Page 157 of Sugarloaf Ridge Lies

Chapter Fifty

Liv

Days from enteringmy third trimester, getting out of bed has become a workout. I can no longer see my feet, and as for maintaining my lady parts, I need to enlist the help of a local beautician or swallow my pride and ask Jerry to help. I have no doubt he would oblige.

I take the tea from the side table and sip. The cool liquid is a reminder of the early hour Jerry is up, working the fields. He still takes time to look out for me even though he’s pushing himself.

It’s been a month since Mick’s birthday lunch. Since then, it’s as if he is on a mission. He’s determined more than ever to make the farm a success. The only family we’ve seen since that day is Finn and Daynah. They’ve popped in from time to time. Finn always seems to be in a rush, always somewhere to be or something to organise for the farm, in between scheduled doctor’s appointments. Daynah needs a lot more monitoring of her pregnancy due to her heart condition. In comparison, it seems wrong of me to complain about normal things like heartburn and being out of breath from time to time.

Grateful it’s Friday, there’s enough spring in my step to get up and get dressed. As I make a fresh tea, my phone chimes.

Aunt Jean: I finally got something. Sorry, as you know the storage unit was a mess, and it took me a few weekend visits to get through it all. Let me know if there’s anything useful?

My heart kicks into a faster beat.Has she found something that could help Jerry finally locate his mum?

A series of photos feature next, taken from what looks to be an old yearbook. The formatting is horrific, compounded by bad printing.

The first photo is side on of a woman, microphone held tight in her right hand, several leather looking bracelets bunched at her wrist. She’s on a stage, musicians seated behind her on plastic moulded chairs.

The second picture, a small portrait photo with “Skylah Kennedy”written beneath it hits me right in the gut. Daynah’s resemblance to her mother is uncanny: the freckles across her cheeks, the curve of her button nose. But it’s those dark, kind eyes that has my heart jackhammering as if I’m looking straight into the eyes of the man I love. Below her name is a quote:“Aquarius. Musician. Animal lover.”

Aquarius. Wait a minute... That at least gives us a window of her date of birth. Sometime late January to mid-February or something like that, born either the same year as Aunt Jean or the year before.

The next image is a photo of a dark-haired guy,Nate Peters. His jaw is sharp, a slight cleft in his chin, and thick brows. His quote is the polar opposite:“Go Hard or Go Home”.He’s attractive but it’s the confidence in his stare that’s unnerving. As if every cell in his body is protesting having this photo taken. I keep coming back to the chin and the deep set of his eyes.

Jerry. These are your biological parents?

The last photo is Aunt Jean’s school pic. Her straight fringe kicks up at one end as if she just dragged herself out of bed. She wears a wide smile, exposing her braces. I can’t help but grin. Her quote has me chuckling.“Who says I can’t be a mermaid when I grow up?”

Aunt Jean: If you need more, I know a PI who can help? He owes me a favour :)

Her last message contains a phone number and the name Alex O’Neill.

What have I got to lose?Maybe with the stuff Jerry told me, there might be enough to finally find her. At the very least we could track Nate down. He might know something.

If I can help Jerry with this part of his past, it would mean the world. After all he’s done for me, scouring the ashes to find my necklace, my single most prized possession, I can do this for him. I must try.

I won’t tell Jerry about my plans for fear of coming up with nothing. Getting his hopes up would be cruel after failed attempts in the past. His family may have searched for Skylah, but maybe this new information could connect the dots.

My chest tightens at the thought of one day meeting Skylah. Of her being a part of our family.A grandmother.

I wash my cup and send Aunt Jean a text thanking her, then stare out the kitchen window and take a moment to admire the way the sun rays cast spotlight, the morning dew clinging to the long grass.Please be a good day.

Jean: Anytime x. How goes YOUR search?

I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. Last week I asked Steph to try once more.Not a word.

I won’t ask her again. I’m taking it as a sign. Captain Kurt and I aren’t meant to cross paths. And I’m okay with that.

Me: Nothing.

She replies shortly after.

Jean: Maybe this is the way it’s meant to be. You and Jerry have got this x

“You had something to eat?”

Heart in my throat, I clutch at my chest as a pair of strong arms wrap around me from behind. Jerry rubs my belly and kisses the back of my neck.

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