Family (30 page)

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must’ve been in with patients, that or he was meeting with the other doctors.

They were forever having meetings. She looked at the clock on the dashboard. Not quite noon.

Landon would understand. He’d help her make sense of the information, for sure.

She turned into their driveway, parked the van, and rushed inside. Cole was sitting in front of a half-played game of checkers in the family room, but Landon wasn’t around. She dropped her purse on a chair and grinned at him. “Hey, sweetie … where’s Daddy?”

“Putting Devin down.” Cole jumped up and quietly ran to her. “Sorry for shushing you earlier, Mommy. Sometimes us guys get carried away with cowboy movies.”

“I know, honey.” She stooped to his level and kissed first one cheek, then the other. “That’s okay.” She stood and looked beyond him. She had to talk to Landon. “I’ll be right back.”

But before she could get down the hall to meet him, he walked into the room.

“Hey! How was coffee?”

She gave Cole a nervous look, then shifted her gaze to her husband. “Can we talk in the kitchen for a minute?”

Landon’s smile faded. “Sounds serious.”

Cole skipped back to his checkers game. “I’m ahead, whenever you’re ready for me to beat you!”

“Okay, buddy.” He kept his tone light, but his eyes never left Ashley’s.

She hated the look of worry in Landon’s eyes. Where the two of them were concerned, a serious conversation could mean just about anything-and usually something that threatened their relationship, their lives, or both. She tried to give a shake of her head, something to ease the fear in his expression, but the concern only grew as he followed her to the small table near the Kitchen’s bay window. The spot where they’d held many conversations.

“Ash … what is it?” He took her hand as they sat in chairs ‘next to each other. “Honey, tell me.”

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“It’s nothing about me or us.” She put her free hand on his cheek “It’s about my brother. My older brother. Relief made his shoulders relax, and she watched it work its way through his body He smiled. “As long as you’re all right.” “I am “

She winced. “Sorry for worrying you.” -I’m a little fond of you. I can’t have anything happen to you, Ash.” He kissed her forehead. “Okay, now tell me about your

brother.”,

She had to make him understand it the way she did, so he could see the possibility. “So I’m at the Flamgan house, and I m talking to Jenny because Katy’s laundry got all mixed up with Bailey’s and that cost Katy at least ten minutes’ time.” The story picked up speed. “And Jenny tells me Katy’s been sort of down and that she’s really surprised Dayne Matthews didn’t go to opening night because he’s gone before, and it was surprising because his birth parents live in Bloomington. She-held out her hands. “Landon, can you believe that?

He looked confused, as if she’d been speaking German. The Flanigan house? Is that the coffee shop?”

“No ” She tried not to sound as exasperated as she felt. The Flanigans’, where Katy Hart lives in their garage apartment.”

The concentration on Landon’s face was the kind usually reserved for puzzles and brain teasers. “Okay, and something about Katy’s laundry, which I think wasn’t the point.”

“No.” She breathed out hard. “Dayne! The point is Dayne Matthews.”

“The movie star.” Landon sounded pretty sure of himself, but he couldn’t see the connection.

“Yes ” Ashley hesitated, willing herself to calm down. ‘ Katy told Jenny that Dayne’s birth parents live here. In Bloomington.

Slowly like dawn on a winter day, the light began to shine in Landon’s’eyes. He pointed at Ashley, his brow slightly raised “And you think … you think Dayne might be your brother because his birth parents live in Bloomington, Indiana?”

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“Yes.” She broke free from him and stood, her hands on her hips. “Of course I think that. He looks just like Luke, and during the trial I answered my dad’s cell phone one time and it was Dayne! Calling for my dad!” She impatiently waved her hand in a circle. “Sure, he had some story about calling to pass on a message from Luke, but that doesn’t even make sense.” She made an exasperated sound. “Of course I think he’s our brother. What else could it be?”

Landon rose, took both her hands this time, and led her back to her chair.

“Ashley … there’re probably thousands of adoptive parents in the Bloomington area. Thousands.” He brought her fingers close and kissed them. “A lot of guys look like Dayne Matthews. That’s his appeal, sweetie. All-American good looks.

And the cell call … I don’t know. But you have to admit Luke was there at the trial. It makes sense that Dayne might do him a favor.” He paused. His eyes were full of empathy, but they held no doubt. “Honey, the idea of Dayne Matthews being your biological brother is just, well … it’s crazy.”

“But he must be someone’s biological brother, right? If his birth parents had kids, anyway.”

“Don’t you think if Dayne was your biological brother that someone would’ve told you by now?” He released her hands and ran his fingers along her arms. “Ash, sweetie, the guy’s been in town because of Katy Hart, and okay, because of his family. He’s probably been meeting with them. If he were your brother, Katy would know and she would’ve told you.”

Ashley didn’t want his kindness. She wanted him to believe in her, to acknowledge that she wasn’t crazy, that maybe-just maybe-Dayne really was her brother. “But listen.” She searched his eyes, willing him to understand. “Dayne looks just like Luke. Haven’t we all said that? And we know that whoever our older brother is, he has some sort of different life, a life where it could be difficult for him to connect with us, right?” She leaned in closer. “Landon, it’s possible. I really think it is.”

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For the first time, Landon had no easy answer. He sat back and blinked a few times, then made a puzzled face. “Hmm. I forgot about the strange-life thing.”

He pondered for a moment. “I guess … I guess you could be right.” He looked out the window for a moment and then back at her. “It’s possible. It just sounds crazy.”

Ashley felt the surge of victory. “It sounds crazy to me too. But the pieces line up.” She stared at the floor near her feet and thought. Suddenly something else hit her. “His birth date! That would tell us something, wouldn’t it?”

“Before you go that route, how ‘bout you call your dad? You said he’s been talking to your brother, so he’d be the one to know.”

“I left him a couple messages.” She stood and paced to the kitchen stove. “I can’t wait, Landon. I have to know right now.’

“Daddy …,” Cole called from the next room, “it’s your turn.”

“Okay, just a minute.” Landon rose and headed toward his checker game. He looked at Ashley before he left. “Wait for your father’s call, Ash.” His smile told her how much he cared, how badly he wanted her to find the answers she was looking for. “You’ve waited months to find out about this. Another few hours won’t hurt.”

Landon was right. She breathed out and felt the excitement leave her body.

“Okay. I’ll wait.”

But afternoon slipped into evening, and dinnertime led to baths for the boys and stories for Cole. All the while she could think of just one thing: Dayne Matthews might be their brother! By the time the boys were both down, it was nine o’clock.

Landon pulled her close and kissed her. “I’m going out for milk and bread.” He rocked her slightly, swaying with her the way he sometimes did when he held her.

“Do we need anything else?”

“Sliced cheese.” She drew back and studied him. “Haven’t I waited long enough?”

Her voice held a subtle whine. “Landon.

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I need to know. I have Dayne’s cell number; shouldn’t I just call him?”

“I don’t know, Ash.” Landon linked his hands at the small of her back. “I think your dad should tell you.” He kissed her once more and then pulled away. “Call him again while I’m out. If he doesn’t answer-” he angled his head, encouraging her-“I think you can wait until tomorrow.”

Ashley sighed. “All right.”

As soon as he was gone, she checked for missed calls on their home phone. There were none. Maybe her father hadn’t gotten her messages. She tried his cell and the Baxter home number one more time, but he answered neither of them. “Fine,”

she muttered.

Landon was wrong. She couldn’t wait for tomorrow or the next day to find out.

She couldn’t wait another minute. Whatever had kept her father so busy, she needed to know about Dayne.

She slipped out the kitchen side door, down the hall, and into the small bedroom that doubled as a home office. It was the place where Ashley handled the business associated with her painting.

The house was quiet, so the sound of her tapping fingers on the keys of the computer filled the room. She was online in seconds. In the Google search window she typed, Dayne Matthews birth date. Then she hit Enter.

A list of sites popped up, but the first one gave her all the information she needed without even having to click it. Ashley Pushed her chair back and stared at the age on the screen. She did the math in a hurry, and any doubts she had dissolved like summer dew. Dayne was born less than a year before her parents Were married-which would make the timing perfect.

So why hadn’t he wanted to meet them? If Dayne was the first, born Baxter son and if her father was in communication with | him, then the reasons had to be noble. Certainly if Dayne had a

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bad attitude, if he was worried about the Baxter family tarnishing his Hollywood image, then her father wouldn’t have wanted a relationship with him.

If their brother was Dayne, if he really was the missing Baxter sibling, then maybe the reason had more to do with them, with their privacy. If that was the case, no wonder he hadn’t made contact with his siblings. Not because he was ashamed of them but because if he did, the entire world was bound to find out, and once they did-there wouldn’t be a moment’s peace for any of the Baxters.

They would wind up gobbled and spit out across the tabloids, same as Katy Hart.

Ashley picked up the phone and dialed her father’s cell one more time. But again the call went to his voice mail, and this time she didn’t leave a message. She didn’t want to sound desperate, but she needed to know. The clock on the wall ticked, and the ticking grew louder, louder. As if the second hand was reminding her that every tick, every passing minute and hour were one more bit of lost time where she and her siblings were missing out on knowing their parents’

firstborn son.

Should she call Dayne? Landon hadn’t exactly asked her not to call. He just didn’t think it was a good idea. And the thought had never been more than a heartbeat away since Jenny Flanigan mentioned the news. Did she owe it to her father to talk to him first? Would he mind if she simply called Dayne and asked?

Her father wouldn’t get upset at that, would he?

Her purse was in the kitchen, and she darted back down the hall, scooped it up, and carried it to the office. She rummaged through it, found her cell, flipped it open, and scrolled through the phone book until she found Dayne’s number. She stared at it, each digit another hurdle in a small line of hurdles that maybe were all that remained between not knowing and finally having the information she wanted.

No. She exhaled hard and closed her phone. She couldn’t call him. She needed to talk to her father first. She sat back in the 255

computer chair, defeated. Patience, Ashley, she told herself. Be patient. God, give me patience, please.

She looked at the screen. The Google list still displayed the Web sites listing Dayne’s birth date. Get to know Dayne Matthews, one said. Dayne Matthews: America’s Heartthrob … every thingfor the fanatical Dayne Matthews fan!

boasted another.

Fourth on the list was a site that claimed to be an official gathering place for fans. Ashley clicked it, and the screen filled with a full-size photo of Dayne Matthews, a publicity shot from one of his recent films.

Ashley leaned in and scrutinized the photo, studying the way he rested against an old brick wall, his hands behind his back, one knee up. The pose was strikingly familiar. Hadn’t she seen Luke stand that way against the garage door when any of them were outside playing basketball and he was waiting for his turn? She looked at Dayne’s eyes, as deeply as she could.

“Are you my brother?” Her whisper hung in the air and blended with the soft whirring of the computer.

She pictured Dayne, the way he’d looked that night when he’d given her a ride home from CKT practice. She’d felt so at ease around him, so aware of how his mannerisms reminded her of Luke. At the time she could only make a mental note, a reminder to herself to talk to Luke about the resemblance. His coworkers were right, she told Luke later. No question, he looked just like Dayne Matthews.

But now …

How could she let another day go by without knowing the truth? Did they look like brothers because of an uncanny coincidence? Or because of an uncanny coincidence had she made the discovery of a lifetime?

That they looked like brothers for one reason alone-because they were.

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John pulled into his driveway at ten that night, tired but with a lighthearted feeling he’d missed over the past two years. The day had been a full one, meetings at the hospital, board reviews, and committee gatherings.

Afterwards, he and several of his colleagues had gone out for what had become a quarterly dinner on the town. Wives were invited, and this time he didn’t want to sit alone at the table. He had taken Elaine, and he didn’t regret it. Having her beside him made him feel normal again, less lonely. He introduced her the same way to everyone, “This is my friend Elaine. She and Elizabeth did volunteer work together for years.”

There was no hand holding or flirtatiousness between them. What he told people was the truth. She was his friend, nothing more. But as such, she was a wonderful companion, adding her thoughtful and sometimes humorous comments at just the right moments in the conversation. The other doctors and their wives had been kind to her, accepting her into a circle where once Elizabeth had fit so well.