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“What does that make B.J.?” Wiley asked.
“He is the bottomless pit with a tender heart,” she said.
“And you were always the captain,” Aaron said.
Shirley turned away. “Of a sinking ship. Sorry for the dark turn, everyone.”
“Hush now, Shirley,” Annie said. “We’re fine.”
“Every time I shipped out, I knew you were going to write and send books and cookies. Mom was sick, and you, and Aunt Annie, and Aunt Ella stepped into the gap,” Cameron said. “I’ll never forget it… All of you. Everybody always talks about how big Pope men are, but we know it’s the women in our family who are the anchors.”
Amalie raised her hand, as if asking permission to speak, and then did anyway.
“I knew nothing of your life at home, but you were the face I looked for at every school party. Sean Pope’s mama. The one with the pretty smile and big hugs. Theone who made the best cookies. Sometimes when you’re drowning and you don’t know how to swim, you look for anything that will float. You were that for me, Shirley. In the one year of my life when I was fostered in Conway, you made me believe I mattered.”
Wolf’s heart was breaking for his girl, and for them, without knowing all the whys.
But it was Sean who ended it. “No, ma’am. You do not apologize for anything. You didn’t sink the ship. You saved us before it went down by bringing us back to this family, for which we will be forever thankful. You’re our hero, and if B.J. were here, he’d second that…and then ask if he could have that last piece of apple tart.”
The small touch of humor shifted the moment, and once again, all was well. When the meal finally ended, it was with grateful hearts and full bellies.
Amalie took Wolf back to his hotel, confident that they’d both passed the Pope test.
But Wolf was still locked into the look on Shirley Pope’s face when Wiley danced her around the kitchen, and her sons’ admiration and devotion to her. After what Ella Pope told him, he was even more determined to get justice for what he and his daughter had lost.
Chapter 17
Amalie picked Wolf up the next morning at 8:00 a.m. and drove straight to the hospital lab.
After DNA swabs were taken, Wolf left info on where the results should be sent. It was serious business, and they had little to say as they left the hospital, arm in arm.
“What’s your schedule like today?” Wolf asked, as they got back in her car.
Amalie started it and drove out of the parking lot.
“One appointment at ten this morning, then just working on accounts for the rest of the day. Why?”
“Now that we’ve just found each other, I guess I am reluctant to part company. If I brought lunch to your office, would you be free to stop and eat with me before I fly out?” he asked.
Her face lit up. “I would love that.”
“Good! Do you have a preference of food?” he asked.
“No. Surprise me.”
“Between eleven thirty and noon okay with you?”
“Yes! Perfect!” she said. “Oh…I have the files from my caseworker with me. I’ll have them copied for you by then.”
“Thank you,” Wolf said.
He didn’t tell her what Ella said to him yesterday, and wasn’t going to, but he’d been unable to sleep last night because of it. It was unlikely he’d find proof, but it explained how a baby who’d been born in New Orleans would be abandoned in Arkansas and end up in the social services system there. And if that note had been included in her case files, it could explain why she’d never been chosen for adoption. At any rate, he’d find out when he read the files if she even knew that.
A few minutes later, she pulled up into the breezeway of Hotel Devon to let him out. He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
“Have a good day, sweetheart. Love you, and I’ll see you later.”
“Bye, Dad. Love you, too.”
