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‘I didn’t want to do that though,’ said Kirsty, ‘especially with your wedding. I feel bad for telling you today.’
After a long pause, Emma said, ‘Well maybe Max being called away was fate stepping in, so that you could tell us today.’
‘What about your birth parents?’ said Amy.
Kirsty was so relieved that she hadn’t saidrealparents because to her that was who Mum and Dad were and that would never change. ‘Well, this is where things kind of get weird . . .’
‘What do you mean?’ said Emma.
‘Once I worked out who my birth parents were, things fell into place and it made sense.’ She looked away for a moment, thinking about the moment she saw the names on the birth certificate.
‘Who? Who were they?’ Amy was evidently getting impatient again and had begun to fidget with the corner of the blanket.
Emma put a warning hand on her shoulder.
Kirsty’s voice softened as she looked at Emma and Amy. ‘Sarah and Michael Thompson.’
Emma frowned. ‘But . . . I know those names.’
‘That’s Mum’s sister and husband,’ said Amy, incredulous.
‘Yes,’ said Emma sadly. ‘They died before we were born.’
‘Well, beforeyouwere born . . .’ said Kirsty.
‘All we were ever told was that they were killed in a car crash and Mum was devastated by it . . .’ Emma’s voice trailed away.
‘And she didn’t want to talk about it as she found it too painful,’ said Amy, finishing her sentence.
‘It turns out that I was only a couple of months old when they died so was an orphan and Mum and Dad obviously decided to adopt me.’
‘Oh, Kirsty, how have you managed to carry this alone for so long?’ said Emma.
Kirsty closed her eyes, trying to calm herself from the emotions threatening to overwhelm her again. She felt as though she was still in that attic, crouched in confusion over the box. ‘I needed time to process it all. There was a lot to get my head around.’
‘It sounds like they must have adopted you and then moved to Arran to avoid the questions?’
Kirsty nodded. ‘Yes, I agree and I can understand. It was probably easier that way. Mum always said they came here for a fresh start after her sister died and to raise a family. They wanted a quiet life.’
‘Wow,’ said Amy, her throat sounding tight with tears. ‘I guess the next question is, do we talk to Dad?’
Kirsty looked at Emma who shook her head at what Amy was suggesting. ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea. Do you? It may just upset and confuse him even more,’ said Emma.
‘I think you’re right,’ said Amy, nodding her head in agreement.
‘That’s a first,’ said Emma drily.
Amy continued, her brows furrowing together as she spoke. ‘I mean, it’s not like it’s going to change anything, is it? I mean, I suppose technically we are cousins. But you’re our sister, Kirsty and you always have been. That will never change.’
Emma handed her a tissue. ‘Oh, Kirsty, we will always love you regardless of this. Even if you told us that Amy and I were also adopted that wouldn’t matter one wee bit. We are sisters and always will be.’
Kirsty wiped away tears as she listened to her sisters. She was so grateful that they felt like that. Yet she was also so sad that she had never got to know anything about her birth parents other than the very rare mentions of her deceased aunt and uncle that her mum would sometimes make. This was something that she would never be able to ask her mum now.
The girls huddled together, arms around each other and holding each other tightly.
Kirsty didn’t think there had ever been favouritism between the girls as they grew up. She was the oldest which perhaps meant they hadn’t all been treated the same because of the age difference. Kirsty had just turned eight when Emma was born and then nine when Amy came along. However, she never felt that she’d been cast aside or loved less because she wasn’t her parents’ actual child. She had always felt truly loved by them. She just wished they had told her and couldn’t work out why they had kept it a secret. When she voiced this to the girls, Emma frowned.
‘Perhaps you’ll never know,’ said Emma. ‘Especially if Dad can’t or won’t tell us. Sometimes things are better left alone.’
