After the visitor’s left, Molly hugged her sister. “I never thought I’d like the woman who gave birth to us but I do. Her sadness about losing her babies affected her entire life.”
“I like her too; I wish I hadn’t lashed out at her but she seemed to understand. I’d like to find out more about our father. Do you suppose he was a jerk who took advantage of an innocent girl?”
“I’m wondering about him too. We should both call our folks and let them know of the new developments. We aren’t sure Avery is our mother, but it is too coincidental not to be true,” said Molly.
Chapter Sixteen
Luke and Adam accepted the Conway’s invitation for dinner. Both men were happy to give moral support to the girls. Charles greeted Luke and Molly after having met them at the police station earlier.
“It’s nice to see you two again, I’m afraid I wasn’t my usual charming self when we first met, Molly. I saw your resemblance to my wife, and it startled me.”
“I didn’t notice, Mr. Conway,” said Molly.
Senator Beresford was true to his word, he insisted his wife come home with him. She was obviously inebriated, and he didn’t want her around his grandchildren.
The evening was pleasant with a dinner prepared by the cook.
“I never learned how to cook a decent meal, I’m sure your mothers both are fabulous cooks,” said Avery.
“My mother is,” said Molly, “and the one meal I had with Stephanie’s family was delicious. I’m afraid I’m not much in the cooking department myself, although Mom tried her best to teach me.”
“Molly might not cook but she can whip up a beautiful flower arrangement for the dinner table,” said Luke in all seriousness.
“Have you been able to contact your parents to tell them about our relationship?” asked Avery.
“Yes,” said Molly, “both our parents are happy we found you. I know it was a relief to Mom that you cared about your babies and had nothing to do with abandoning us. They are prepared for the truth to come out if you still want to talk to the press.”
“Luke, would you like the exclusive on this information?” asked Charles.
“No, sir, I would prefer an impartial reporter handle this one. I have a personal interest in the parties involved,” he said smiling at Molly.
Molly could feel her cheeks reddening as everyone looked in her direction.
“I know you are curious about your father. I won’t name him publicly because it’s been so many years and I don’t want to disrupt his life. He doesn’t know of your existence but I will contact him to let him know about you.”
“Were we the result of a rape or a jerk who took advantage of you, Avery?” asked Stephanie.
“No, Stephanie, the boy was a hard-working, decent young man. We were from two different worlds but we clicked. We were young and thought we were in love. I lied to my mother about going to a slumber party and met him instead. What happened between us was a surprise to both of us. I was mortified because of my behavior and refused his calls. When I discovered I was pregnant, I was more ashamed than ever and too embarrassed to tell him, I never saw the boy again.”
Luke gazed into Avery’s eyes. What he first thought was coldness he realized was sadness and pain. He could see her thaw as the evening progressed and wondered why she never mentioned her dead daughter. Is it possible Avery is the one who shot Candace? It didn’t seem imaginable this genteel woman would murder her own daughter. Candace knew of her twin siblings and could have planned to harm them. Did Avery discover this and decide to get rid of the problem? Luke hoped that wasn’t the case, he could tell Molly was fond of the woman who gave birth to her.
Grayson knew Candace well. He was the only member of her family who mentioned her name that evening. He told Adam he liked his new sisters better than the old sourpuss, Candace.
Charles was quiet when the twins were discussed. Luke saw him looking at the photograph of Candace on the fireplace mantle and noticed sorrow in his eyes. Maybe Candace threatened to expose the secret and Charles stopped her with a bullet.
“Luke, where did you go?” asked Molly. “You zoned out there for a while.”
“I’m sorry, I was deep in thought, I guess it’s the reporter in me.”
“We agree,” whispered Molly. “I wonder why Candace isn’t being mourned more openly, maybe it’s because the rich hide their feelings better than the rest of us. Either that or she isn’t being mourned at all.”
Two days later, one day after Candace’s funeral, Avery Conway held a news conference with her family present. Mrs. Beresford was said to be bereft by the passing of her granddaughter and could not be present.
Avery stood proudly beside her two daughters and without shame told the story of their birth and abandonment. She refused to place blame and said they had both been raised in loving homes.
Lights flashed and questions were shouted out to Avery and her daughters.
“Who’s the father?”
“Did Candace find out about her sisters? Is that why she was killed?”
“Senator Beresford, do you condone what your daughter did?”
“Charles, did you know about your wife’s indiscretion, is she still involved with the baby daddy?”
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” Avery called into the microphone. “I know you have questions however this is a private family matter and I will not give any further statements. Thank you all for coming.”
The family walked back to the house and security guards escorted the reporters off the property.
“Well, that was fun,” said Molly. “Some of those people aren’t nice, Luke. Are you sure you are one of them?”
“If I ever get like that, I’ll get out of the business. I’m a lousy reporter, I don’t enjoy harassing decent people.”
Jonathan Malloy was late getting home that evening. Angie, his wife of seventeen years put a casserole in the oven for dinner and sat to watch the evening news. The Malloy household was unusually quiet, their two children had the day off from school and were visiting their grandparents for the day. Angie taught second grade at the elementary school her children attended. She had been in a teacher’s workshop for the day and was happy to have time alone. Jonathan is an attorney who works with disadvantaged families. He and Angie know they will never be wealthy but are content with their lives.
Angie knew Jonathan in high school but they’d never dated. Angie was involved in many activities in school and Jonathan worked to save his money for college. Angie and everyone in the school knew Jonathan was seeing Avery Beresford, the daughter of the senator. Jonathan insisted they weren’t dating but Avery was at the hamburger joint every chance she got.
Angie remembered the time when Avery stopped coming to the restaurant. She guessed the couple called it quits because Jonathan looked sad in those days. He confided in Angie that he had gone too far with Avery and she wouldn’t take his calls.
Eventually, Jonathan went off to college. Angie was a year behind him and attended the same school. They dated and were married the year Jonathan entered law school.
The couple lived in a modest neighborhood in Hillsboro. The wedding of Avery Beresford and Charles Conway was covered extensively on television and in the newspapers.
“How do you feel about this, Jonathan?” asked Angie.
“I’m happy for her, Angie. I hope she has a good life, but it’s not one I would like for myself. I found the only woman I will ever love and I’m lucky she is my wife.”
Jonathan looked at the pictures of Avery in the paper. What happened to those smiling eyes, Avery was always full of life? He noticed the same look of sadness in her eyes when her photo was in the paper announcing her decision to run for Congress.
Angie looked up when she heard the name, Avery Conway. Her mouth flew open when Avery announced she gave birth twenty-five years ago to twin daughters. The daughters were reunited with their mother. Angie’s heart felt like it was dropping from her body. Twenty-five years ago, Avery
and Jonathan were together. Jonathan said they had gone too far. Oh, my God, those girls are Jonathan’s daughters. Why didn’t he tell me? Did he know about them? I think I will be sick.
Jonathan opened the door, “Hello, beautiful, I’m home, something smells fantastic and I’m starving. How was your day? Angie, are you here?”
Angie walked to the kitchen. Her face was ashen. She couldn’t speak.
“What’s wrong, Angela? Are the kids all right?”
“Jonathan, did you know? Did you know about Avery Beresford?”
“I knew her daughter was killed, we talked about it the other day, what is wrong with you?”
“Not her daughter, your daughters, there are two, they were born to Avery twenty-five years ago. Oh, Jonathan, why didn’t you tell me?” Angie cried.
“Angie, what on earth are you talking about?”
“Avery was on television she talked about being reunited with the twins she’d given up for adoption when they were born. They are beautiful girls who look like their mother.”
“That’s not possible, whoever those girls are, they don’t belong to me. We were only together one time.”
“That’s all it takes, Jonathan. Are you sure you aren’t the father?”
“No, Avery would have told me if I was, although I can’t imagine she was with anyone else, she wasn’t that kind of girl. I have always felt terrible for taking advantage of her.”
“The timing is right; the twins were born in the winter of nineteen ninety. Oh, Jonathan, you could easily be their father.”
Jonathan took his laptop out of its case. He didn’t have to search far to see Avery on the front steps of her home with two young women on either side of her. The three of them had the same face with Avery’s older and not as harsh as she’d looked in pictures.
“I’m not old enough to have children this age,” Jonathan said in disbelief.
“You were seventeen, Jonathan, I hate to tell you but you were old enough.”
“Angela, I must find out if these children are mine, I don’t want to cause you pain, however, I need to know.”
“Yes, I agree, how do we go about it? Do you think Avery would accept a call from you?”
“I don’t know but I must try.”
Angie took the casserole out of the oven. She would save it for tomorrow, there was no chance either of them could force food down tonight.
Jonathan called his contacts that would know how to reach Avery at her home number.
“Mrs. Conway, there is a Jonathan Malloy on the telephone for you. Would you like me to put him through?”
“Yes, Sylvia, please put the call through,” Avery answered. She was glad the girls had headed home before the call she expected came in.
“Hello Jonathan, I’m not surprised to hear from you.”
“Hello Avery, are you saying those two women are my daughters?”
“I have no proof they are my daughters but if they are, they are your daughters too.”
“Avery, why didn’t you tell me, you know I would have helped you. I’d have taken those girls if you weren’t able to, I am so sorry you had to go through it alone.”
“I’m sorry too, Jonathan, I have made many mistakes in my life and not confiding in you was the biggest. I do believe Molly and Stephanie are our daughters. They are wonderful girls, Jonathan, I know they would like to meet you although they don’t want to disrupt your life any more than I do.”
“It’s already disrupted but in a good way. My wife, Angie is here with me, she and I are both in shock although we are eager to meet my daughters.
“Avery, I am sorry about the tragedy involving Candace.”
“Thank you, Jonathan, it has been an emotional time for our family.”
After the call ended, Jonathan put his arms around Angie, “How did I get so lucky to have you for my wife. Two daughters weren’t in the cards when you agreed to marry me.”
“You wouldn’t be the man I love if you weren’t ready to accept your daughters, I hope they will be a part of our lives. The children will be excited to have new sisters.”
“I hope so, I want to know exactly what transpired. There is more to the story than Avery said. I didn’t want to press her but I don’t think she agreed to give them away.”
“Lance, we have a suspect in lock-up. He’s confessed to the murder of Candace Conway.”
“Yeah, and how many other murders has he confessed to? My guess is Grayson Conway killed his sister but I have orders from the commissioner not to question him. Sometimes I hate this job, Ben.”
“Molly, it’s Avery; your birth father contacted me last night after he saw the press conference yesterday. I didn’t call because I was afraid you wouldn’t sleep. He’s eager to see you and Stephanie. I told him I thought you’d want to meet him but it’s up to you. His name is Jonathan Malloy; he lives in Hillsboro with his wife and two children.”
“Avery, I want to meet him and I know Stephanie feels the same way. You’re right if you’d told me last night I wouldn’t have slept a wink. Do you suppose we could meet today? I’ll call Steph right away.”
“I’m sure he’s waiting for my call; shall I tell him you’ll see him at your apartment in an hour? Will that give you enough time?”
“I’m sure it will, I’ll check with Stephanie and get back with you in a few minutes. Avery, can you come over too, I’d like it if you were here.”
“I haven’t seen Jonathan in over twenty-five years. I don’t think it’s a good time for a reunion. I’m glad you want me to be there, though.”
Molly’s hands were shaking as she made the phone call to Stephanie.
“Stephanie, did I wake you, you sound groggy?”
“No, I’m awake, I’m not groggy, just a little dreamy.”
“Are you saying you aren’t alone?”
“I am now, Adam left. Molly, I wanted to take it slow with Adam, however, I can’t think straight around him. I’m falling in love with the guy.”
“I’m happy for you Stephanie and I envy you too, all I’m getting is a peck on the cheek. Luke is more interested in my story than he is in me.”
“That’s not true, you don’t see how he looks at you, perhaps he doesn’t want to add to your emotional state now.”
“Well, I wish he would. The reason I called is that our bio dad saw the press conference and wants to meet us. His name is Jonathan Malloy and he’ll be here in an hour. Will that give you enough time?”
“I’ll be there in half that time.”
Stephanie arrived at Molly’s apartment soon after, her hair still damp from the shower.
“I’m a nervous wreck, Molly, I almost wore two different shoes; how are you staying so calm?"
“I’m far from calm, I’ve worn the nap on this carpet already this morning. I feel like a little kid wondering if my kindergarten teacher will like me.”
“Is Avery coming?” asked Stephanie.
“No, she said she thought we should do this alone because it might be an awkward time for a reunion. If the guy’s a dork, at least we have each other.”
Jonathan drove to the Balsam Lake Apartments. His thoughts were on his brief time with Avery Beresford. He’d never dated much in high school; a homecoming dance or sock hop were the rare times he’d had a date with a girl. Between his job at the hamburger joint and studying to get into college, he never had extra time for a social life. The day Avery first came into the restaurant with friends was a day he would never forget. He could still see the shine of her hair when the sun hit it as she walked through the door. She had an air of sophistication he rarely saw in the girls at Hillsboro High. Her smile was wide as she glanced at him. He knew his heart would never feel the same. He fell in love at that moment and was amazed when he discovered she felt the same. He never meant things to progress as they did. He was young and in love and Avery was so beautiful. He felt shame when he thought of how he’d taken advantage of her that night. She was willing but he should have stopped before
it was too late. He never imagined their one time together resulted in the birth of twins. It sickened him to think of her carrying those babies and that burden alone.
He now wished he’d insisted Angie come with him. He knew it was better to meet his daughters alone but he missed her moral support. He parked his car in the visitor’s parking lot. Getting out of the car he wondered if he should have stopped to buy flowers. I’m being ridiculous, it’s not a date, I’m meeting my grown daughters for the first time.
Jonathan opened the door of the lobby, “Good morning, I’m here to see Molly Ryan.”
“You must be Mr. Malloy; Molly is expecting you.” The receptionist pushed a button to alert the tenant of a visitor’s arrival. Jonathan experienced a sense of relief that Molly was in a secure building. His paternal instincts were kicking in twenty-five years too late.
Molly and Stephanie stood in the doorway of Molly’s apartment and peeked out the crack in the door. They could hear footsteps coming around the bend and spotted the man who is their father.
“He’s so tall,” murmured Stephanie.
“He’s so handsome,” whispered Molly.
Molly opened the door to welcome him. He beamed when he said, “Molly and Stephanie, I presume.”
He looked at them individually as he called their names.
“Avery told me you looked alike, and she wasn’t exaggerating. You look so much like her when she was a girl.” Jonathan knew the twins were his daughters. They looked like Avery but had his hair color and a slight cleft in their chins like his.
“Please come in, Mr. Malloy, I’m Molly Ryan and this is Stephanie Anderson,” Molly nervously held out her hand.
“Call me Jonathan, I don’t know where to begin; I want to apologize for all the years I didn’t know about you girls although that seems pointless now. I’d like to know about your lives and your parents. Avery said you were both raised by good, loving families. I’m happy to know that.”
Murder in Hillsboro Page 12
