Read Online A Roux of Revenge by Connie Archer - Free Book Online Page B

control. Stuff happens in life, Janie. Things people can’t control. Lovers go off to war and never come back. But certainly, you were loved. You’re the most important person in your mother’s life. She’s a lovely woman, no matter what happened to her when she was younger, and she’s done her very best for you.”
    “And my father? Or the person I always loved and thought was my father—didhe know I wasn’t his child? Or was he just like my mom—lying to me my whole life? Or did she lie to him? When he died, I thought I would die. It was so terrible to lose him. Everybody else has a family, a mother and a father, except me. You—you couldn’t possibly imagine what this feels like.”
    “Maybe I couldn’t, but you know what? You have a mother that loves you with all her heart, and she’sstill on this earth. And the man who raised you is your father, even if he’s not your biological parent. He loved you, and he was always there for you. My parents aren’t here anymore. They’re both gone. You have every right to know the truth, but Janie, you’re so young. You can’t even begin to imagine the things she might have suffered in keeping you and raising you. And she did. She didn’t abandonyou. Maybe you’re right. Maybe your father, the father who raised you, knew the whole story and loved her and you just as if you were his own daughter? Maybe he wasn’t free to tell you more.”
    “No,” Janie snuffled. “I mean, I don’t know. I don’t know what the truth really is. And who is this man? Has he been following me around? And why? And where has he been for the past eighteen years? Whyis he around now? And if this hadn’t happened, would my mother have ever told me the truth?”
    “Only your mother can answer those questions. I think . . .” The sound of the phone ringing interrupted her train of thought. “Janie, hang on a minute. I’ll see who it is and call them back.”
    Lucky walked back to the kitchen and grabbed the phone. It was Elias. What bad timing.
    “Can I comeover to see you?” he asked.
    “Now?” she asked. This was an odd preamble to their evenings together. Usually Elias suggested dinner at his house or at a restaurant.
    “If you’re free,” he answered. There was something in his tone that sounded as if he were making a business appointment.
    “Actually, I’m not. Janie’s staying with me right now. What about tomorrow night?”
    “Uh . . . Lucky,I’d really like to talk to you, in private, if I could.” Lucky felt a sinking feeling in her chest. This was so unlike him. They had been seeing each other for eight months. They were never formal with each other. In fact, Elias had virtually proposed on several occasions. She felt as if she had been suddenly relegated to the position of a third-circle friend. And it had started the day Eliastold her he had hired another doctor. Another doctor—Paula Sarens. This had to have something to do with her! Lucky had disliked her the moment she set eyes on her. It was time to get to the bottom of whatever was bothering Elias.
    “Why don’t we have a drink at the Pub? I can meet you there in half an hour.” She kept her tone reserved. There was nothing friendly about this meeting. She couldfeel it in her heart. Something had changed. Elias had changed—at least toward her.
    Lucky returned to the living room. “Janie, I’m so sorry. Something’s come up, and I have to go out for an hour maybe, but I’ll be back, and we can talk some more, if you like.”
    “That’s okay, Lucky. I’ll be all right. I don’t think I can talk about it anymore anyway. I’m just gonna crash. I didn’t mean todump all this on you. I’ve just been carrying it around for days it seems.”
    “You didn’t dump on me. Don’t say that. I wanted you to talk to me. Getting it all out is the best thing. And finding the answers to all your questions is the next step.”
    “I’m not really ready for that part just yet. I know you’re