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“So, you came here for answers.”
“Not right away. I tried finding out more on my own, but phone calls and internet searches only got me so far. Since the birth certificate was from Maryland, I started with that, but they had no record of it, of course.”
“Because the name and birthdate were invalid.”
“Exactly.”
I lick my lips, debating. I have a few ideas about finding that information, but I’m not sure I should throw that on the table, potentially exposing a part of my life I don’t want her to know about.
“The hardest part for me at first was realizing that Aunt Ginny was never my aunt at all,” Cherry says. “She’d been the only family I ever had, and I didn’t know how to process the information. I needed to find ano
ther connection, so I joined a few online support groups for adopted kids trying to find their birth parents. Everything people said suggested that it would take time, attorneys, and multiple trips to the clerk’s office. I thought if I just moved here, it would make the search a little easier.”
Cherry pauses, and I consider what she’s just told me. I can’t imagine growing up so isolated. My home had always been filled with multiple generations, and I’ve been surrounded by family members my whole life. Living with just one other person and then finding out you were never related is unfathomable.
“What has you looking so pensive?” Cherry asks.
“Pensive?” I shake my head. “I was just wondering what it would be like not to know who my parents were. That led me to wonder what it would have been like growing up away from my family—not to know who they were. It would have been a very different situation.”
“Your family is an important part of your definition of yourself,” Cherry says.
“I hadn’t thought about it in those words, but yes, very much so.” I think back to the conversation at the bar again. “When you said you were trying to find yourself, you meant that literally.”
“I did, but progress has been much slower than I thought it would be. Actually, I wanted to ask…” She looks away from me, clutching her wine glass so tightly I’m concerned it will crack from the pressure.
“What is it?”
“Did you mean what you said?” she asks.
“About what?”
“About helping me.”
“Of course I meant it. Anything I can do for you, Cherry.”
She downs the rest of her wine and places the glass next to mine on the table. She presses her lips together tightly for a moment, her face scrunched up. It makes her freckles come together, and I wonder if I could find a pattern in the little dots—like constellations in the night sky.
“Do you think, I mean, you seem to have a lot of influence in this town—or at least, your family seems to—so do you think you might be able to help? I don’t even want to ask, but I haven’t gotten anything but doors slammed in my face so far.”
I tense slightly, wondering if she knows more about me and my family than she’s been letting on, but I push the thought aside. She’s not blind and clearly has a knack for finding information. She’s been in Cascade Falls long enough to figure out my family is one with high standing.
Regardless, this is exactly the opportunity I’d hoped for.
“I’d be happy to help,” I tell her. “I can’t make any promises, of course, but I do know some people in the county office, and I have an excellent attorney. I’ll gladly help in whatever way I can.”
“Oh, thank you!” She suddenly throws her arms around my neck and hugs me. “Thank you, Nate! You have no idea how much that means to me!”
“I’m getting an idea!” I chuckle as I hug her back, trying not to focus on her breasts pushed up against my chest. I run my hand over her back and slide it to her waist as she pulls away from me but doesn’t release her grip on my neck.
I watch her closely as she looks from my eyes to my lips and then back again. My heart beats faster, and I lean in a smidge closer, waiting to see if she’ll back away, but she doesn’t. I can smell her hair—that same amazing scent from the club the other night. Her eyes are bright and clear, and I notice a tiny speck of brown at the side of her green irises. It reminds me of her adorable freckles.
Very, very slowly, I close the distance between us and press my lips to hers. I keep it gentle and warm, making sure I don’t press too hard or make it last too long. Despite the brevity of the kiss, my skin is warm when I break away, and Cherry’s breathing a little faster.
“I hope that was okay,” I say softly. “I…I should have asked first, but…”
“It was okay,” Cherry says quickly. “It was more than okay.”
“It was?” I blink, hoping the innocent act is coming across the way I want it to. “Can I…?”
