Read Online Learning Me (Lightworker Trilogy #1) by Jamie White - Free Book Online

resisting the urge to turn and run and she had no idea why. Had they argued while she was gone?
    “I found a couple of things the other day that I can’t make sense of,” she said quickly before she could lose her nerve. She held up the photo and note. “What are these all about?”
    Her mother started at the picture while her father appeared to be processing it all in his mind. He stared for the longest time, while her mother did a bad job of acting casual.
    “I’m sorry, but where did you find those?”
    “In the attic,” Courtney answered. “I got bored and decided to explore some of the old stuff packed up there, and these were laying in a trunk full of old pictures and papers. Who are they?”
    “Those were some friends of ours,” her father answered quickly. “We lost touch with them years ago. I forgot we even had those.”
    “We met them in college,” her mother added. “You know how it is…. People graduate, move, and lose touch with each other.”
    “What about the note? It says ‘Enclosed is everything you need. Leave tonight.’ What’s that mean?”
    “I don’t know,” her mother answered. “I guess some other junk got mixed up with ours somehow. It happens sometimes.”
    “But the names are so close to yours. How is that just a coincidence?” Her voice raised in frustration at the ridiculous answers. How could they expect her to accept what they were saying?
    “Courtney, this is ridiculous,” her father said in a firm tone. “Now, I don’t know what kind of crazy ideas you have dancing around in that head of yours, but you’re seeing things that just aren’t there and I think this conversation is over.”
    “No, it’s not,” Courtney argued. “I know there is something you’re not telling me and I want to know what it is. Please! Don’t I deserve to know the truth? Look at this picture? Don’t you see it?” She held it out again, this time closer to them. “I look just like this lady. How is that possible if they’re just some old college friends?”
    Her parents appeared to debate with each other silently. Courtney held her breath as she waited for one of them to respond. Sam reached over and squeezed her hand in a show of support.
    “Mister and Missus Thompson, I don’t mean any disrespect here, but I have to agree with Courtney. I’ve been helping her do some searching the past few days and something is definitely not right.”
    “All I’m asking for is the truth,” Courtney added. Her voice broke as she asked, “Are you my real parents?”
    “She’s not going to let up, you should know that by now,” Sam pointed out when they failed to answer.
    “I guess you might be right,” her father conceded. “Courtney, are you sure you want to know? There are some things that might be too difficult to understand right now, or ever. You should know that before this goes any further.”
    Courtney’s stomach tightened and she gripped Sam’s hand a little tighter. “Yes, I want to know.”
    “All right,” he said. “The truth is that you’re right: we’re not your real parents.”

 
    Chapter Nine
    Courtney’s eyes widened at the words. A part of her had expected as much, but hearing it spoken out loud still took her breath away. She struggled to respond, “So, I’m adopted?”
    “Not exactly,” her mother answered. “The thing is, we didn’t use the official channels. We couldn’t go that route.”
    Just like that, it was as though someone knocked the air from her lungs. Her voice trembled as she asked, “Are you saying you took me?”
    “No, nothing like that!” Her father walked over and took a seat beside her and Sam. “We absolutely did not steal you. It’s a complicated situation and I’m not sure how to even begin explaining it. There are a lot of things that are going to sound strange, but I promise they’re all true.”
    “Like what?”
    Her mother gestured to the picture Courtney still held. “You were right when you asked about her