Flawed Beauty (25 page)

“Of course not.
My mommy is buying me a pretzel.”

“Do you like pretzels?”

“Not as much as ice cream.”

“Would you like an ice cream?”

With her eyes dancing, she said,
“Yes.”

“Well come with me and I’ll get you
one. But we have to be quiet. I wouldn’t want to make your mom angry. Can you
be quiet?”

“Oh yes, very quiet.”

“Okay, well let’s go then.”

“… and then when I turned around,
she was just… gone. Like into thin air,” Tate heard Marla say as she brought
her mind back to the present.

With her heart pounding, Tate asked
with a choked voice, “Did you buy her a pretzel?”

Marla gave her an odd look.
“Pretzel?
No, weren’t you
listenin
’?
That day I bought her a little pony with a long pink mane.”

Tate blinked rapidly at the words.
“Do you have a picture of your daughter?”

Marla leaned over to the table by
her chair and picked up an eight-by-ten picture frame and handed it over to
Tate. With trembling fingers, Tate took it and stared at the little girl. Her
hair was pulled into two ponytails on either side of her head. There were
yellow ribbons tied around the ponytails, which matched the yellow jumper she
wore.

Belatedly, she realized Marla had
begun to speak once more. “…long, flowing blonde hair; big, bright blue eyes…”

Tate scrunched her eyebrows together
and looked back down at the picture.
“Blue eyes?”

Marla slid her gaze back to Tate.
“Yeah, her eyes were blue, why?”

Tate swallowed.
“Uh,
no reason.
I just didn’t know that.”

“Does it matter?”

“Uh, no.”
This wasn’t her. Her eyes were a
light brown, not blue. This wasn’t her mother. Tate felt her heart seize. She’d
hoped she was. She’d wished she could have eased the suffering for the both of
them.

Swallowing, Tate handed the picture
back to Marla Williams. “She was very beautiful. Can I ask you a personal
question?”

Marla blinked at what she considered
the strange question. “Haven’t they all been personal?”

Tate gave a small smile. “I guess
so.” She glanced down as she twirled a pen between her fingers. “If you could
find your daughter one day, would you want to? Would you want her back, no
matter what had happened to her… no matter what she turned out to be?”

“Yes, absolutely.
I’d take her back under any
circumstances. I love her and I miss her every day. I’d give my own life for
just one more minute with her. I pray to God that he at least let her live and
that somehow she is happy, and was not hurt.”

Tate’s rapid breathing filled the
air between them. She reached down and shoved her notepad and pen back into her
pack. She stood and murmured as she walked quickly to the door, “I’m sorry, I
shouldn’t have come. I’m so sorry for the inconvenience.”

Marla stood and followed her. “Wait,
what about your research?”

Tate continued to walk away without
turning around. “I’m sorry, so sorry,” she murmured again.

She made it to the dirt road before
she allowed the tears to slip down her cheeks. What had she hoped to gain?
She’d not solved anything. She’d only stirred up painful memories for a woman
who’d already been through hell. What if none of the three families on the list
were hers? Then she’d only brought up painful memories for them and solved
nothing. What if her mother wasn’t like Marla Williams? What if she didn’t want
her back? Could she withstand that?

Wearily, she climbed up the stairs
to her room. Her loss of sleep from the night before, as well as being so
emotionally overwrought, had her falling face-down on the bed and curling up on
her side. She wished she was home. She wished more than anything she was
wrapped tight in
Jace’s
arms as he idly ran his hands
up and down her spine in comfort.

In a way to offer
herself
comfort – even if it was fake comfort – she told herself, if she still wanted
to, she could call him when she woke. She wouldn’t but it was a nice way to
psych
herself
out. As her eyes slowly drifted shut,
her chest burned and her heart twisted painfully. Brit was a better fit for
Jace
, with her cheery red suit and white pearls. She’d be a
perfect match, the perfect swan.

The chapel was beautiful as the sun
streamed in through the stained glass windows. She looked up into Thor’s face
and smiled as he led her down the aisle. The swish of her long, white gown
sounded as she walked. Lifting her gaze, she saw
Jace
standing with the minister. He was wearing a black tux with a crisp white
shirt, a black bowtie, and a red rosebud in his lapel. Her heart squeezed in
her chest when he gave her that special, sexy smile he reserved just for her.
This was right… this was good.

It seemed to take forever for them
to reach him. She gave an absent smile to Thor when he placed her cold, nervous
hands within her one true love’s warm ones. He lifted her hands to his lips and
kissed her knuckles before placing their joined hands against his heart.

“This is real,” he murmured for her ears
only.

Vaguely, in the periphery of her
mind, she could hear the minister begin to speak the familiar words. “Dearly
beloved, we are gathered…”

She tuned it all out to look deep
into his beautiful face. This was where she belonged… with him. Slowly, the
minister’s word began to come to her. “…if there’d be anyone present who can
show just cause why these two should not be joined together, let them speak now
or forever hold their peace.”

She looked up into
Jace’s
face and her smile faltered at his expression. With
regret in his eyes, he said, “I’m so sorry, but you should have trusted me with
the truth.”

“What do I do now?” she whispered to
him.

“That’s your choice. It’s always
been your choice,” he murmured against her ear.”

Chapter 10

Tate’s
eyes snapped opened as her heart hammered in her chest. She was surprised to
see the sun still shining through the window.
I’m so sorry, but you should
have trusted me with the truth.
Maybe she should have just told him the
truth… all of it. Maybe then he would understand why he needed to move on.
Maybe it wouldn’t matter to him? A small voice whispered up in her mind. But
she squashed it immediately. He’d resent her one day. It was hard enough now,
but to be with him, live with him, and love him… maybe even marry him – it
would certainly kill her if he left then. But she decided
,
if ever given the chance, she would tell him everything, he deserved to know.

Rising from the bed, she pulled out
her phone and found missed calls and voicemails from
Jace
,
Thor, and even Toby. Not sure what to say to them, she ignored them for now.
She stood and looked out the window, trying to decide if she should continue or
not. Maybe she should just go home and forget it. But what if her family was
just a few miles away? Wouldn’t it be worth it?
To her?
To them?
She didn’t know. But she was here already,
and so desperate to know.

A glance at the clock told her it
was a little after two. If she went now, she’d have just enough time to go by
one of the remaining two families’ homes. She grabbed her phone, stuck it into
her pocket, and withdrew enough money from her backpack to purchase a bike and
to eat later. With more resolve, she headed back down the stairs.

Tate found the Bulls Gap Thrift Shop
right where Tippy said it would be. She saw a man sitting in the back of the
store with his feet propped up reading a newspaper. He rose slowly when she
entered.

“Can I help you,” he asked with a
smile.

“I hope so. Tippy sent me. She said
you might have a used bike for sale,” Tate said.

“I do have a few out back. Come on
with me.”

Tate followed him to the back and
found four or five bikes – none compared to hers back home, but she wouldn’t
need it for long.

“I actually only need it for a day
or two. Would you be willing in leasing it to me?”

Jack scratched his head. “Well now.
I
ain’t
never
thought about that. But I guess it’d be all right. I’ll tell you
what we’ll do. You pay full price and then when you return it, I’ll give your
money back minus twenty dollars a day. Sound fair?”

“Sounds more than fair, thanks,” she
replied.

Later, as she rode with the wind
whipping through her hair, she felt freer than she’d felt in days. She wasn’t
sure why, maybe because she’d decided to confess all to
Jace
and that provided closure. Maybe it was seeing how one mother still loved a
child who had been stolen from her. She didn’t know, but it was like a load had
been lifted.
LaVerne
and Sal Monroe were the next
people on her list. They lived in the nearby town of Morristown, which was
approximately thirteen miles from Bulls Gap. It took her nearly an hour to
reach Morrisville; and then another half hour to find 609
Tibot
,
which was the
Monroes
’ address. She rode by the
address, slowly taking in the small, red-brick,
ranch
style home. The yard was currently being mowed by a shirtless, teenage boy on a
riding lawnmower. The place appeared to be neat and clean. Taking a deep
breath, she rode to the edge of the drive and slid smoothly off the bike.

As her feet hit the pavement, she
felt the vibration of her phone in her pocket. She heaved a sigh, but pulled
the phone out.

“Hi,” she said softly.

Jace
exhaled shakily. “I’ve been so
worried.”

“I know, I’m sorry,” she replied.

“Where are you?” he asked.

“Just taking care of few things.
Are you, okay?”

He was silent for minute. “No.”

She closed her eyes at his pain.
“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t… Just come home. I need you,”
he begged.

“I’ll be home in a couple days,
then
we’ll talk. Okay?”

“No. Why can’t you come home today?
Tell me where you are and I’ll come to you. I love you, baby. I miss you.”

Swallowing hard at his words, she
said before clicking off her phone, “I’ll talk to you soon.”

She slid the kickstand down and
parked the bike on the driveway. She gave a small wave to the boy on the
lawnmower before moving to the front door. She spied a doorbell and pushed it.
Taking a steadying breath, she clutched tightly to the strap of her backpack.
After a few minutes, a woman with salt-and-pepper hair opened the door and
smiled uncertainly at her.

“Can I help you?”

Tate studied her intently but didn’t
see anything familiar. Going with the same story she’d used at the
Thomases
, she smiled and said. “I hope so. Are you
LaVerne
Monroe?”

“Yes,” the woman answered.

“I know this may be awkward, but I’m
hoping you can help me with something. My name is Tate Morgan and I’m a student
at the University of Florida. I’m doing my thesis on the effects a missing
child has on a family. Would you be willing to talk with me?” she asked on a
rush.

Tate watched the corners of the
woman’s mouth curve down. “I… I don’t know.”

With her heart pounding, Tate said,
“I’ll only ask you a few questions.”

Still with obvious hesitation, the
woman backed up and held the door open for her. The house was spotlessly clean
and clutter-free. On the wall leading to the living room were pictures of a boy
and a girl of varying ages, starting from babyhood to cap and gown. The boy was
a nice-looking blonde with blue eyes, while the girl was red-haired with brown
eyes. Tate allowed her eyes to linger on the pictures as she walked by.

LaVerne
Monroe noticed her looking and
said, “That’s my son Trey and my daughter Camilla. They’re both off at the
University of Tennessee. We’re very proud of them.”

Tate smiled and moved further into
the room.

“You have a lovely home, Ms.
Monroe,” Tate said politely.

“Thank you,”
LaVerne
Monroe answered nervously.

Sitting awkwardly, Tate asked, “Do
you have a picture of
Libbey
?”

LaVerne
Monroe swallowed but nodded.
“Of course.
Excuse me, please.”

As Tate sat waiting on
LaVerne
to return, the front door slammed open and a large
man with jet-black hair entered the house, yelling, “Who, on God’s green earth,
left that damn bike in the middle of the drive?”

She stood to her feet as he entered.
“I’m sorry, sir. It was me. I’ll just go move it right now.”

He scowled at her. “Never mind, I
moved it myself,” he snapped. “Who are you?”

Tate swallowed fearfully. “I… My
name is Tate Morgan and I’m a student at the University of Florida…”

She was interrupted by
LaVerne
Monroe, “Oh,
Sal
. You’re
home early. This is Tate
Morgan,
she’s a friend of
Camilla’s. They both went on that DC trip last December. I was just telling
Tate that Camilla is still in school as their Spring Break isn’t until next
week.”
LaVerne
handed her a Post It. “Here’s her
phone number, dear. So sorry you missed her,” she said, pleading with Tate to
go along with her.

“Uh, yes, thanks. Please tell
Camilla I stopped by. Would you mind if I leave my phone number for her with
you?”

“Of course.”

Sal Monroe looked between the two
women and dismissed them. “What’s for dinner? I’m starving.”

“Pot Roast.
Just let me walk Tate out and we
can eat.”

At the door,
LaVerne
Monroe wrapped her arms around Tate as if in a hug. In her ear, she whispered.
“It destroys a family. That’s what losing a child does. Please don’t come back.
Sal wouldn’t like it.”

Softly Tate asked, “Can you tell me
what color her eyes were?”

LaVerne
Monroe eyed her curiously before
answering slowly, “Light brown. Why?”

Tate’s stomach clenched at her
answer. What did she say now? As she struggled to reply,
LaVerne
said, “About your color. Does that matter?”

Tate exhaled deeply.
About your color
.

“No, sorry for bothering you.”
A thousand thoughts ran through her
mind. Now that she’d possibly found her parents, how did she prove it? What if
she told them the truth and then later they discovered she wasn’t actually
their daughter? Indecision had Tate turning away, and then she hesitated once
more as a thought occurred to her. “Did she have a nickname?”

LaVerne
Monroe eyed her peculiarly before
something dawned on her. She put a hand over her mouth as if to stifle a sob.
“Were you taken? Are you looking for your parents?” she whispered.

Hesitantly, Tate nodded.

With tears in her eyes, she placed a
hand on Tate’s arm. “Honey, I’m sorry, but… but our
Libbey
was found.”

Inhaling sharply, Tate asked softly,
“Alive?”

With tears streaming down her face
now,
LaVerne
Monroe sadly shook her head. Tate
reached forward and wrapped her arms around the woman. “I’m so sorry.
So very sorry.”

“
LaVerne
,
where’s my dinner?” they heard Sal Monroe bellow from inside the house.

“I need to go. Good luck to you,
Tate Morgan,” she said as she quietly closed the door.

Two down, one to go.
What would she do if they also
turned out not to be her parents? She guessed she’d have to call Alan and have
him widen his search. Who’s to say that her parents weren’t just visiting the
area when she’d been taken? She exhaled deeply. It seemed almost
insurmountable.

Darkness had settled over the town
when Tate rolled into Bulls Gap. It was funny, but she actually was more
apprehensive cycling in this small, unknown town at night than in the much
larger city of Gainesville. She blew a breath out through puffed cheeks. It’d
been a long, emotional day. It saddened her to think of all the families out
there suffering like this at the hand of someone else. What about the families
that
her
supposed sisters had been stolen from? How
did they cope? She dreaded tomorrow. If the last family wasn’t hers, she’d well
and truly be on her own… alone in the world. She never thought she’d want the
link with either
Tilda
or Travis Moon. But not
belonging anywhere was even more terrifying than belonging to them.

She’d just wheeled her bike around
the last corner, putting her back on the main thoroughfare into town, when a
hand reached out from the sidewalk and shoved her hard. The shove sent her
slamming onto the graveled road. The fall knocked the air out of her lungs and
she longed to scream but couldn’t catch her breath. The gravel ate into her
bared left arm as she slid forward. Before she could do more than stop, strong
hands were snatching her backpack and wrenching her arms back as it was yanked
from her.

With her heart pounding, her arm
burning, and breathing rapid, she sat up quickly to defend herself, but when
she looked around, she was alone. Oncoming headlights forced her to move her
aching body and the bike to the curb. She grimaced when she looked down at the
road rash on her arm. As the adrenalin which had rushed through her body
dwindled, it dawned on her what’d just happened. The son-of-a-bitch took her
backpack. It contained all her money, with the exception of what few dollars
she had left in her pocket. Her phone charger was in there, along with all her
notes; including the name and address of the last family. Tears stung her eyes.
She was stuck in a place where she knew no one. She had no way to get home. The
only thing in her favor was she’d already paid for her room. She rose stiffly
to her feet, grimacing at the pain. She picked up the bike and used a word that
Toby would have washed her mouth out for. The bike was damaged beyond riding.
So much for getting her money back
.
So now, even if
she somehow could remember the address of family number three, she had no way
to get there.

Frustration had tears stinging her
eyes. She was so tired of having to fight this hard for everything. Picking up
the bike, which refused to roll on its crooked front tire, she walked to the
diner and leaned it against the front window. She reached down and brushed the
dirt from her clothes, wiped the tears from her eyes, and refashioned her
ponytail. Trying to beat down her feelings of self-defeat, she entered the
diner. She decided she’d grab a bite to eat and then return to her room.

She opened the door and passed the
row of mostly empty booths until she reached the one by the front window. She
slid her tired, sore body onto the cushioned seat and whimpered at the pain it
caused. She was going to be so sore tomorrow. She was surprised to see Tippy
come to her booth.