I reached up and tugged a dark curl.
The resemblance was uncanny. Could they be? Tears flowed like a lazy river down my cheeks.
“Are these my parents?”
“I believe so,” Austin answered.
“Where are they?” Why’d they leave me?
“We don’t know. Has anyone who looks like them ever contacted you?”
My eyes snapped to his. What kind of question was that? “No,” I said.
“Are you sure?”
“What?” Was I sure I’d never met my parents? I snapped, “Don’t you think I’d remember if I met my parents?”
John placed his hand over mine. “That’s enough, Austin.”
“Sorry,” he held his hands out in the surrender position, “I shouldn’t have asked that.”
Austin pulled another plastic covered photo from his pocket.
“What about this couple? Do you recognize them?”
The photo was less frayed and faded, but still old. An older couple stood smiling in front of a small yellow house.
“No.” I stared at the photo, willing it to give me a clue about my life. Why else would he be asking me about it?
“Do you remember the house?”
“The house? No. Who are they?”
“We’re not sure yet.” I didn’t fully believe him; after all, their picture was also in an evidence bag.
I wondered if they were my foster parents, but didn’t have the energy to focus on them. All that mattered was my parents.
I traced their outlines with my finger, memorizing everything about them.
My mom’s long, light hair and blue eyes. My dad’s curly dark hair and brown eyes.
They were about the same height and in great physical shape.
“Are my parents criminals?” It was the only thing that made sense; why else would an insurance investigator be asking about them?
“I don’t know,” Austin answered. “That’s one of the many mysteries I’m trying to solve.”
“You don’t know?”
If they were, I was glad the Novaks had adopted me. I couldn’t imagine what life would’ve been like growing up with criminals.
“I don’t believe your parents, Travis and Melissa Singer, were criminals. We’re still investigating their connection to this couple.” He pointed at the picture with the yellow house, but I didn’t care about that couple.
Travis and Melissa Singer.
My parents have names.
My last name is Singer.
