Page 99 of Embers in Our Souls
Somehow, I keep my tears at bay and exit the car. I have no clue how I look, but I feel like the contents of my breakfast might reappear.
When I turn to face Tyler and see the way he’s looking at me, it’s clear that he can tell something isn’t right. I don’t know what I’m going to say. This entire time we’ve been more connected than ever. He’s not only known my brother, but he’s been interacting with my biological parents.
He takes hurried steps toward me and grabs my cheeks, looking into my eyes. It takes everything in me not to breakdown.
“Indy, baby, what’s wrong? Is it Noah?”
I shake my head, but my heart feels like it’s going to shatter in a whole new way. I have so many questions and all I want to do is fall to the ground.
“Indiana, tell me what happened.”
“I, um…” I feel the tears in my eyes and I grab onto him for support. “I found my biological parents.”
I see a smile breakthrough his face and the relief is palpable for him. I wish I felt the same way.
“Indy, that’s amazing sweetheart. You must feel such comfort now, right? Did you just find out?”
He’s still looking into my eyes and I wish I felt the way he does. He feels reassurance while all I feel is confusion. Where he feels like floating, I feel like a weight has been set on my shoulders.
I nod, the words not forming.
“Why do you look so sad?” He pulls me into his chest, kissing the top of my head. “Is it bad news? Did something happen to them?”
I don’t answer, just breathing his scent. He just showered and I’m cherishing it right now. His warmth is centering me while I feel like I might fall. I don’t know if this will change things between us. Losing Georgie was catastrophic for him years ago.
What if he leaves when I reveal this news to him now? What if he lets me go because this is all too much?
“Can we go inside please?” I need to sit down. I can’t do this standing outside where everyone can see us.
Tyler looks confused, but he doesn’t argue as he draws me closer to settle into his side. Once inside the house, he pulls a chair out at the kitchen table for me. I sit down, the shock still overwhelming my thoughts.
“Indiana, you’re scaring me. What’s going on? What am I missing?” He moves a chair in front of mine, putting his hands on my knees and squeezing them.
I look down to where he’s grasping me and I just hope he’s still intact after I confess what I’ve learned. It’s surreal to think we’ve been connected for so many years, and this added layerthat’s been hidden without either of us knowing won’t destroy us.
What if I hadn’t started looking for my real parents? I haven’t even started to deal with the fact that I know who my parents are and I can meet them. There are so many parts to this right now.
I look over at the table and the lump in my throat grows. Is this where they had family dinners? Why did Georgie get them and I didn’t? I feel a tear slip and that’s when I feel Tyler’s thumb swipe it away.
I swing my gaze back to meet his.
“You’re breaking my heart, baby. What is it?” he says and the look of pain reflected in his eyes guts me.
“My parents,” I say and a sob breaks loose, “live at this address.”
CHAPTER 47
Tyler
I feellike the room is spinning. That is not what I expected Indy to tell me when she said she had information about her biological parents. I can’t help the way my face twists in confusion.
“I’m sorry. What?” It’s all I can muster in response.
“I know it’s crazy. Before you and I reconnected, I hired a private investigator to look into unsealing my adoption records. Apparently, it’s pretty damn hard. He called me when I was driving over here this morning and revealed my parents gave me up when they were teens.”
She looks down at her hands, twisting them as if she can’t settle down. “I thought maybe it was a misunderstanding or maybe this was an old address for them. But Theo—that’s the name of the PI—he said their names and that’s when I knew. He said their names are…”
“Jerry and Scarlet,” I say.
