P.I. I Love You (Miss Demeanor Suspense Series Book 1) by Joanne Jaytanie Read Free Book Online Page B

stand by her side every step of the way, and use everything in our power to make sure she kept all her children. She wouldn’t do it.” Her words came out almost a whisper. “She wouldn’t put us, or her children through the embarrassment. She didn’t want their lives destroyed by this as hers turned out to be…I told her she would regret her decision until the day she died. How could I say such a terrible thing to my only child?” She looked at River beseechingly.
    “You were her mother. You were trying to keep her from making the biggest mistake of her life. You have nothing to feel guilty about. You did everything you could, but the ultimate decision was hers.”
    “It put a tremendous strain on our relationship with Wade. My husband refused to go visit. Trudy and the children always came here. I only went up when Wade was out of town. Please tell me, how are the children dealing with this?”
    “That’s why I’m here, Mrs. Darnell. Blake and Garnet want their sister in their lives.”
    River’s statement made the older woman cry once again.
    “I wasn’t sure you would be willing or able to help in this matter; I’ve researched what I can up to this point. I know seven baby girls were born on the date of your granddaughter’s birthday. I can locate each of these women and attempt to narrow down which one it might be. I can direct Blake’s attorney to petition the court and open the adoption records. We both know if it was a private, closed adoption, the likelihood of them winning the case is weak, at best.”
    Sorrow and grief swirled around the older woman. She shook her head slowly, sadly.
    “It’s exactly like Trudy. She protected her family to bitter end.”
    “I don’t understand,” River said.
    “Trudy didn’t go through with the adoption, I did.”

Chapter Eight

    “The nurse put the baby girl in Trudy’s arms and she fell apart. Emotionally destroyed, she couldn’t function. She handed the baby to me. Made me promise on my mother’s grave I would carry out her wishes, and put the baby up for adoption. She dressed and left the hospital the same day, but didn’t return home until ten days later. I was beside myself, thinking she’d done something terrible to herself. She went back to her life ten days later, and never spoke of that day again.”
    The older woman shook the letter high in the air.
    “Had I known…had I only known Wade talked about locating the girl, everyone’s life would’ve turned out so very, very much different.”
    Mrs. Darnell broke down. Her nurse appeared at her side, the housekeeper close behind. Her soul-deep anguish flowed from the older woman, racking her entire body.
    “I think you should go,” the nurse said to River.
    Darn. She’d come so close and she felt the heartbreak. River nodded and rose. She walked over to Mrs. Darnell, squatted down in front of her, and placed her hands over the woman’s.
    “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Darnell.” With that she rose and headed for the door.
    River got into the rental car and dropped her head back against the headrest, emotionally drained. It would be her priority to locate this girl and bring her back to her grandmother. She was startled out of her thoughts by a rap on the window. The housekeeper stood there as River rolled down her window.
    “Thank goodness you haven’t left,” the woman gasped, trying to catch her breath. “Mrs. Darnell is insistent you come back inside. She said her story isn’t finished and you need to know the rest.”
    When River walked back into the house, the housekeeper showed her down the hall and into the library. Mrs. Darnell sat on one end of an antique, high-backed Victorian loveseat, sipping on a steaming cup of tea. When she saw River, she placed the cup and saucer on the coffee table in front of her.
    “Thank goodness she caught you.” She looked over at the nurse hovering in the corner. “You may go.” The nurse hesitated for a moment and then headed for the door. She