” the cute guy who’d been eying her since she stepped onto the plane asked as he joined her.

“It is,” Jamie reassured him.

“My name’s Vince and you are…” he said, letting his words trail off with a charming smile.

“Jamie,” she said with a warm smile.

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