Page 115 of Finding Their Place

My sister spun on her heel in a flutter of gauzy skirt, tugging on my hand. “The trash took itself out, Rowan. Time for us to move on.”

I stumbled down the stairs on numb legs beside her. We exited the disgusting building, and my heart thumped heavy in my deadened chest.

More catcalls followed us, but I barely heard past the ringing in my ears.

I hit the fob’s button on autopilot and found myself locked away in the safety of our car before a thought entered my head. I clutched the steering wheel and stared unseeing out the windshield as reality attempted to seep in.

What had happened? Our mother hadn’t spoken all of a dozen words before slamming the door. I couldn’t remember her voice, only the abrupt message that left me gaping and numb.

“Hey.” River’s soothing tone rippled through my fuzzed brain, and I glanced over to find her studying me, not a single bit of evidence on her face that she’d experienced the truth taking a while to settle in my mind.

Compassion filled her eyes, and she clutched my forearm. “You okay?”

Was I? The little boy inside me sure as fuck wasn’t, but the adult, the man I’d grown into thanks to Lionel and Tina…

Thank fuck they had chosen me. Loved me. Accepted me.

“Yeah.” My voice came out as a ragged whisper, so I cleared my throat and nodded, all systems in my body coming back online. “No point in crying over her, is there?”

“Absolutely none.” River settled in, dropping her bag to the floor between her feet. “It’s time to face forward toward the future.”

A sense of readiness rolled over me, completely lifting the fog.

I was ready to do what she’d said.

“Hey, Siri, call Mom.” I said while attaching my cell to the magnetic plate atop my dash.

River grasped my shoulder, reminding me so damn much of Garrett’s sure touch that my throat tightened again.

“Wyatt?” Tina answered, her tone hesitant.

“Hey, Mom.” I choked—and broke down sobbing.

River took my hand while I apologized to both my parents once Mom put me on speaker. I told them about River, our birth mother, and how the reality of where I’d come from had opened my eyes to all I’d been blessed with.

“I’m sorry for being such an ass,” I muttered through my tears.

“It’s okay, baby,” Mom said, her tone soothing. I imagined her brushing back my hair and kissing my forehead like she used to do when I was sick in bed as a kid. “Your dad and I realized we never should have hidden the truth from you. We’re so sorry.”

“I understand why you did,” I said, swiping the back of my hand over my face. “One of these days, Dad and I can sit down and talk about what he went through too. I’m sure it would be helpful for both of us.”

I recalled how easily I’d connected with Garrett over the whole adoption thing and realized I’d missed out with an even deeper bond with my dad.

But that would change—I wanted that closeness back, that sense of belonging with my parents. I looked forward to it.

“Love you, Mom,” I whispered, thankfulness flooding through my heart. “You too, Dad,” I added since they shared the couch and had me on speakerphone.

“Dinner Tuesday night?” Mom asked.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” I promised, breathing easier since facing Dahlia Angel.

We hung up a few minutes later, and I reached over the console and hugged my sister tight. “Thank you for never giving up. For looking for me. For agreeing to put this shit to rest alongside me.”

“I’ll always be here for you, Rowan.” She patted my back and pulled away to click her seatbelt. “Now let’s get out of this hellhole and back to where we belong,” she suggested with a sweet smile.

That’s exactly what we did, laughing and sharing childhood stories the entire way.

I said goodbye to my sister at the diner where she’d left her car, holding her in my arms. We made promises to get together at least once a month.

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