The parking lot was already crowded with cars. They wasted several minutes finding a place to park and then a few more minutes battling their way through the crowd of people who hadn’t scored one of the elusive backstage passes. By the time they reached the doors guarded by two men in black suits and dark sunglasses, Darcy was gnawing her freshly painted thumbnails to the quick in nervousness.
Cynthia handed one of the men their passes. He examined them while Darcy fidgeted and chewed her nails. Finally he nodded at the second man, who opened the door without a word and ushered them inside.
Loud piped music assaulted her ears, and Cynthia cringed, subconsciously rearing back. But Darcy grabbed her hand and pulled her along. “C’mon, Mom! There she is! Let’s go!”
—
Alexa
Linda puffed with exertion and clip-clopped beside Alexa down the curved hallway. Her arms pumped, and sweat beaded on her forehead. “Oh, girlie, these heels are killin’ me. Why’d I wear these things anyway?”
Alexa held back an I-told-you-so. Short lace-up boots with rubber soles covered her feet—the perfect walking shoes. Muffled music from the backstage party already in progress carried from the other side of the wall. Alexa didn’t slow her pace. “I’m sorry, but if we don’t hurry, we might miss Briley. The ticket girl said he’s taking backstage passes and they’ll close the doors for good at six forty-five. We don’t have time to spare.”
Linda huffed out, “How much farther?”
Alexa checked the map she’d been handed at the door. “One more corner.” She pointed to the intersection ahead. Excitement stirred in her chest. “That should be it right there. Come on!”
She linked elbows with Linda and propelled her the remaining distance. They turned the corner and encountered two wide-shouldered men dressed in black from head to toe. Before Alexa could ask for Briley, the taller man on the left whipped off his sunglasses and broke into a smile.
“Alexa!”
She released Linda and darted to meet him. He folded her in a hug, rocking her back and forth. She giggled, happier than she’d expected to see Briley again. “Hi!” She pulled back and gave him an up-and-down inspection. “Wow, look at you. You could star in the remake of Men in Black.”
Briley laughed, showing his even white teeth. “No, thanks. Observing the whole star-making process is good enough for me. I like what I do.”
Alexa gestured Linda forward. “Briley, this is my friend Linda Denning.”
Briley shook Linda’s hand, beaming at her. “Hey. Good to meet you.” He shifted his attention to Alexa again. “Nicci K’s inside. Do you want to say hello to her?”
Alexa cringed. “I’d love to, but I waited too long to get tickets and missed out on the backstage passes.”
He threw his arm around her shoulder. “No worries, little sister. Being one of Nicci K’s entourage has its privileges. I’ll take you in.”
She hesitated. “I don’t want to get in trouble.”
Briley waggled his eyebrows in a familiar gesture of teasing. “Ol’ Briley lead you into trouble? Ha! C’mon.” He held his elbow to Linda, and she tittered as she took hold.
Alexa glanced at the second guard. He hadn’t cracked even the hint of a smile. She whispered, “Maybe we should—”
Briley rolled his eyes and started them in motion. “Stop being a worrywart. Nicole has to leave the backstage party early since she’s the first act. If you don’t go now, you’ll miss her.” He nodded at the second guard. “Open up, Patrick, huh?”
Music blasted when Patrick opened the door. Briley gave Alexa a little push through the opening, then followed her in, with Linda still clinging to his arm. He raised his voice to be heard. “Nicci K’s over there, where the crowd has gathered.”
The lights were dimmed, giving the backstage space a cloying feeling. But laughter and chatter rose from the group of mostly young people surrounding the teenager. Nicci K sat on a tall stool, with her parents standing sentry behind her, and scribbled her name on the pads of paper people thrust at her. Alexa found herself smiling as she watched the girl. For one so young and so new to the music business, she seemed perfectly at ease.
She shouted at Briley, “Can you take me behind her? I’ll talk to her folks.”
Briley nodded and steered them around the small crowd. Recognition dawned on Curtis and Kathy Kirkley’s faces. Both of them gave Alexa a hug, and then Kathy tapped Nicole’s shoulder. The girl glanced back, and her face lit. She leaped off the stool and dove at Alexa with her arms outstretched. “Alexa! Hi!”
Nicole’s enthusiastic welcome surprised and pleased her. But as Alexa hugged the girl, she aimed an apologetic look at the others for pulling the singer’s attention away from them. Her gaze landed on a junior high–age girl who was staring at her with her mouth hanging open. Alexa experienced a pang of remorse. She’d apparently made the girl jealous. Nicci K needed to focus on her fans. She released the girl and hollered, “You have more autographs to sign.” Nicole grinned and hopped back on her stool.
Alexa started to step away, but a frantic motion at the edge of the group caught her attention. The girl who’d stared at her now yanked on a woman’s arm and pointed at Alexa while yammering in the woman’s ear. The woman, frowning, turned and looked. Alexa gasped. She knew that face.
—
Cynthia
Cynthia clapped her hand over her mouth to hold back a cry of both exultation and agony. Standing not fifteen feet away was the girl from the Facebook picture.
Darcy clung to her arm, rasping, “Mom, Mom, is it her? Is it, Mom? It looks just like her. You gotta talk to her, Mom. You gotta find out.”
Cynthia blocked out Darcy’s constant chatter and stared at the girl, who stared back. Dear Lord…Dear Lord…No prayer would form. She tried to calm her raging emotions so she could think rationally. It was dark in the room. Maybe only wishful thinking made her see the girl as the one in the picture hanging on the refrigerator at home. But then why did Darcy see it, too?
While she stood frozen, uncertain, a black woman approached the girl and spoke directly in her ear. Cynthia sucked in a breath. Mr. Mallory had said a girl claiming to be her daughter came to his office accompanied by a black couple. The coincidence was too great. She pressed her trembling fingers to her mouth and whispered, “It’s her…”
The two men in black suits whisked Nicci K away, and the crowd moaned in disappointment, but then cheers erupted as another singing group entered the room. The throng rushed to greet them. All except Cynthia, Darcy, the girl named Alexa, and Alexa’s friend. The four of them remained as still as if someone had driven nails through their shoes. Darcy even stopped bouncing and yanking on her mother and just held tight to her arm.
A look of determination crept over the black woman’s face. She curled her arm around Alexa’s waist and guided her forward one step. Then two. Cynthia, with Darcy cutting off the circulation in her arm, forced her feet to carry her ahead two stiff steps. Alexa and her friend moved, then Cynthia with Darcy, like chess pieces manipulated by a giant’s hand. Finally they stood with a mere foot and a half of space separating them while music blared and people talked and cheered. Not the reunion Cynthia had imagined. But despite the noisy, unconventional setting, a joy unlike any she’d known since the day she asked Jesus to forgive her sins flowed through her and brought tears to her eyes.
“Alexa?” How could one word hold such incredible hope and promise? She gently extracted her arm from Darcy’s grasp and reached toward her firstborn. “Alexa…it’s me.”
—
Alexa
Alexa stared at the face of the woman who’d sent the letter and photograph and then dropped her gaze to her outstretched hand. Long, slender fingers. Like her own hand. Emotions—too many to count—roared inside her. Linda nudged her, the gesture screaming at her to do something. But she didn’t know what to do.
With a huff of impatience, Linda caught hold of the woman’s hand and gave it several pumps. “You�
��re Cynthia, yes?”
Relief broke over the woman’s face. She nodded.
“I’m Linda.” She made a face. “We can’t talk in here. Too loud.” She pointed to the double doors. “Wanna go out there?”
The woman—Cynthia—looked at the dark-haired girl, who chewed on her pinkie nail. The girl nodded, making her ponytail bounce. Linda bustled Alexa out, and the other two followed. The door closed behind them, sealing most of the noise inside. Comparatively speaking, the hallway was a tomb. They’d be able to hear each other easily now. But no one spoke.
Cynthia stared at Alexa with tears swimming in her eyes and her lips quivering with a timid smile. The girl from the photograph, Darcy, also stared, her blue eyes wide and incredulous. Alexa found herself examining the little beauty mark, a popcorn kernel–sized brown spot, on Cynthia’s upper lip.
Alexa said without thinking, “When I was little, Mom tried to wash the spot off my mouth, thinking it was dirt or food.”
Darcy giggled, hunching her shoulders. “Mom said she did that to me, too. Kinda funny, really, considering she has the same mark.” She stiffened for a moment, then lunged forward and grabbed Alexa’s hand. “I’m Darcy. I’m thirteen. I found your picture on Facebook and showed it to Mom and Dad. That’s why she wrote to you. I really hope you’re my sister because I think you’re really pretty. And you even know Nicci K.”
Alexa forced a slow breath into her lungs and then let it out, willing her nerves to settle enough to answer Darcy. She couldn’t be rude. Not to this child who’d done nothing wrong. “Thank you, Darcy. I think you’re pretty, too. I like your hair.”
Unexpectedly Darcy caught hold of Alexa’s ponytail and gave it a swish with her fingers. “Mine’s real straight, like yours, when I don’t use a curling iron. Barrett—he’s our brother—has wavy hair. And it’s sandy blond. Like Dad’s. But Mom said I got her hair, as thick and straight as a horse’s tail.” She flicked an impish grin at her mother, who continued to stare at Alexa with watery eyes. “Don’t let her blond hair fool you. Mom’s really a brunette. Just like us.”
Just like us. Alexa swallowed.
Linda touched Darcy’s shoulder. “Were you wanting to collect more autographs? I can take you in, if it’s okay with your mama.” She bounced a knowing look at Alexa. “Let these two talk.”
Cynthia nodded. “That’s fine with me.” She touched Darcy’s arm. “I’ll wait for you here.”
The girl and Linda trotted off together, and Alexa was alone with her mother. Her mouth felt like it was stuffed with cotton, but she couldn’t waste the opportunity Linda had given her to speak freely. Blinking rapidly in nervousness, she forced herself to look her mother full in the face. “About your letter…” Her throat ached. Her voice sounded hoarse. She swallowed again. “Was it all…true?”
One tear rolled over Cynthia’s bottom eyelashes and raced toward her chin. “Every word.”
“Even the part about only wanting to be friends? Because I have a mom.” Alexa hoped she didn’t crush Cynthia, but she needed to be honest. “I…I don’t need another mom.”
A second tear made its way down Cynthia’s face, past the curve of her understanding smile. “It’s good you love her so much. She must be a wonderful person.”
“She is.”
“And your dad?”
Alexa considered Cynthia’s simple question. Paul wasn’t her dad yet, but she knew him well enough to give an accurate answer. “He’s great. I couldn’t ask for anyone better.”
“I’m so glad.”
Her response—spoken with such relief—reminded Alexa of the poem Melissa had written. Alexa blinked again, this time holding tears at bay. “I’m sorry you had such a rough life. That you couldn’t keep me. I’m sorry for you, but I’m not sorry for me. I’m happy. I’ve always been loved.” She risked touching the sleeve of Cynthia’s deep-purple tunic. Mom’s favorite color—the color of royalty. “Don’t feel bad about giving me away. God made sure I landed in the right family.”
Cynthia nodded, more tears flowing down her cheeks, and her lips quavered with her smile. She placed her hand over Alexa’s. “So you forgive me, Alexa?”
She gave Cynthia’s arm a squeeze. “Yes.” A weight seemed to tumble from Alexa’s shoulders. If she gave a little hop, she might float. She smiled. “Yes, Cynthia, I do.”
Wichita, Kansas
Suzanne
“There she is!” Suzanne stepped away from Paul and Danny and wove between other travelers moving down the airport debarkation aisle. She grabbed Alexa in a hug, laughing. “Oh, honey, it’s so good to see you.”
Alexa returned the embrace, then pulled back and grinned. “Look at you, all Mennonite-ish.”
Suzanne touched one of her cap’s ribbons. “Do I look strange to you?”
Alexa raised her eyebrows and turned her eyes upward, as if deeply thinking. Then she giggled and grabbed Suzanne in another hug. “You look like Mom to me.” Her arms tightened. “I love you, Mom.”
Suzanne relished the sweet whisper. She kissed Alexa’s cheek and set her aside. “Come. Paul and Danny are here to greet you, too.” She led Alexa to the dark-haired man and boy who were already her family in her heart. Alexa hugged them by turn, Paul first with a bit of hesitation, then Danny. She lifted the boy off his feet, making him squawk in mock protest.
She put Danny down but kept her arm draped over his shoulders. She smiled at Paul. “I’m really glad to see you. You can retrieve my luggage from the carousel. Linda sent presents for everybody, and I almost exceeded the weight limit.”
Paul laughed. “I can do that for you.” He took Suzanne’s hand, and the four of them fell into step, with Alexa and Suzanne sandwiched between Danny and Paul. Suzanne couldn’t stop smiling. How natural, how right, it felt to walk four abreast.
Paul grabbed Alexa’s suitcase, making them all laugh by pretending it was too heavy for him to lift. Then they made their way to Suzanne’s waiting car, which would have to be traded soon for something the fellowship approved.
Paul unlocked the doors, then turned to Alexa and Suzanne. “How about if Danny rides up front with me and you ladies ride together in the back? It’ll be easier for you to talk.”
Alexa joked, “Oh, you mean Mennonite-style?”
Paul grinned.
“Good idea.” Alexa snickered. “But let me sit behind Danny so I can kick the back of his seat. I’ve always wanted to pester a brother that way.”
While they drove back to Arborville, Suzanne filled Alexa in on the wedding plans. “I know it’s happening awfully fast,” she said with a hint of apology, “but after we prayed about it, we really believed it was the best thing to do.”
“It is happening fast, but it feels right somehow, too. Kind of like puzzle pieces fitting into place.” Alexa gave the back of the front seat a bump with her knee, waited for Danny’s yelp, snickered, then turned to Suzanne again. “Have you gone dress shopping already?”
Paul chuckled. “Things are a little different in the Old Order church from what you’re probably used to, Alexa. Your mother won’t buy a dress.”
Alexa frowned. “Then what do you wear?”
“I wear a homemade dress like the one I’m wearing now, only in pale blue.”
Alexa touched the attached cape on Suzanne’s floral dress. “Don’t tell me you’re sewing?”
Suzanne couldn’t wait to see her daughter’s reaction to the answer. “Shelley is sewing it for me. Just like she sewed this dress for me.”
Alexa’s jaw went slack. “Shelley? Your sister Shelley?”
Suzanne couldn’t hold back a laugh. “That’s right.”
“Wow, Mom.” Alexa shook her head, smiling. “Life can turn on a dime, can’t it?” Her smile wavered. “And speaking of life turning…I met my birth mom.”
The casual statement struck like a blow. Suzanne gasped.
Paul glanced in the rearview mirror. “Everything okay back there?”
Alexa grimaced. “I think I jus
t shocked Mom.”
“Do you need me to pull over, Suzy?”
Suzanne clutched her chest. “Yes. If you can find a place.”
“Will do.” Paul slowed and turned off on a dirt road. He drove a short distance, perhaps half a mile, and pulled into a drive meant for farm equipment. He put the car in Park and then angled a worried look into the backseat. “Nobody will bother us here.”
Danny released his seat belt and sat on his knees, peering at Suzanne over the top of seat. “Are you okay now?”
Touched by his concern, Suzanne forced a smile. “I’m fine, Danny.” Then she turned to Alexa. “Honey, why didn’t you tell me before now?”
“It just happened last night.” Alexa launched into an animated explanation of receiving a letter and photograph from her birth mother in response to the Facebook picture Linda posted, deciding to send the woman a letter when she returned to Kansas, but then coming face to face with her at the concert. “So Linda took Darcy—Darcy’s my half sister—to listen to the bands, and I sat in the lobby and talked to Cynthia the whole time.”
Paul said, “Cynthia…she’s your mother?”
Alexa nodded. “Cynthia Allgood. When the concert was over, Linda and I followed Cynthia and Darcy to their house, because Cynthia wanted me to meet her husband, Glenn, and my half brother, Barrett.” She paused and ruffled Danny’s hair. “He’s a little older than you, kiddo, but only half as ornery.”
Danny grinned.
Suzanne touched Alexa’s knee. “Did you…like them?”
Alexa frowned, as if uncertain whether she should answer. A hint of apology glinted in her eyes. “I did, Mom. They’re really nice people. Cynthia and Glenn both had pretty rough childhoods. They met in a counseling group for children of alcoholics when they were college age, and they became Christians the same night. They really worked to turn their lives around and be better parents to their children than what they’d had. I think they succeeded, too. Darcy and Barrett are good kids—really happy and secure.”
When Love Returns Page 33
