Chapter 5
Diana listened intently as Terry updated her on her adopted child’s situation. “We did find someone born in the hospital with the same date and time of birth as your child, Mrs. Thompson. However, the Office of Vital Statistics wouldn’t release any information that wasn’t public knowledge. The child was given away for adoption by the birth mother, age: eighteen, race: African American, father: unknown—”
Diana exited 440 to the Cary Parkway, drove the four miles to the subdivision they lived in, and pulled into her driveway. She pressed the button on the car’s sun visor to open one of the four car garages that was situated on the side of the huge brick house.
“Terry, is that all the information you have? I could have looked that information up on the Internet,” Diana said harshly. “And I know who the father is. I didn’t name him on the birth certificate because he didn’t own up to her.”
Terry closed the drapes in his hotel room in Nashville and sat on the chair that was positioned beside the bed. “Yes, ma’am,” he said apologetically. He could hear the frustration in Diana’s voice.
Diana expelled a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Terry. I shouldn’t be taking my frustration out on you.”
“I understand, ma’am. Anyway, I did some digging around; it’s funny what people will give up for the right amount of money.” Terry bent over to untie his shoe laces. “I got this information from a retired nurse that worked at the hospital twenty-three years ago. I looked up all the nurses that were employed at the hospital that year and her name turned up. Once I found her, I guess she was in a financial bind, because when I bribed her with money to talk, she started singing like a bird. When I showed her your picture, she remembered you. She said she couldn’t understand why such a beautiful, intelligent, college girl like you would give up her beautiful baby girl.”
Diana frowned. “There were several nurses that waited on me after I had the baby.”
Terry kicked his shoes off and propped his feet up on the bed. “This nurse said that you may remember her, because she gave you her daughter’s pendant. She said that you were so depressed that she wanted to comfort you.”
Diana tapped lightly on the steering wheel and smiled. “Yes,” she said excitedly. “I do remember her.” Diana recalled that the nurse was a tall, heavy set, multi-racial woman in her fifties. “I can’t recall her name, though.”
“Her name is Ms. Kemp.” Terry picked up his burger and bit into it, then twisted the top off of his beer.
“That’s right, Diana exclaimed. “Nurse Kemp was so nice to me. I think that she must have felt sorry for me. I don’t know what happened to that pendant, but I kept it close for a long time. It was a gold cat with green eyes.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Terry finished chugging down the beer that he’d been drinking. “Anyway, it turns out that a middle class couple adopted your daughter; both teachers in the Nashville school system.”
Diana exhaled loudly into the phone. “At least some decent people adopted her. That has worried me to no end all these years.”
“Don’t get too excited, Mrs. Thompson; there’s more.” Diana stayed silent and listened. “They both passed away three years after they adopted her. My source told me that the woman’s mother was the only living relative of the two, but she was too old and frail to take the child in. A few foster families kept her for a few years, but that didn’t work out, so the State assigned her to the orphanage. So the child stayed there until she was grown, I guess.”
“You guess?” Diana asked Terry in a disappointed tone.
Terry covered his mouth and coughed. “Yes, ma’am. The orphanage burned down four years ago, and all of its records were lost in the fire.”
“What did I do to my precious baby?” Diana lamented. “Is there anything else, Terry?”
“No, ma’am. I came to a dead end once I found out the orphanage no longer exists. I’m sorry, Mrs. Thompson.” Diana didn’t respond. “Ma’am?
“Oh, I’m sorry, Terry. This is so disappointing. I guess you can fly home tonight or tomorrow, whenever you can get a flight out of Nashville. How are your funds?”
“They’re kinda low, but I have enough to get me through the night and back home.” Terry cleared his throat. “But I will need the rest of my retainer when I return, plus expenses.”
“Just let me know when you return to Raleigh, and I’ll write you a check.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.”
“Me too; but I know more now than I did before. Thank you, Terry. Take care.” Diana snapped her cell phone closed, opened the car door, and stood in the garage staring blankly at the floor for a moment. She closed the car door and slowly walked into the mudroom and kicked off her heels. She walked in her stocking feet into the enormous kitchen. June, her housekeeper, emerged out of the adjacent family room.
“Hi, Mrs. Thompson.” Diana nodded at June, but didn’t make eye contact with her. She was on the verge of tears. June continued. “I finished cleaning the bathrooms, vacuumed the carpet upstairs, and washed and folded a load of towels. I’ll be back tomorrow to damp mop the hardwood floors and dust.”
Diana blinked back the tears before she gazed at June. “I’m sure you’ve done a great job. Thank you.” Stunned by Diana’s warmth and sincerity, June’s mouth dropped open as she gave Diana a curious look.
Diana thought she saw concern in the older woman’s eyes. Normally, Diana treated June like the invisible woman. But after the disappointing news that she’d just received, she needed some compassion. She realized that no matter how cold she was toward June, June always seemed to respond in a kind manner. Kendra’s words echoed in her mind. “Having money shouldn’t make you a cruel snob.” She thought maybe she should consider her atrocious behavior.
June gave her a pleasant smile. Diana cleared her throat. “June, take the rest of the week off.”
“Mrs. Thompson,” June asked nervously, “you don’t need my services this week?”
“You’ve worked hard, June; take some time off. Here, let me pay you.” Diana walked to the kitchen’s center island and sat on the stool in front of it. She pulled her checkbook out of her purse and wrote a check for the usual weekly amount, plus a bonus.
June stared at the check. “Mrs. Thompson, she said, handing the check back to her, “you’ve paid too much.”
Diana shook her head. “It’s okay, June. You deserve some extra time and money for putting up with me all these years.”
June touched Diana on the shoulder. “Are you okay, Mrs. Thompson?”
Diana looked at her and smiled sadly. “I’m fine, June. I’ll see you next Monday. Okay?” Diana folded June’s hand over the check.
“Yes, ma’am.” June walked to the mudroom and retrieved her shoes, looked back at Diana, and walked to the garage.
After Diana opened the Plantation blind in the dining room to make sure June was gone, she walked back to the pantry that was adjacent to the kitchen and retrieved a hidden bottle of vodka. She reached on the second shelf for a paper cup and filled it to the brim. “I promised Jeffrey I wouldn’t drink anymore, but just one will calm my nerves.”