Finding Our Forever (Silver Springs #1)(66)

“Thanks for...thanks for allowing me to come over,” Cora said.

Aiyana stood aside and waved her in. “Of course. You’re welcome here anytime. I hope you know that.”

“I do.”

Aiyana led her into the living room where that picture of Hank, Consuelo and family graced the old piano. Cora felt a niggle of doubt when she glanced at it. Once she said what she had to say, there’d be no taking it back. But she knew she’d come too far to change her mind. For better or worse, it was time for the truth.

“Why all the secrecy?” Aiyana asked as they sat, facing each other, on the sofa. “I’d assume it was because you want to arrange a surprise for Eli, maybe for the wedding, but he’s the one who asked me to set this time aside and insisted on taking the boys, so...that doesn’t seem to fit.”

“No, it’s not that kind of surprise.”

“So he knows what you’re about to say.”

“He does. Cal does, too. And my parents. They all felt you and I should address this at a time when we could be alone and weren’t likely to get interrupted.”

Her eyebrows knit above her dark, searching eyes. “Cal’s part of this?”

“Yes. And my parents, as I said. But it’s a very small, tight circle, and we all want what’s best for you. This is no one else’s business but our own.”

The color drained from Aiyana’s face as she stiffened. “You’re giving me the impression this is bad news. You and Eli haven’t changed your mind about the wedding. You’re not leaving New Horizons.”

“No. I love Eli more than I’ve ever loved anyone. I hope I’ll be able to make him happy.”

“I know he feels the same about you. You’ve taught him to trust again. I’ve been waiting for a woman to come along who had the power to do that. So...”

Cora couldn’t help wringing her hands. “Aiyana, I... I’m...” She tapped a hand to her chest as if she could force out the rest of the words, but that was as far as she got before she choked up and couldn’t speak.

Sympathetic tears filled Aiyana’s eyes. “What is it, Cora?” she asked. “You can tell me anything.”

“It’s something I’ve been trying to tell you since I came here. Since the private investigator who...who helped me first find you.”

With a gasp, Aiyana covered her mouth. She knew. In that moment, she knew, but Cora spoke, anyway.

“I’m the child you gave up.”

“Twenty-eight years ago,” she whispered, her eyes filled with nostalgia and pain. “Twenty-nine on February 21.”

“Yes. I—I hope you’re not upset that I went to such great lengths to find you. And that I didn’t tell you from the start. I’m not here to remind you of anything that might be painful or to bring you any unhappiness. I just... I’ve always craved a connection. And now that I have one, I’m glad. You are everything I ever hoped you would be!”

She sprang to her feet and backed away as if Cora had slapped her. “No, you have no idea who I really am. What I...what I did.”

Cora stood, too, and caught hold of her hands. “That’s just it, I do know. And it doesn’t change anything.”

A tortured expression claimed her face. “But I’m so ashamed—”

“Don’t be,” Cora broke in. “Let it go. All the people you know love you in spite of whatever you did in the past. I want to share my life with you as the daughter I am. But as far as I’m concerned, your mother, the rest of your family, everyone else can know me as your daughter-in-law.”

“I won’t ask you to lie for me,” Aiyana said.

“You’re not asking me to lie. We’ll keep this to ourselves for their sakes. Why would they need to know? Why open that old wound? They never knew I existed in the first place, so they aren’t missing anything. I’m perfectly satisfied with that and would be thrilled if only...if only you could forgive yourself and let yourself love me in return.”

“I do love you,” Aiyana said. “I have never forgotten the day you were born. I can’t tell you how many millions of times I’ve thought of you and wished...wished I could at least know where you were, if you were happy, if you had what you needed.”

Which was why she’d made it her life’s mission to love every orphaned child she could, why she’d adopted so many. Cora could easily see the correlation—her attempt to compensate. “The past is the past. It can’t be changed. Just don’t deny us a future. Please?”

“I never would.” Aiyana squeezed her hands. “I can’t believe I have you back, that nearly thirty years of wondering and worrying has come to an end.”

Cora smiled through her tears. “Thank you.”

“No, thank you.” She pulled her into a tight embrace. “I’ll never let you go again.”





Epilogue

“What do you think of      this?”

Cora turned to see Aiyana holding a lovely teal bridesmaid      dress. Although she’d done most of her wedding shopping in LA with Lilly—who’d      made it her new life’s mission to throw the most spectacular wedding in the      world and had dived in as if they’d given her only six weeks instead of a full      six months to plan everything—they’d been unable to find the right bridesmaid      dresses. Cora had been hoping to visit Santa Barbara to see if she could find      anything different, so she’d invited Aiyana to drive over with her and have      lunch.