“T-Thank you,” Jayne stammered. “That means a great deal.”
Paige’s knees wobbled as relief surged through her system. “Why don’t we sit down?” she suggested.
“Yes,” Jack agreed.
The refreshments on the sideboard included a pitcher of iced water with lemon slices, a carafe of coffee, and another carafe of hot tea.
“What would you like, Jayne?” Carter asked.
“Tea would be great, thanks.” She chose a chair across from Cora, separated by the coffee table and apart from the others in the room.
Paige chose the end of the loveseat closest to her sister, making sure she wouldn’t feel alone. Jack and Cora were seated together on the couch. It was a cozy and friendly atmosphere and Paige tried to be grateful in the moment even as she regretted the time lost.
Carter filled a cup with tea and brought the caddy with milk and sugar to the coffee table. Paige watched, shamelessly curious about how Jayne drank her tea.
Her sister added a splash of milk, just like Paige did, and she couldn’t suppress her delight.
Jayne raised her eyebrows. “Something funny?”
“That’s the same way Paige takes her tea,” Cora answered before Paige could reply.
Carter went back and fixed a cup of coffee for himself, Cora, and Jack. Paige opted for a glass of water. She didn’t need the jolt of caffeine and now it felt weird to have tea, as if she needed to prove they were alike.
“I’m not sure what Jack and Paige have told you about me, Jayne, but I am pleased to meet you. Thrilled! I’ve had issues in the past with depression and changes and frankly, I do my best to avoid thinking about unpleasant things. But this,” she shot Paige a speaking look, “will not wreck me. I won’t let it. No one needs to worry about me. There’s too much to celebrate.”
“Celebrate?” Jayne echoed, turning to look at Paige.
Paige gave a small shrug. “Don’t look at me. I have no idea how any of this is supposed to work. But I want us to figure it out. I’d like to be a family, if that’s possible.”
“I’d like the same thing,” Cora said. “We talked about it and I decided you should hear the worst from me.” She reached for Jack, clutched his hand. “We had dreadful challenges when we tried to start a family,” she began. Her gaze turned wistful and sadness tugged at her lips. “We both made mistakes. When the doctors told me pregnancy was impossible and we should plan on adoption, I resisted the truth. Felt like a complete failure as a woman and a wife. Jack tried, but I wouldn’t be pulled out of my misery.
“I attempted suicide.” She leaned in just a little as Jack slid his arm around her shoulders. “It was a dumb, selfish act and destroyed our chances of a normal, legal adoption. Thankfully, no one told me that at the time.”
“You were hurting,” Jack said, his voice low.
“We were both hurting and I left you to cope without any support.”
Paige’s vision blurred. She’d never seen her parents like this, so open and raw. It was beautiful. All this time she’d thought her father did all the heavy lifting in the relationship, but she was seeing a new side of her mother tonight.
“Broke my heart that I couldn’t fix it.” Jack’s gaze was locked on his coffee cup. “Then I went out and made my own mistakes. Overwhelmed and confused, I let myself be distracted by a woman who thought she could replace my wife.”
“Turns out you made the best mistake for all of us,” Cora said. “Right or wrong, without that momentary lapse in judgment we wouldn’t have Paige. Or this chance to know Jayne.”
Jack fidgeted. “We’ve been over this,” he grumbled. “I didn’t do anything heroic. I was unfaithful to you. Every day I’m still surprised you found a way to forgive me.”
“Jack, stop. You brought your daughter home for us to be a family. All I wanted was to be the mother of your children and you made it happen. How it happened doesn’t really matter now.” She faced Jayne again. “And now, we have two daughters. If you’d like to get to know us better. It’s your choice.”
Jack shifted again. “I’m sorry I didn’t realize what Yost and Yvette were up to. We didn’t willingly leave you with her.”
“This is a lot to process,” Jayne said. She shot a furtive glance at Paige.
“You know how I feel about it,” Paige said. “We’re sisters. The rest is bonus.”
“This is way more than I expected when I started looking for my father,” Jayne cradled her tea in her hands. “I want to be clear on this point. I’m not here for a handout or to make any kind of claim.”
“No one thought that,” Paige said.
“I had to consider it,” Carter admitted with a wry smile. “But the theory fell apart pretty fast.”
Jack leaned forward. “You don’t need to give us an answer tonight. We just wanted you to have the facts, from both of us. I hope in time you can find a way to forgive us.” His gaze locked onto Paige. “Both of you.”
Paige looked away. A piece of her heart was still angry about the lies and that her dad had been unfaithful in the first place, but the bitterness was fading after her mom’s revelations. If her parents could get past this, she should be able to follow that example.
“I would like to know you both better,” Jayne said, breaking the silence. “I didn’t have the best upbringing. My mother didn’t share your longing for motherhood,” she said to Cora. “Life is ridiculously unfair that way. I’m so sorry you struggled.”
“Jack and Paige have pampered me for years, with good reason, but I’m aware I’ve been a burden along the way. I’ll be a burden again, I’m sure. But with good doctors and loads of love, I’m trying to become a healthier, better person.”
“Mom.” Paige wanted to hold her tight, but it would have to wait. “We’re careful because we love you.”
“And I’m grateful, sweetheart. We never told you about the adoption because you were mine from the moment I laid eyes on you. I didn’t give birth, but you were mine.”
“Ours.” Jack cleared his throat and caught Paige’s eye. “Like your mom said, from the first moment you were in my arms, the ‘how’ didn’t matter anymore. Frankly, I forgot all about Yvette once I saw the way Cora lit up at the sight of you.”
As awkward as this was, her focus dropped to her parents’ joined hands. Paige longed for a partnership like theirs, dreamed of the man she could love and cherish and rely on through the good days and bad. She didn’t dare look at Carter. He read her too easily and she didn’t want to scare him off. They’d barely met and he’d seen her though some intense challenges. What if he blamed her feelings on some kind of misplaced gratitude or rescuer infatuation?
No, that didn’t make sense when she factored in the way the earth shifted under her feet when they kissed. She believed him that he didn’t get personal with clients, that this connection between them was unique. Unique enough to seek more?
Technically, the case was over. Yost was in custody and the threat to her was contained. Yet he stayed, his knee touching hers, his presence a distinct comfort during this sensitive family discussion.