True to Me
Page 25
Carmen stood in the middle of them, her face stoic. She’d made her deepest and heartfelt apologies to the Monroes, but she still hadn’t forgiven herself. Quinn had encouraged her to let it go, but she could see that it would take a long time for her to release the guilt.
Helen Rocha—it was still hard for Quinn to think of her as her grandmother—stood beside Carmen, their unusual friendship solid. Helen was feeling better these days now that her poisonous secret was laid bare and no longer flowing through her veins. Quinn could swear she stood taller than she had before.
Forgiveness wasn’t complete for everyone yet. It would take Noah and Jules some time to completely absolve Helen, but Quinn had talked them into working on it. There was far too much sorrow to put behind them without continuing the blame. Helen was just relieved no one was knocking on her door with an arrest warrant, though Quinn could see through her tough facade that she longed to be a bigger part of the family. That would hopefully come in time, along with healing for everyone.
Quinn finally felt her life had meaning, for she was the catalyst in monumental changes in the history of three families. She still had questions, though. Like had her coming back to Maui really ended the long feud? Perhaps even dissolved the supposed curse? She didn’t really believe in magic, but she couldn’t deny something extraordinary had happened in her story.
Of course, she was also the cause of much sorrow, but she chose not to dwell on that. And as they moved closer to shore, she was excited to start her new chapter surrounded and supported by the big family she’d always dreamed of.
She also couldn’t help but look for Liam, and as she drew closer, he continued to play, his fingers strumming the strings of the ukulele, his eyes locked on hers. He looked so proud of her. She saw promise there—even a trace of commitment, if she wanted it.
Quinn needed time to heal from all that had transpired, and she knew that Liam was just the kind of man who would give her that time. Her experience in Maui had taught her that she could stand on her own if she wanted. There was no need to rush into another relationship.
She also wanted to concentrate on building new bonds with her family. Then, when that season was over, she planned wholeheartedly to explore just what those silent promises meant.
The canoe finally skimmed the sand and came to a stop just beside Liam. One of the men hopped over the side and held it steady, beckoning for Quinn.
She climbed out and stood in front of Liam, locking her gaze on his.
He stopped playing and took her hand, then leaned in and put his forehead to hers softly, comforting her in his own tender way. She responded, drawing closer to him, her eyes closed until their shoulders touched too. The electricity that flowed between them was unnerving and, admittedly, intoxicating.
For now, it was enough.
When they broke apart, he still held her hand, and they turned to face the water. Looking out to sea, Quinn felt truly at peace for the first time in her life. She realized that with her journey, she’d won a difficult but important battle. She’d pursued her truth, and because of that, she’d finally found her place in life, down by the sea.
Acknowledgments
To my dedicated readers, thank you for continuing to read my work and recommending it to others. If you enjoyed True to Me, I would be very grateful if you could post an honest review on Amazon and/or Goodreads to help the book gain visibility and new readers.
My gratitude also goes out to the people of Maui. Your land is beautiful; thank you for sharing it with the world. To Amanda, this book wouldn’t have been written if not for you. The premise was conceived and the first chapter written while you slept next to me in our Maui hotel room. I needed something to keep my mind off leaving you behind to live your life five thousand miles away, and I can honestly say that some of your adventures and discoveries have made it into Quinn’s journey as she navigates such a special island. To my Ben, thank you for helping me get through the first year without our baby girl and for encouraging me to write this book.
Virtual hugs of thankfulness to my first reader, Karen McQuestion. Your insight and suggestions made this a better story. Friends, if you haven’t yet started your McQuestion Collection, I suggest you seek her out because her books are loved by many. To Alicia, Gabe, and the rest of the team at Lake Union Publishing, thank you for all your help getting this story ready for everyone else. Your hard work is appreciated. Lastly, to Holly Ingraham, your keen eye on character development was instrumental as we dug down to see what Quinn’s true self was meant to be.
From the Author: The Story Behind the Story
According to yourgenome.com, DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a long molecule that contains our unique genetic code. Like a recipe book, it holds the instructions for making all the proteins in our bodies. Unlike the social conditions we live under or the effect that those around us have on forming parts of our identity, our DNA is regarded as unchangeable. It carries the characteristics and qualities of each of us, making every human a unique person on this earth. It can also link us to our biological heritage in a way that is indisputable. In 2017 there was a revolution of sorts within the field of genealogy due to an advancement in the use of DNA. Easy-to-use kits and databases, along with television shows that depict the search for long-lost relatives, have made it easy for the public to embrace this new frontier of science.
If you are as infatuated with true crime as I am, you’ll know that these days, DNA is also making it possible to solve more crimes. Detectives can now track career criminals from previous arrests in which they mandatorily submitted their DNA to the worldwide database. I’m so thankful to scientists and their research because this amazing tool is bringing a new meaning to “guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
On the personal side, there are thousands of stories of people using DNA to find relatives, clear up adoption mysteries, or dig up family secrets that for many years have been buried. In True to Me, I wanted to create a story in which the use of Quinn’s DNA could help her find her family, as well as accidentally unearth the serious travesty that was perpetrated upon her in childhood. Ultimately, circumstances made it possible for her to find the truth without the DNA, but it could’ve happened with it as well.
Now that public DNA testing has hit an explosive growth spurt, it is evident that no genealogy project will be complete unless the paper trail is accompanied by the scientific results of DNA matching. We will see more emotional reunions, and there will be more family secrets that may be better left untouched.
I hope you’ve enjoyed Quinn’s journey, as she not only discovered who she is biologically but also who she is as a person with her own strength. Lastly, please stay in touch by subscribing to my newsletter on my website, because next up is Maggie’s story, and in it, you’ll be seeing more of Quinn, Liam, and all the characters you’ve gotten to know in True to Me.
With gratitude,
Kay
READERS DISCUSSION GUIDE
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (citing US Department of Justice reports), nearly eight hundred thousand children are reported missing each year. That’s more than two thousand a day. With the new ease of genetic testing available to the public, do you foresee more news stories of reunited families in the coming years?
Quinn was raised without any other family nearby in order to keep her true identity a secret. How do you think that sort of isolation formed her personality and affects her as an adult?
The older Rochas believe the family is cursed because of the original wrongdoing perpetrated by the Charles Rocha in regard to their fortune. Do you believe in karma, that the sum of one person’s actions can affect their future lives and possibly that of their descendants?
Buying a property unseen and traveling alone to Maui is completely out of character for Quinn, yet she determinedly does both. Have you ever felt an unexplainable inner pull to a specific place that holds meaning for you? Do you think that’s possible?
/> When Quinn returns to Maui, she is able to overcome her fear of water because of her experience with the sea turtle. Native Hawaiians believe that sea turtles (honu) can show up as a person’s guardian spirit, known as an aumakua. Do you think that this turtle was with Quinn when, as a child, she fell into the ocean and went missing? Do you or someone you know have a fear of water? If so, where do you think that fear stems from?
As Quinn spends more time in Maui, she realizes that she’s been living for other people and not herself. Her epiphany allows her to find the courage to start a new life, one that she can build on her own with her own choices. Have you ever felt you are living life for others instead of yourself? If you could choose one thing to begin doing for yourself, what would it be?
Helen Rocha harbored her horrible secret for more than three decades. Do you think that secrets can affect your health and well-being, and if the secrets are laid bare and forgiveness is granted, do you believe that someone’s health can be restored?
What do you think the future holds for Quinn? Do you see her and Liam together? Do you feel that she will easily slip into the life of her first family, or do you see upcoming difficulties?
About the Author
Photo © 2013 Eclipse Photography
Kay Bratt learned to lean on writing while she navigated a tumultuous childhood and then a decade of domestic abuse in adulthood. After working her way through the hard years to come out a survivor and a pursuer of peace, she finally found the courage to use her experiences throughout her novels, most recently Wish Me Home and Dancing with the Sun. She lives with the love of her life and a pack of rescue dogs on forty acres of rolling hills called Windy Hill in South Carolina. For more information, visit www.kaybratt.com.