Chapter Three
Kate woke up at exactly 7:15am, "Old habits are hard to break," she thought, "but I am certainly going to try." She rolled over and pulled the down filled duvet over her head to block out the first rays of light that were sneaking through the Venetian blinds.
When she finally opened her eyes again and peeked her head out from beneath the mass of covers, a quick glance at her watch told her she'd slept for another three hours. The angry gurgling in her stomach was the only thing keeping her from fluffing her pillow and nodding off once again.
Kicking off the covers Kate tried to remember the last time she had stayed in bed this late. Her drive and determination for her career didn't leave much time to take pleasure in the simple things in life like sleeping in. Or enjoying a delightful home cooked breakfast. Her friends would be shocked to learn how expertly she worked in the kitchen. Kate knew her no- nonsense, business, woman attitude and uptown lifestyle certainly didn't showcase her HGTV talents.
Throwing on her robe and slippers Kate headed for the kitchen to work her magic. Minutes later she set a delectable plate of food on the table and sat down to enjoy it. Her mouth watered as she cut into the colourful vegetarian omelette made with egg whites, green and red peppers, portabella mushrooms, onions, and stuffed with fresh asparagus. The first bite was heavenly and she chewed slowly savouring the taste. The rest of her meal consisted of a slice of multigrain toast, half a grapefruit, and a tall glass of fresh squeezed orange juice. After spoiling herself this way Kate would not be looking forward to her usual muffin or bagel on the run when she returned home.
As Kate gathered her dishes and loaded them into the dishwasher she began to plan out the day in her mind. The only place she could think of to begin her stroll back in time was the local library. Maybe she could find some old news articles or historical archives to root through. A thought kept creeping into her head that she pushed away time and time again for fear of being overwhelmingly disappointed, "Could she still have relatives living here? Cousins or even siblings?" Once again she shoved the idea far into the back of her mind and desperately tried to keep it there.
After she had showered Kate slipped into some of the new clothes she had purchased for this trip. Kate had spent an obscene amount of money in a store she had never set foot in before last week. All her usual suits, skirts, heels, and blouses were at home in the closet and her suitcase was loaded with nothing but casual comfort. She stood in front of the full- length mirror examining her new look. The fuzzy pink hooded Gap Sweatshirt and faded jeans were a mind-boggling contrast to the designer duds that generally adorned her slim frame.
With very little make up and her hair pulled back in a simple pony-tail Kate looked like a different person. But she still held that stunning beauty and impeccable poise that was impossible for Kate to lose. She slipped her feet into a comfortable pair of Birkenstocks, grabbed her purse and keys, then emerged from the cottage into the damp, fresh air.
Ironically, this quaint little town made Kate feel as though she had taken a step back in time. Old buildings still in excellent shape lined the main street, which contained only slight traces of the typical commercialism that had crept into most American cities. It was a very strange experience to drive through a populated area without McDonald's, Cracker Barrel, or Wal-Mart immediately catching her eye.
Taking in the essence of her surroundings Kate was shocked by a sudden feeling of contentedness. She hadn't even met anyone here yet, but she felt welcome, at ease, and completely relaxed.
She parallel parked in front of the Library cursing silently as she hit the curb and had to pull out and start over. When she was finally satisfied with the position of her vehicle she killed the engine and climbed out.
As Kate pulled open the heavy front door she was greeted by the slightly musty smell of a vault filled with years of printed history. She scanned the room and headed towards the computers she spotted near the back. She sat down and logged on to the library catalogue to begin her search.
Her fingers clicked on the keyboard as Kate typed her mothers name into the computer and hit the enter key. The system was rather slow and she tapped her fingers impatiently waiting for the results. "Search returned 0 results for 'Selena Williams'" flashed on the screen. Kate tried several other variations of her mothers name but still no matched were found. She tried her father's name but still did not come up with anything.
Kate pounded her fist on the desk in frustration and the thud echoed loudly. A young women appeared and Kate sheepishly apologized. The petite blond waved off Kate's apology, "It's okay. I can see you're frustrated, is there something I can help you with?"
Kate hesitated, she had made a conscious decision not to reveal her true intentions. If the information she was seeking about her past was the least bit murky her informants may feel more comfortable if they believed they were talking to someone who wasn't personally connected to the info. Kate wanted the truth and nothing but so she wanted to make sure people didn't sugar coat their stories for her benefit. "Actually maybe you can help me. I'm doing some research for a client on their family tree, I believe they were born here. Do you know where I may be able to find that type of information."
She smiled and laughed, "Not here that's for sure. But I do know just the person who could help you. His name is Jasper Louis, he runs the local paper, well actually his son has taken over but Jasper still spends most of his time there, 'supervising'. If the family you are researching lived here he will know them."
Kate felt a glimmer of hope ignite inside her, "Really? Where would I find him?"
"If you just go across the street and turn right, the newspaper building is on the next corner." Kate stood up and looked the woman in the eye. She touched her hand and gratefully thanked her before she quickly rushed out of the library.
Her heart pounded as she entered the Office. She didn't see anyone around so she loudly called out, "Hello, is there anyone here?"
An old man poked his head out from an office near the back. "I'm here. I'm always here. Can I help you, young lady?"
Kate giggled "young lady" she liked the sound of that. "I'm looking for Jasper Louis. Is that you?"
"The one and only! What can I do you for?" He stepped into the hall and slowly shuffled closer. He was an eccentric old man but something about him was very intriguing. Kate could tell there was a lot of wisdom inside him and she silently prayed that the truth she searched for was stored somewhere in his mind.
He stopped in front of her waiting patiently for her response. Kate opened up her purse and pulled out the picture of her mom. She stared at it for a minute gently running a finger over her mother's beautiful face. "I was wondering if you remember this woman?" Kate passed him the tiny photo.
He held out a shaky hand and Kate placed the picture in his palm. With the other hand he fumbled in his pocket for his glasses. Sliding them on he gazed at the picture. "Wow, I almost forgot how beautiful Selena was." Then he looked up at Kate. "Oh my God, it can't be! You, you're baby Katie," he held up the picture glancing back and forth from it to her face and back. "This is your mother isn't it?"
Kate sucked in a sharp breath and slowly nodded. "I want to know what happened all those years ago. How I ended up so far away from here. Why my father and mother split up. I want to know everything, I need to know. Can you help me?" She looked into his eyes.
"I can tell you everything I remember but I have to warn you, it's a very sad, dark story. Are you absolutely sure you are ready to hear this?" he said solemnly.
Kate's was overwhelmed with a wave of excitement followed quickly by a sense of dread. She was finally going to learn the truth. Was this the first step towards healing her darkened spirit or would the truth just leave her reeling, falling deeper into the pit she had been digging for years? Kate woke up at exactly 7:15am, "Old habits are hard to break," she thought, "but I am certainly going to try." She rolled over and pulled the down filled duvet over her head to block out the first rays of light that were sneaking through the Venetian blinds.
When she finally opened her eyes again and peeked her head out from beneath the mass of covers, a quick glance at her watch told her she'd slept for another three hours. The angry gurgling in her stomach was the only thing keeping her from fluffing her pillow and nodding off once again.
Kicking off the covers Kate tried to remember the last time she had stayed in bed this late. Her drive and determination for her career didn't leave much time to take pleasure in the simple things in life like sleeping in. Or enjoying a delightful home cooked breakfast. Her friends would be shocked to learn how expertly she worked in the kitchen. Kate knew her no- nonsense, business, woman attitude and uptown lifestyle certainly didn't showcase her HGTV talents.
Throwing on her robe and slippers Kate headed for the kitchen to work her magic. Minutes later she set a delectable plate of food on the table and sat down to enjoy it. Her mouth watered as she cut into the colourful vegetarian omelette made with egg whites, green and red peppers, portabella mushrooms, onions, and stuffed with fresh asparagus. The first bite was heavenly and she chewed slowly savouring the taste. The rest of her meal consisted of a slice of multigrain toast, half a grapefruit, and a tall glass of fresh squeezed orange juice. After spoiling herself this way Kate would not be looking forward to her usual muffin or bagel on the run when she returned home.
As Kate gathered her dishes and loaded them into the dishwasher she began to plan out the day in her mind. The only place she could think of to begin her stroll back in time was the local library. Maybe she could find some old news articles or historical archives to root through. A thought kept creeping into her head that she pushed away time and time again for fear of being overwhelmingly disappointed, "Could she still have relatives living here? Cousins or even siblings?" Once again she shoved the idea far into the back of her mind and desperately tried to keep it there.
After she had showered Kate slipped into some of the new clothes she had purchased for this trip. Kate had spent an obscene amount of money in a store she had never set foot in before last week. All her usual suits, skirts, heels, and blouses were at home in the closet and her suitcase was loaded with nothing but casual comfort. She stood in front of the full- length mirror examining her new look. The fuzzy pink hooded Gap Sweatshirt and faded jeans were a mind-boggling contrast to the designer duds that generally adorned her slim frame.
With very little make up and her hair pulled back in a simple pony-tail Kate looked like a different person. But she still held that stunning beauty and impeccable poise that was impossible for Kate to lose. She slipped her feet into a comfortable pair of Birkenstocks, grabbed her purse and keys, then emerged from the cottage into the damp, fresh air.
Ironically, this quaint little town made Kate feel as though she had taken a step back in time. Old buildings still in excellent shape lined the main street, which contained only slight traces of the typical commercialism that had crept into most American cities. It was a very strange experience to drive through a populated area without McDonald's, Cracker Barrel, or Wal-Mart immediately catching her eye.
Taking in the essence of her surroundings Kate was shocked by a sudden feeling of contentedness. She hadn't even met anyone here yet, but she felt welcome, at ease, and completely relaxed.
She parallel parked in front of the Library cursing silently as she hit the curb and had to pull out and start over. When she was finally satisfied with the position of her vehicle she killed the engine and climbed out.
As Kate pulled open the heavy front door she was greeted by the slightly musty smell of a vault filled with years of printed history. She scanned the room and headed towards the computers she spotted near the back. She sat down and logged on to the library catalogue to begin her search.
Her fingers clicked on the keyboard as Kate typed her mothers name into the computer and hit the enter key. The system was rather slow and she tapped her fingers impatiently waiting for the results. "Search returned 0 results for 'Selena Williams'" flashed on the screen. Kate tried several other variations of her mothers name but still no matched were found. She tried her father's name but still did not come up with anything.
Kate pounded her fist on the desk in frustration and the thud echoed loudly. A young women appeared and Kate sheepishly apologized. The petite blond waved off Kate's apology, "It's okay. I can see you're frustrated, is there something I can help you with?"
Kate hesitated, she had made a conscious decision not to reveal her true intentions. If the information she was seeking about her past was the least bit murky her informants may feel more comfortable if they believed they were talking to someone who wasn't personally connected to the info. Kate wanted the truth and nothing but so she wanted to make sure people didn't sugar coat their stories for her benefit. "Actually maybe you can help me. I'm doing some research for a client on their family tree, I believe they were born here. Do you know where I may be able to find that type of information."
She smiled and laughed, "Not here that's for sure. But I do know just the person who could help you. His name is Jasper Louis, he runs the local paper, well actually his son has taken over but Jasper still spends most of his time there, 'supervising'. If the family you are researching lived here he will know them."
Kate felt a glimmer of hope ignite inside her, "Really? Where would I find him?"
"If you just go across the street and turn right, the newspaper building is on the next corner." Kate stood up and looked the woman in the eye. She touched her hand and gratefully thanked her before she quickly rushed out of the library.
Her heart pounded as she entered the Office. She didn't see anyone around so she loudly called out, "Hello, is there anyone here?"
An old man poked his head out from an office near the back. "I'm here. I'm always here. Can I help you, young lady?"
Kate giggled "young lady" she liked the sound of that. "I'm looking for Jasper Louis. Is that you?"
"The one and only! What can I do you for?" He stepped into the hall and slowly shuffled closer. He was an eccentric old man but something about him was very intriguing. Kate could tell there was a lot of wisdom inside him and she silently prayed that the truth she searched for was stored somewhere in his mind.
He stopped in front of her waiting patiently for her response. Kate opened up her purse and pulled out the picture of her mom. She stared at it for a minute gently running a finger over her mother's beautiful face. "I was wondering if you remember this woman?" Kate passed him the tiny photo.
He held out a shaky hand and Kate placed the picture in his palm. With the other hand he fumbled in his pocket for his glasses. Sliding them on he gazed at the picture. "Wow, I almost forgot how beautiful Selena was." Then he looked up at Kate. "Oh my God, it can't be! You, you're baby Katie," he held up the picture glancing back and forth from it to her face and back. "This is your mother isn't it?"
Kate sucked in a sharp breath and slowly nodded. "I want to know what happened all those years ago. How I ended up so far away from here. Why my father and mother split up. I want to know everything, I need to know. Can you help me?" She looked into his eyes.
"I can tell you everything I remember but I have to warn you, it's a very sad, dark story. Are you absolutely sure you are ready to hear this?" he said solemnly.
Kate's was overwhelmed with a wave of excitement followed quickly by a sense of dread. She was finally going to learn the truth. Was this the first step towards healing her darkened spirit or would the truth just leave her reeling, falling deeper into the pit she had been digging for years?
Kate woke up at exactly 7:15am, "Old habits are hard to break," she thought, "but I am certainly going to try." She rolled over and pulled the down filled duvet over her head to block out the first rays of light that were sneaking through the Venetian blinds.
When she finally opened her eyes again and peeked her head out from beneath the mass of covers, a quick glance at her watch told her she'd slept for another three hours. The angry gurgling in her stomach was the only thing keeping her from fluffing her pillow and nodding off once again.
Kicking off the covers Kate tried to remember the last time she had stayed in bed this late. Her drive and determination for her career didn't leave much time to take pleasure in the simple things in life like sleeping in. Or enjoying a delightful home cooked breakfast. Her friends would be shocked to learn how expertly she worked in the kitchen. Kate knew her no- nonsense, business, woman attitude and uptown lifestyle certainly didn't showcase her HGTV talents.
Throwing on her robe and slippers Kate headed for the kitchen to work her magic. Minutes later she set a delectable plate of food on the table and sat down to enjoy it. Her mouth watered as she cut into the colourful vegetarian omelette made with egg whites, green and red peppers, portabella mushrooms, onions, and stuffed with fresh asparagus. The first bite was heavenly and she chewed slowly savouring the taste. The rest of her meal consisted of a slice of multigrain toast, half a grapefruit, and a tall glass of fresh squeezed orange juice. After spoiling herself this way Kate would not be looking forward to her usual muffin or bagel on the run when she returned home.
As Kate gathered her dishes and loaded them into the dishwasher she began to plan out the day in her mind. The only place she could think of to begin her stroll back in time was the local library. Maybe she could find some old news articles or historical archives to root through. A thought kept creeping into her head that she pushed away time and time again for fear of being overwhelmingly disappointed, "Could she still have relatives living here? Cousins or even siblings?" Once again she shoved the idea far into the back of her mind and desperately tried to keep it there.
After she had showered Kate slipped into some of the new clothes she had purchased for this trip. Kate had spent an obscene amount of money in a store she had never set foot in before last week. All her usual suits, skirts, heels, and blouses were at home in the closet and her suitcase was loaded with nothing but casual comfort. She stood in front of the full- length mirror examining her new look. The fuzzy pink hooded Gap Sweatshirt and faded jeans were a mind-boggling contrast to the designer duds that generally adorned her slim frame.
With very little make up and her hair pulled back in a simple pony-tail Kate looked like a different person. But she still held that stunning beauty and impeccable poise that was impossible for Kate to lose. She slipped her feet into a comfortable pair of Birkenstocks, grabbed her purse and keys, then emerged from the cottage into the damp, fresh air.
Ironically, this quaint little town made Kate feel as though she had taken a step back in time. Old buildings still in excellent shape lined the main street, which contained only slight traces of the typical commercialism that had crept into most American cities. It was a very strange experience to drive through a populated area without McDonald's, Cracker Barrel, or Wal-Mart immediately catching her eye.
Taking in the essence of her surroundings Kate was shocked by a sudden feeling of contentedness. She hadn't even met anyone here yet, but she felt welcome, at ease, and completely relaxed.
She parallel parked in front of the Library cursing silently as she hit the curb and had to pull out and start over. When she was finally satisfied with the position of her vehicle she killed the engine and climbed out.
As Kate pulled open the heavy front door she was greeted by the slightly musty smell of a vault filled with years of printed history. She scanned the room and headed towards the computers she spotted near the back. She sat down and logged on to the library catalogue to begin her search.
Her fingers clicked on the keyboard as Kate typed her mothers name into the computer and hit the enter key. The system was rather slow and she tapped her fingers impatiently waiting for the results. "Search returned 0 results for 'Selena Williams'" flashed on the screen. Kate tried several other variations of her mothers name but still no matched were found. She tried her father's name but still did not come up with anything.
Kate pounded her fist on the desk in frustration and the thud echoed loudly. A young women appeared and Kate sheepishly apologized. The petite blond waved off Kate's apology, "It's okay. I can see you're frustrated, is there something I can help you with?"
Kate hesitated, she had made a conscious decision not to reveal her true intentions. If the information she was seeking about her past was the least bit murky her informants may feel more comfortable if they believed they were talking to someone who wasn't personally connected to the info. Kate wanted the truth and nothing but so she wanted to make sure people didn't sugar coat their stories for her benefit. "Actually maybe you can help me. I'm doing some research for a client on their family tree, I believe they were born here. Do you know where I may be able to find that type of information."
She smiled and laughed, "Not here that's for sure. But I do know just the person who could help you. His name is Jasper Louis, he runs the local paper, well actually his son has taken over but Jasper still spends most of his time there, 'supervising'. If the family you are researching lived here he will know them."
Kate felt a glimmer of hope ignite inside her, "Really? Where would I find him?"
"If you just go across the street and turn right, the newspaper building is on the next corner." Kate stood up and looked the woman in the eye. She touched her hand and gratefully thanked her before she quickly rushed out of the library.
Her heart pounded as she entered the Office. She didn't see anyone around so she loudly called out, "Hello, is there anyone here?"
An old man poked his head out from an office near the back. "I'm here. I'm always here. Can I help you, young lady?"
Kate giggled "young lady" she liked the sound of that. "I'm looking for Jasper Louis. Is that you?"
"The one and only! What can I do you for?" He stepped into the hall and slowly shuffled closer. He was an eccentric old man but something about him was very intriguing. Kate could tell there was a lot of wisdom inside him and she silently prayed that the truth she searched for was stored somewhere in his mind.
He stopped in front of her waiting patiently for her response. Kate opened up her purse and pulled out the picture of her mom. She stared at it for a minute gently running a finger over her mother's beautiful face. "I was wondering if you remember this woman?" Kate passed him the tiny photo.
He held out a shaky hand and Kate placed the picture in his palm. With the other hand he fumbled in his pocket for his glasses. Sliding them on he gazed at the picture. "Wow, I almost forgot how beautiful Selena was." Then he looked up at Kate. "Oh my God, it can't be! You, you're baby Katie," he held up the picture glancing back and forth from it to her face and back. "This is your mother isn't it?"
Kate sucked in a sharp breath and slowly nodded. "I want to know what happened all those years ago. How I ended up so far away from here. Why my father and mother split up. I want to know everything, I need to know. Can you help me?" She looked into his eyes.
"I can tell you everything I remember but I have to warn you, it's a very sad, dark story. Are you absolutely sure you are ready to hear this?" he said solemnly.
Kate's was overwhelmed with a wave of excitement followed quickly by a sense of dread. She was finally going to learn the truth. Was this the first step towards healing her darkened spirit or would the truth just leave her reeling, falling deeper into the pit she had been digging for years? Kate woke up at exactly 7:15am, "Old habits are hard to break," she thought, "but I am certainly going to try." She rolled over and pulled the down filled duvet over her head to block out the first rays of light that were sneaking through the Venetian blinds.
When she finally opened her eyes again and peeked her head out from beneath the mass of covers, a quick glance at her watch told her she'd slept for another three hours. The angry gurgling in her stomach was the only thing keeping her from fluffing her pillow and nodding off once again.
Kicking off the covers Kate tried to remember the last time she had stayed in bed this late. Her drive and determination for her career didn't leave much time to take pleasure in the simple things in life like sleeping in. Or enjoying a delightful home cooked breakfast. Her friends would be shocked to learn how expertly she worked in the kitchen. Kate knew her no- nonsense, business, woman attitude and uptown lifestyle certainly didn't showcase her HGTV talents.
Throwing on her robe and slippers Kate headed for the kitchen to work her magic. Minutes later she set a delectable plate of food on the table and sat down to enjoy it. Her mouth watered as she cut into the colourful vegetarian omelette made with egg whites, green and red peppers, portabella mushrooms, onions, and stuffed with fresh asparagus. The first bite was heavenly and she chewed slowly savouring the taste. The rest of her meal consisted of a slice of multigrain toast, half a grapefruit, and a tall glass of fresh squeezed orange juice. After spoiling herself this way Kate would not be looking forward to her usual muffin or bagel on the run when she returned home.
As Kate gathered her dishes and loaded them into the dishwasher she began to plan out the day in her mind. The only place she could think of to begin her stroll back in time was the local library. Maybe she could find some old news articles or historical archives to root through. A thought kept creeping into her head that she pushed away time and time again for fear of being overwhelmingly disappointed, "Could she still have relatives living here? Cousins or even siblings?" Once again she shoved the idea far into the back of her mind and desperately tried to keep it there.
After she had showered Kate slipped into some of the new clothes she had purchased for this trip. Kate had spent an obscene amount of money in a store she had never set foot in before last week. All her usual suits, skirts, heels, and blouses were at home in the closet and her suitcase was loaded with nothing but casual comfort. She stood in front of the full- length mirror examining her new look. The fuzzy pink hooded Gap Sweatshirt and faded jeans were a mind-boggling contrast to the designer duds that generally adorned her slim frame.
With very little make up and her hair pulled back in a simple pony-tail Kate looked like a different person. But she still held that stunning beauty and impeccable poise that was impossible for Kate to lose. She slipped her feet into a comfortable pair of Birkenstocks, grabbed her purse and keys, then emerged from the cottage into the damp, fresh air.
Ironically, this quaint little town made Kate feel as though she had taken a step back in time. Old buildings still in excellent shape lined the main street, which contained only slight traces of the typical commercialism that had crept into most American cities. It was a very strange experience to drive through a populated area without McDonald's, Cracker Barrel, or Wal-Mart immediately catching her eye.
Taking in the essence of her surroundings Kate was shocked by a sudden feeling of contentedness. She hadn't even met anyone here yet, but she felt welcome, at ease, and completely relaxed.
She parallel parked in front of the Library cursing silently as she hit the curb and had to pull out and start over. When she was finally satisfied with the position of her vehicle she killed the engine and climbed out.
As Kate pulled open the heavy front door she was greeted by the slightly musty smell of a vault filled with years of printed history. She scanned the room and headed towards the computers she spotted near the back. She sat down and logged on to the library catalogue to begin her search.
Her fingers clicked on the keyboard as Kate typed her mothers name into the computer and hit the enter key. The system was rather slow and she tapped her fingers impatiently waiting for the results. "Search returned 0 results for 'Selena Williams'" flashed on the screen. Kate tried several other variations of her mothers name but still no matched were found. She tried her father's name but still did not come up with anything.
Kate pounded her fist on the desk in frustration and the thud echoed loudly. A young women appeared and Kate sheepishly apologized. The petite blond waved off Kate's apology, "It's okay. I can see you're frustrated, is there something I can help you with?"
Kate hesitated, she had made a conscious decision not to reveal her true intentions. If the information she was seeking about her past was the least bit murky her informants may feel more comfortable if they believed they were talking to someone who wasn't personally connected to the info. Kate wanted the truth and nothing but so she wanted to make sure people didn't sugar coat their stories for her benefit. "Actually maybe you can help me. I'm doing some research for a client on their family tree, I believe they were born here. Do you know where I may be able to find that type of information."
She smiled and laughed, "Not here that's for sure. But I do know just the person who could help you. His name is Jasper Louis, he runs the local paper, well actually his son has taken over but Jasper still spends most of his time there, 'supervising'. If the family you are researching lived here he will know them."
Kate felt a glimmer of hope ignite inside her, "Really? Where would I find him?"
"If you just go across the street and turn right, the newspaper building is on the next corner." Kate stood up and looked the woman in the eye. She touched her hand and gratefully thanked her before she quickly rushed out of the library.
Her heart pounded as she entered the Office. She didn't see anyone around so she loudly called out, "Hello, is there anyone here?"
An old man poked his head out from an office near the back. "I'm here. I'm always here. Can I help you, young lady?"
Kate giggled "young lady" she liked the sound of that. "I'm looking for Jasper Louis. Is that you?"
"The one and only! What can I do you for?" He stepped into the hall and slowly shuffled closer. He was an eccentric old man but something about him was very intriguing. Kate could tell there was a lot of wisdom inside him and she silently prayed that the truth she searched for was stored somewhere in his mind.
He stopped in front of her waiting patiently for her response. Kate opened up her purse and pulled out the picture of her mom. She stared at it for a minute gently running a finger over her mother's beautiful face. "I was wondering if you remember this woman?" Kate passed him the tiny photo.
He held out a shaky hand and Kate placed the picture in his palm. With the other hand he fumbled in his pocket for his glasses. Sliding them on he gazed at the picture. "Wow, I almost forgot how beautiful Selena was." Then he looked up at Kate. "Oh my God, it can't be! You, you're baby Katie," he held up the picture glancing back and forth from it to her face and back. "This is your mother isn't it?"
Kate sucked in a sharp breath and slowly nodded. "I want to know what happened all those years ago. How I ended up so far away from here. Why my father and mother split up. I want to know everything, I need to know. Can you help me?" She looked into his eyes.
"I can tell you everything I remember but I have to warn you, it's a very sad, dark story. Are you absolutely sure you are ready to hear this?" he said solemnly.
Kate's was overwhelmed with a wave of excitement followed quickly by a sense of dread. She was finally going to learn the truth. Was this the first step towards healing her darkened spirit or would the truth just leave her reeling, falling deeper into the pit she had been digging for years?
