Page 8 of The Unforgiven
“Thank you for taking the trouble. I’m actually going home today, so I guess this is goodbye.”
“Quinn, we’re a match,” Seth said, a catch in his voice. He sounded as shocked as she felt. She’d automatically assumed he was calling to confirm the result was negative. She hadn’t expected this.
“Are we?”
“Ninety-nine percent.”
Quinn reached for her teacup and took a gulp of scalding tea, burning her tongue. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’m sorry I dismissed you. I was telling the truth when I said I didn’t remember Sylvia. I really didn’t, and honestly, I still don’t remember anything about her. I called Robert Chatham last night. We haven’t spoken in thirty years, but I needed to know if what you suggested was true.”
“And is it?”
“Look, Quinn, can we meet and speak in person? Please.”
“I’m leaving for the airport in less than an hour,” she replied, unsure what to do.
“Please don’t go. There’s so much we need to talk about. I’d like to get to know you, if that’s okay. I’m coming to pick you up. Where’re you staying?”
“I’m at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel.”
“I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
Quinn set her mobile down on the table and pushed away her plate. The thought of food suddenly turned her stomach. Seth was a match. A ninety-nine percent match. Well, he had to be, given that she had ruled out everyone else, but he’d been so vehement in his denial she’d thought for sure Sylvia had lied to her again. And he’d called Robert Chatham. Quinn briefly wondered ifChatham had told Seth of their meeting in Edinburgh, but it was irrelevant. She wouldn’t apologize for what she’d done. In retrospect, her strategy with Robert Chatham had been misguided, but she’d learned her lesson and had approached Seth Besson openly and honestly, if only to avoid another misunderstanding.
Seth Besson is my father. Quinn wasn’t at all sure how she felt about this newfound knowledge. What if the results were a mistake?
She rang Colin. He would have called her if he had the results, but she had to speak to him nevertheless. He was her colleague and friend, and Logan’s boyfriend. He would be honest with her. He always was. The call went straight to voicemail and Quinn hung up in frustration. Colin rarely answered the phone when at work. As a pathologist, he was elbow deep in a postmortem most days. In any case, he would have passed her samples on to the lab, which would take at least another day or two, even if he put a rush on it.
Quinn abandoned her breakfast and headed back to her room to cancel her flight. Her hand shook as she booted up her laptop and brought up the Virgin Atlantic website. Despite Seth’s revelation, she still longed to go home. She’d come to find her father and learn the truth at last, but suddenly she was overcome with an overwhelming sense of unease. The thought of seeing Seth in a few minutes made her mouth go dry with nervousness. Her father. Her actual biological father who might hold the key to her ability to commune with the dead.
Quinn canceled the flight and shut the lid of her laptop before going to the bathroom. She stared at herself in the mirror. She looked pale and anxious, her hazel eyes huge in her face. Her normally wavy hair was curling every which way and frizzing from the constant humidity. Quinn wound her hair and pinned it on top of her head in an artful bun, leaving a few tendrils around her face to soften the look. She applied a bit of lipstick and refreshed her mascara. She still looked haunted, but at least she wouldn’t appear like she was the one doing the haunting.
Her mobile, which she’d left on the vanity next to the sink, began to vibrate. Colin.
“Hi, Colin,” Quinn began. “I?—”
“Quinn, sorry I haven’t rung you sooner. A personal crisis, but more on that later. I have the results of your paternity test. I asked Sarita to take it to the lab personally and wait while they processed the samples. Quinn, it’s a match. This man is your father. No doubt about it.”
“I know.”
“How on earth do you know?” Colin demanded, as though annoyed to have been beaten to the punch.
“Seems you’re not the only one with useful contacts. He called me this morning.”
“Congratulations?” Colin made it more of a question than a statement, and Quinn suddenly felt lighter. She laughed and walked out of the bathroom, ready to face whatever the day brought.
“Yes. Thank you, Colin. Congratulations are in order. Did you say you had a personal crisis?”
“Never mind. It’s all sorted. You go and find your roots.” Quinn heard the mirth in his voice. “Speak soon.”
She hung up and texted Gabe.
Quinn:
Seth is a match. Staying on for a few days. Will keep you posted. Love you.
“How are you feeling?” Quinn asked Seth as he held the car door for her. “You’re still recuperating from surgery. I should have taken a taxi to your house instead of having you collect me at the hotel.”
