Grant tried to smile. “Please call me Grant sir.”
When Harold nodded, Grant went on to tell him word for word what he had just told Kelly in her office. When he finished, Kelly handed the photo to her grandfather and Grant said, “This is a photo taken the day my mother married your son.”
Harold looked at the photo for a long time then closed his eyes for so long that Kelly was afraid he may have had a stroke or something. She reached out her hand and placed it on his arm.
Grant said, “My mother’s name was Sarah Jane Thompson.” He frowned and shook his head. “I guess I should say it still is.”
Kelly breathed a sigh of relief when her grandfather opened his eyes and said, “This is remarkable, truly remarkable.”
Kelly couldn’t wait any longer to hear his opinion. “Grandfather, do you think that Jane is his mother?”
Harold blinked his eyes several times then focused on Kelly. “Yes, she certainly resembles the woman in this photo. I would also say that knowing how my son behaved back then and apparently did for the past twenty years, Jane probably is this man’s mother.”
Kelly turned her gaze to Grant, who had leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. He looked up at her just then.
Harold gave Grant a stern look. “What do you suggest that we do about this, young man?”
Grant looked from Kelly to Harold and said, “I would like to talk to her to find out what really happened back then.”
“I would say that is a reasonable request.” He turned to Kelly. “Kelly, you’ve talked with Jane more than the rest of us, why don’t you tell Grant what you know about her?”
She tried to smile at Grant but her facial features seemed to be frozen. “Well, part of her story certainly matches your story, Grant. She said that she and Harry were married twenty years ago and when they were on their honeymoon in Europe, they had a terrible car accident and that she was almost killed.”
The grim set of Grant’s jaw almost made Kelly want to stop right there, but she forced herself to continue anyway. “She said that she had a bad head injury that caused her to totally loose her memory and she has never regained it. All she knows about the past is what Harry told her.”
She could see anger in Grant’s eyes now and also by the way he seemed to be grinding his teeth. “She said that he told her she had been an orphan with no other family and that she had grown up in foster homes in Phoenix.” She braced herself for the rest and how Grant would react to it. “He said that she’d been married before and had a stillborn baby.”
Grant pounded his fist on the table in front of him, jumped up and began pacing around the large office. Both Kelly and her grandfather watched him without commenting or trying to stop him.
Kelly felt her grandfather’s body settle into the space next to her on the sofa and then his arm wrapped comfortingly around her shoulders.
Grant came back to sit on the sofa across from them and gave them a questioning look.
Harold spoke first. “Grant, you said earlier that your aunt wants to see Jane for herself, and I’m sure you both have many questions for her. I’m just sorry that Harry isn’t here to answer them since she apparently can’t. Why don’t you bring your aunt over to our home tomorrow evening after dinner at say . . . eight o’clock? I think it would be awkward for you to come earlier before Jane has a chance to hear what you have to say.”
“Yes, sir, I think that would be great, but could I also bring my sister Alison?”
“Of course, by all means.” His face took on a more serious look. “But all of you need to be prepared for the fact that Jane apparently does not remember any of you.” He paused, closing his eyes briefly, “You also need to be prepared for the possibility that she’ll have a difficult time believing all of this right away.”
“Yes, sir, I would expect that, and I’ll try to prepare my aunt and my sister.”
“Also, Grant, this will most certainly come as a great shock to Jane. Don’t expect her to be able to acknowledge her relationship to all of you without some time to get used to it. Keep in mind that she does not even remember that she has a sister . . . or a son . . . or a daughter.”
“That will be the most difficult part for my aunt. I’ve already been around Jane and I’m sure she didn’t recognize me or my name.”
“Good, then we’ll see you tomorrow evening.”
With that, Grant left the office looking like a man with a heavy burden on his mind.
Kelly was almost in shock herself, but she could not begin to comprehend what was going through Grant’s mind.
She was brought out of her thoughts by her grandfather’s booming laugh. “Well, little one, have you realized yet that this young man is most likely your step-brother?”
That finished her off. She was now not capable of maintaining any reasonable train of thought. She simply kissed her grandfather on the cheek and left his office, only stopping in her office long enough to grab her purse out of her desk drawer.
Kelly sometimes felt more at home in her cherished red Mustang than she did in her condo. So all she did was to drive up the mountain all the way to the lookout halfway up. Once there, she sat in her car looking out over the valley for an hour before heading home.
* * *
That evening Grant stopped at Alison’s house to pick her up on his way to Sybil’s for dinner.
When he pulled his pickup to a stop, Alison barely acknowledged him as she slid into the seat next to him. He knew he was in for a hard time with her this evening.
He hadn’t told Sybil or Alison about his meetings this afternoon with Kelly and then with her and Harold Newcomb. Sybil had called him earlier but he had told her that he’d share with both of them everything he knew this evening.
Neither one said anything until they were getting out of the truck at Sybil’s house. Stan had just walked up and stood waiting for them.
As Alison opened her door, she turned to Grant and said, “What’s he doing here?”
Grant just chuckled. “You know Sybil considers Stan to be part of the family too.”
She mumbled something as they both climbed out. He wasn’t sure, but he thought it sounded something like, ‘I don’t.’ He just smiled.
When they met on the driveway still twenty feet from Stan, Alison reached out and grabbed Grant’s arm stopping him and forcing him to look at her. “I don’t want you to lead Sybil on in this cockeyed idea she has about our mother still being alive. She’ll only end up getting hurt all over again.”
Grant looked down at his little sister who, with her long blond hair looked so much like their mother did in the photo Sybil had given him. For that matter, so much like the present day Jane.
“Alison, we’re all going to have to be open to whatever happens in the next few days. I can’t make you any promises as to how things will turn out.”
Alison turned away and stomped in through the garage door almost bumping Stan on her way. She kept going into Sybil’s utility room and on into the kitchen where Sybil was standing with open arms waiting for them.
Stan grinned at Grant. “What’s got her so normal today?”
Grant shook his head. “If I were you, I wouldn’t be anywhere near her when I tell them about Jane Newcomb.”
Stan nodded and sobered a little as he followed Grant into the house.
Sybil treated Stan to the same hug she gave her niece and nephew. She always said he was one of hers too since Stan had practically grown up in her home the same as Grant and Alison. He had been the ward of his grandparents who lived two doors down from Sybil. Both of his grandparents had died shortly after he graduated from high school. He still lived in their house.
Stan had worked for a construction company until he was old enough to attend the police academy. As in most other things, Grant and Stan went into the academy and became police officers at the same time. The only difference was that Grant had started his degree before they went to the academy and finished it par
t-time afterward. Grant had made detective six months before Stan did.
Grant could tell that Sybil was having a hard time waiting for him to tell them all that he’d found out. He was proud of her, though. She didn’t say a word as she and Alison placed the meal on the table or all the while they ate their meal. In fact, he was shocked that she waited until the dishes were in the dishwasher and they were all seated in the living room that adjoined the dining room before she mentioned it at all.
Alison was the last to take her seat as she sat next to Sybil on a sofa that faced the sofa Grant and Stan were sitting on. He was sure Alison was trying to delay what Grant had to say as long as she could. He was also wondering if she chose that particular seat in order to comfort Sybil or to protect her. In either case, he was pleased and a little bit surprised.
Nevertheless, he decided to jump right in. Since he was sitting across from Sybil and Alison, he was able to look into his aunt’s eyes as he began.
“Sybil, as you asked me to do, I have been looking into whether or not our mother may still be alive.”
When he paused, Sybil frowned at him and said, “Go on Grant.”
He tried to smile but failed. “Okay, I’ve met Jane Newcomb several times.” For Alison’s benefit, he said, “She’s the one mentioned in that newspaper article Sybil showed us”
“She’s my sister isn’t she Grant?”
“Hang on Sybil, I’m getting there.” He took a deep breath and blew it out before continuing, “Too many things seemed to be coincidental for me to continue to overlook them.” He ran his fingers through his hair and leaned back in his sofa. As he began to speak again, he leaned forward and looked intently at the two most important women in his life.
“I went to Newcomb’s office today and talked to Harold Newcomb and his granddaughter, Kelly. After I told them what you told us, I showed them that photo you gave me of our mother when she married Harry Newcomb.” He paused wondering how to proceed. He noticed that Alison now had her arm around Sybil’s shoulders.
“They both think that Jane Newcomb is the woman in that photo.”
Sybil let out a high-pitched shriek that hurt Grant’s ears, as she jumped out of Alison’s grasp and began walking in a circle around the room. “I knew it. I just knew it.” She stopped in front of Grant and looked down at him. “I’ve always known it. I never could believe that Sarah was dead. I just felt it right here.” She slammed her open palm against her chest.
Sybil walked over and sat back down beside Alison but couldn’t sit still. She leaned toward Grant and said, “When can I see her, Grant?”
Grant held both hands up in front of him, palms out. “Slow down a bit here Sybil. Let me tell you the rest of what they told me about what Jane. . .”
“Sarah!” Sybil shouted. “Her name is Sarah, never Jane!”
“Okay, Sybil. Sarah. They said that she told them that she and Harry did in fact have a car accident on their honeymoon in Europe, but that she was almost killed.”
“I knew it!”
Grant continued as if she hadn’t interrupted him. “She had a severe head injury and lost her memory.” When Sybil stared at him wide eyed, he rushed on, “And she has never remembered anything that happened before the accident.”
“I don’t believe it!” Sybil jumped up and slid onto the sofa between Grant and Stan, causing both of them to slide a little. She grabbed Grant’s arm with both of her hands and looked intently into his eyes. “They were lying to you so we won’t try to talk to her.”
Grant shook his head and tried to place his arm around her shoulders. She couldn’t sit still and jumped up again but didn’t go anywhere this time. She simply stood there looking down at Grant expectantly.
“Sybil, calm down, please. I’ve been around her several different times and my name never seemed to mean anything to her. I believe she truly doesn’t remember any of us.”
“Grant, you know I can’t accept that. I’ve got to see my sister. I’ve got to be able to talk to her again.” Big tears began to flow unchecked down her cheeks. Alison pulled several tissues form a box next to her and reached out to hand them to Sybil.
Grant stood up and placed his arm around Sybil’s shoulders again. He held her that way for a moment before he led her back to sit her down beside Alison. Alison was glaring at Grant in such a way that he knew he was going to hear plenty from her later.
“Now, Sybil, are you calm enough yet to hear the rest?”
When she nodded, he said, “As I said before, Mr. Newcomb and his granddaughter both believe that the woman they know as Jane is your sister.” He looked into Alison’s eyes and said, “Our mother.”
When neither said anything he continued, “Mr. Newcomb has invited all three of us to come over there to his house to meet her tomorrow evening at eight.”
Sybil looked at Alison and jumped up yet again. “Alison come with me. I’ve got to go pick out something to wear.” She rushed into her bedroom with Alison following closely behind her, but not before Alison gave Grant another one of her venomous looks.
Grant sat back down to the sound of Stan’s smothered laughter. He looked over at his best friend and saw that Stan had his hand over his mouth in an attempt to keep the sound of his laughter from reaching the women in the next room.
“Brother, are you in for it from Alison later.”
Grant didn’t comment, but knew Stan was probably right.
When the two women came back out fifteen minutes later, Alison announced to the room, “I’m not going.”
Sybil put her hand on Alison’s arm. “But why dear? Don’t you want to see your mother again?”
“No! She hasn’t wanted to see us for twenty years, why should I want to see her now?”
Grant stepped up to the two women. “Alison, didn’t you hear what I just said. She doesn’t remember anything. How can you hold it against her for that?”
With that, Alison looked from Grant to Sybil and back to Grant then burst into tears and collapsed into the nearest armchair. This time, Sybil gave her a tissue and tried to comfort her. “What is it dear? What is the real reason you won’t go?”
Alison made a production of drying her eyes then blowing her nose. “I’m afraid.”
“Afraid of what dear?”
“If she doesn’t remember us, how can she ever be my mother again?”
Grant stepped up to Alison’s other side and said, “Alison, if you really don’t want to go for that reason, I can accept that. After all, it might be better if only Sybil and I go the first time. All three of us might overwhelm her.”
Alison looked up at Grant. “I know I’ll probably have to deal with her at some point, but I just don’t think I’ll be ready to do it tomorrow night.”
She jumped up and went into the bathroom closing the door softly behind her.
Grant must have had a shocked look on his face for this time Sybil reached out to him and said, “Give her time, Grant, she’ll come around . . . eventually.”
She looked down at the tissues still clenched in her fist and said, “I don’t know how I’ll be able to wait until tomorrow night.”
Chapter Eight
Grant had awakened early Tuesday morning with the strange feeling that his life was being changed irrevocably. When he stopped to analyze that feeling, he realized, with a start, that it had already changed drastically. He had a mother who was still very much alive. They had thought that she had been dead, but now she was very much alive. He had seen her several times. But, she didn’t know who he was.
As he walked into the police station, he realized that he couldn’t just go on with his life the way he’d been doing before. His life had changed whether he liked it or not. But the key question was, ‘What was he going to do about it?’ ‘What could he do about it?’
When he walked into the detective room, Stan was sitting at the round table in the middle of the common room with Agent Scott, and they were both drinking coffee.
After greeting them, Grant
walked over to the coffee pot, poured himself a cup and sat down at the table with the other two men.
Agent Scott looked over at Grant then to Stan and said, “Well, are you two about ready to go to Sedona and see if we can talk to any of the generals?”
Both Grant and Stan said, “Yes,” in unison.
No one spoke again until they all three finished their coffee. Agent Scott spoke again. “I need to warn you two about what to expect when we walk into a room with a general in it.” He paused as they all stood and began to leave the station. “Most generals tend to be rather intimidating, but if you let me do the talking, they can’t throw their weight around with me. If we just happen to encounter all three generals, it could be rather awkward at the least. Even if it’s only General Walker, he can be overwhelming if you’re not prepared for it.”
Stan grinned and said, “Okay, I get the picture. Do we charge in with our weapons drawn or just with our hands on them?”
Scott chuckled. “I don’t think it will quite come to that, but be prepared in a different way. They will try to intimidate us. Let me handle that part of it. I’m used to dealing with lots of brass in my investigations.” His eyes twinkled when he added, “They can’t touch me. They know it, and it frustrates them to no end, since they’re used to everyone around them jumping at their slightest whim.”
On the way to Sedona, they talked about the weather here and compared it to the humid heat back in D.C. It seemed that Scott was intentionally keeping off the subject of the coming interview or maybe it would be more of a confrontation. If he was attempting to keep Grant and Stan from tensing up, it wasn’t working. At least it wasn’t working for Grant and a peek in the rearview mirror told him that it wasn’t for Stan either.
After winding down several streets and roads, they found the resort then the bungalow that General Walker was staying in. Its red tile roof with walls and trim of other shades of red allowed it to blend into the red rock landscape around it. Scott led the way up to the door and knocked loudly.
Lost Memories (Sycamore P.D. Series Book 1) Page 13
