Summer dialed her sister’s number, and April, not Stella, picked her call up on the second ring. “Hey, April.” Summer cringed, knowing her voice sounded stiffer than usual. To be honest, she was unsure what to expect. Still reeling over the revelations, she couldn’t stop the task of having to communicate such news to the people she loved the most from churning her belly.
“Summer! Are you okay?” Stella’s voice sounded over April’s. “Van called and told us what happened to you guys and that you were in custody at the police station while he was returning from a successful rescue. He confessed to us about his multiple identities.…” A pause followed. “And that a shooter is still out there.” Some coolness enveloped her tone. Just like she hadn’t, Summer guessed Stella didn’t like that news either. “How are you?” Stella perked up her tone, likely for her sake.
“I’m fine.” She should’ve texted her family members prior to going to bed the previous night, letting them know her phone was back, but it wasn’t online at the time. Or that she’d simply gotten across to them somehow all this time. “Yes. Physically, I’m okay.”
“And emotionally?” Erica’s voice overrode Stella’s. So, it was a conference call since Erica was in Paris this time of year.
A sigh slipped through Summer’s lips, and her eyes locked with Terry’s. “Wrecked.” He reached out and squeezed her hand, then kissed it—the first and fitting time. She didn’t miss how his eyes were scanning the street for any sign of an anomaly or threat. She also didn’t miss how he had thumbed something on his phone and two police cruisers now flanked his stationary Hummer on both sides, giving them much-needed coverage from any shooter. Having that threat still looming was unnerving. So was the news she was about to share to her erstwhile family.
“Listen, we’re at the Pleasant Police Station asking for information about why you were arrested. So, were you freed?” April asked.
“Yes, I am. For now. It’s complicated.” Summer exhaled long.
“Take your time, sis. We’re here for you,” April quietly offered.
Well, that was the problem. She wasn’t sure that would be the case by the time this conversation ended and they realized they weren’t biological sisters. Would there be any Heart left for her?
But she had to rein in her thoughts. “Terry—I mean, Van—is driving me to the safe house so I can have some privacy. I think the police are watching my place, and not in a good way, so I’d rather not go there right now.”
“Tell us what happened.” Little of her usual peppiness enthused Erica’s words. “What did they accuse you of?”
“It wasn’t so much of an accusation as it was shocking information.”
“What information?” Stella cut in, her voice knife-sharp and her instinctive mother-bear protectiveness slicing through Summer’s heart. What would she do if Stella no longer stood up for her like that?
Summer exhaled slowly this time and shut her eyes. Then she felt a warm hand on hers, squeezing it gently. She opened her eyes, and they landed on the chocolate-brown ones she was surely loving more even now—and she hadn’t told him yet!
“Tell them,” he mouthed. Then he kissed her forehead. “You can do this,” he whispered in her ear. “I’m here, and I won’t leave you to do this alone.”
“Is someone there with you? I think I’m hearing another voice,” ever-attentive April asked.
“Yes. Terry is here. And he’s urging me to tell you the truth.”
Silence enveloped the call. “About what?” Erica asked. “Did you do something, Summer?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Then what?” Impatience lacing her prompt, Stella huffed. “My heart cannot take the suspense anymore.”
“The police said I’m not your sister.” Summer waited, but they said nothing. “They tested my blood to isolate it from my assailant’s, and it led them to discover my real parents.” An audible gasp came through but from whom she wasn’t sure. “I told them that was impossible and that Mom and Dad were my biological parents and we were sisters from the same parents. But they didn’t believe me. And they had proof.”
Silence that stretched as long as any she’d ever had with her sisters filled the air.
“Oh, Summer.” Erica sighed. “You heard from them first.”
First? Well, that wasn’t the response she expected. “What do you mean?”
“No. They’re not wrong is what we’re saying.” Had Stella ever sounded so matter-of-fact?
“What?” Her ears tingling, her eyes stinging, Summer struggled to breathe. Was she the only person caught unawares, and her sisters knew all this time?
“The day they brought you home, Summer… I knew Mom wasn’t pregnant like she’d been before bringing April home from the maternity ward, but I was almost scared to ask. She settled you into my arms soon after they came home. When I asked, she told me how you came to join our family, that you were her brother, Hank’s daughter and your birth mom died at childbirth. Then she made me promise not to tell you. She said, ‘She’s your sister, Stella. You love her like your other sisters, all right?’ To which, I nodded. I was the only one old enough to know. You were adopted, Summer, and I’m sorry you had to find out this way because I swore to Mom that I wouldn’t tell you.”
Summer’s head was spinning. “You all knew, and you didn’t tell me?” Was that squeak her voice?
“No, just me,” Stella said. “Yesterday, as part of her investigation, April discovered your birth dad was a drug trafficker, and we basically were planning on how to tell you together. I guess the law enforcement folks beat us to it. I was the only one that knew before now. But please know this from the depth of my heart—I love you just as much as I love April and Erica. We are sisters both by birth and by adoption to Christ, so what difference does it make that you were adopted? Please, forgive me for not telling you?”
Summer pressed one hand to her throbbing temples, half of her reeling about the layers of secrets unfolding around her, both from Terry and from her family in the past week.
The other half of her couldn’t understand how her sisters could’ve played all cool in this call when they already knew she wasn’t their biological sister—unless they truly loved her and accepted her. Heat tingled her face and ears, even as a stream of cooling tears ran down her cheeks. “You love me, still? You still consider me as part of your family?”
“I love you”—Stella’s voice broke—“and whether you like it or not, you’re my family now and forever.”
“I love you too forever, Summer Sunshine,” Erica chimed. “And, of course, you’re still my sister and always will be.”
“Yes, I love you, Summer. As if you didn’t know it.” She wasn’t sure if it was Erica or April who broke into sobs first. Then they were all crying over the phone.
Feeling as if her heart would explode with all the love her sisters were showering on her, she closed her eyes and drank it in, letting it nourish her clear to her soul.
She’d thought they’d drift off once they heard the news, but they were pulling her closer in love.
Knowing Stella knew she was adopted all this while and still loved her as selflessly as she’d loved April and Erica proved her love beyond her present words.
It was one thing to love after the fact, but loving before the fact became a public awareness was real love—Unshaken Love. “I love you too, April! I love you all. Thank you for accepting me.”
Stella laughed. “Dad and Mom did the accepting for us so it would be our shame if we chose to part ways with you now. They’d kick us from the grave. I mean, who else would plan our weddings and our kids’ weddings? They are your nieces and don’t you even think about excusing yourself from their babysitting.”
It was Summer’s turn to laugh tearfully as Terry curved a hand around her shoulder and planted a kiss on her cheek, then gave her a thumbs-up and pulled away. Oh, she was loved all right! “Yes, I enjoy babysitting those precious loves.”
“I love you, Summer. Always have. Always will. And let me tell you, no piece of paper can change that.” Erica chortled. “All these loving tears messed up my professional makeup for a promotion interview I have to leave for in about an hour.” She groaned. “Now, I’ll need to call the lady again, and all of you are paying for it!”
They all laughed, and Summer’s tension and nervousness ebbed away as her heart calmed down. “Thank you so much. I feel loved by everyone.” She glanced sideways to the man seated beside her who appeared to be muttering some prayers under his breath while she discussed with her family.
Was he praying for her? Very likely.
“So, now that we’ve gotten the difficult stuff out of the way, why did the cops say they came after you?” April asked.
“Police said my dad was like a grandfather to drug traffickers and had information about their networks. They want my cooperation to get that information.”
“But you have no relationship with him.” Even from the miles separating them, Summer could hear the frown in Stella’s voice.
“And therefore, no leverage,” Terry said.
“Exactly,” April replied. “Someone should tell them so.”
“And they think you know, even when you didn’t know you’d been adopted?” Michael, Stella’s husband questioned.
“Michael just got here. We prayed about telling you, so he knows.” Stella hastened to explain.
“Yes. They didn’t seem to believe me.” And that fact settled like a weight on her even as the words left Summer’s lips.
“Too bad, because I know you were completely ignorant about it, so it would be unfair for anyone to expect you to have such information.” Stella sighed.
“I’m not sure I want to know either. I mean, I’ve lived my whole life as a Heart. So, I don’t think I want to open up anything I shouldn’t.”
“Me either,” Stella chimed.
“I agree,” April said.
“And I concur,” Erica agreed. “If he makes contact, then you can decide whether to relate with him or not. Otherwise, I see no reason to go back to roots you can no longer identify with—especially when your dad gave you up.”
“Do you want to find out about your birth family, Summer?” Terry asked, looking straight at her. “I don’t want you to feel pressured in one direction or the other. You say what you want, and we will support you, either way.”
“No. I don’t.” She shook her head, conviction firming in her heart. “Not really. If God led me to connect with them, I will. I mean, if they were in danger and I knew about it, I could warn them. Otherwise, no. My life has been rattled enough already. I think I’m just going to stick with the much I know, which isn’t flattering, by the way. And I’ll stay where God has planted me. He never does anything without a reason. And God placed me in the Heart family knowing they had all the love I needed to become who God intended for me to be. God’s purpose trumps my curiosity. I’m contented.”
“It’s settled then,” Stella said. “Go on with your life, and if anyone comes asking, just continue saying the truth—you don’t know anything.”
“Yes, that settles it.” Summer felt her exhale whoosh. “But who could convince the cops that I don’t know my birth dad or have any relationship with him? They didn’t believe me.”
“I’ll do it. I’m going to make a few calls, and you should be in the clear.” Terry nodded. “The facts will back up your claims, so you should be fine. With the way you hate lying”—his lips turned upward—“I don’t think you would lie to them so they can fact-check you if they want.”
“That’s correct.” Summer returned his grin. “I’m open to their fact-check, and they’ll see all this is news to me.” She patted his arm and felt the strength beneath those muscles. “And thank you. I appreciate it. I appreciate you…more than you know.”
“You’re welcome.” The smile curving his lips deepened, and she was sure he almost kissed her, but he didn’t. He settled for a quick hug. “I’ll do anything for you.”
April cleared her throat loudly. “And, pray do tell, when do we get to meet Terry? I can already imagine him to be like one of those Hollywood actors—tall, smart, muscular, and ripping—now that we know he’s more than just a professor.”
Laughter sailed through the phone. “You can hardly beat a brains-and-ripping-muscles combo. I definitely want our family to meet you, Terry, or Professor Van,” Stella asserted.
“Soon, sis.” Summer felt the color seeping into her cheeks and did not dare glance Terry’s way. Nevertheless, his slight chuckle didn’t help the butterflies in her belly either.
“Cool,” Stella replied. “We’ll talk later.” Meaning she’d pose some questions later.
“No problem. I’ll keep everyone posted. I love you all.”
“We love you too. Kisses.” Erica sent some air smooches through the line.
They ended the call.
And as soon as she put the phone down, Terry glanced at her with a raised brow.
And wordlessly, she knew what he asked.
She nodded.
He wrapped his arms around her shoulders protectively. “Thank You, Lord Jesus, for handling the impossible task we felt and knew was overwhelming. Thank You for Your daughter, Summer. Thank You for gracing her to have this difficult conversation and to break this tough news to her family. Thank You for touching their hearts to accept her regardless of what the DNA tests said. Thank You for giving her Your peace that passes understanding.”
“And thank you, Jesus, for Your demonstrated unshaken love.” She burrowed her head in his chest and felt at home. “Only You could’ve touched the hearts of my family to love me anyway. Thank You too for this prayer warrior who prayed me through this.” She lifted her gaze and added with a smile, “Bless him in ways unimaginable. As he stood with me, please stand with him in his time of need.”
He smiled and kissed her forehead. “In Jesus’ mighty and most powerful name we have prayed.”
“Amen,” she echoed.
As they parted, he lingered from starting the vehicle, both hands on the wheel. “Summer, you might think the news was easy, but I first learned about your birth dad while out for the rescue.” He stared straight ahead. “When Dave said he was a drug trafficker, it broke my heart. I couldn’t imagine a relationship with the daughter of someone who was like those who murdered my wife and daughter. I couldn’t swallow it. I was going to walk away.” He spun, letting her see the pained look in his eyes. “Except for one thing.”
“What?” She held her breath. She hadn’t realized the impact of this news, considering how and at whose hands his family had died. God, please.…
“That you weren’t your dad. You weren’t linked to them except by birth. And you had no relationship with him, and he had no such influence on you and your life choices.” He drew closer, and so did she, feeling the importance of this moment—a make or break for their relationship. “You were a Christian. So I can trust that God motivates your choices and will course-correct you if you went in the wrong direction someday. And”—he cupped her face, and a lone tear dropped—“I knew you were a gift from God to me. I don’t love easy, especially after a great loss like I had.”
She nodded and leaned into the warmth of his hand, thanking God silently for speaking for her where she could not. “I know. I’m truly sorry, and I can never replace them for you.”
“But a love planted by God in one’s heart sometimes can neither be understood nor uprooted. I love you, Summer. And I tried rationalizing it and tried scaring myself out of it because of your family history, but it didn’t work. So, here I am praying and hoping you will accept me—all of me as I am.”
Warm liquid dropped down her own cheeks, and she swiped at it. “When I woke up and didn’t see you there at the safe house, I felt a loss like I didn’t think I could. I knew right then that my heart was gone for you.” She shook her head and covered his large hands with her small ones, making the perfect match. “I realized I loved you, but you weren’t there for me to tell you. I was scared that it happened so quickly, but I trusted that God who led us, as random strangers brought together by chance, a crisis, and a common faith, has a plan and that we were walking right inside it. I wouldn’t want this any other way.”
“It took me leaving for you to realize that, huh?” He kissed her forehead again, and she felt the warmth all the way to her toes.
She playfully patted his arm and knew he didn’t feel a thing. “I admit it. Yes, it did.”
“I still have some more stuff, good stuff to tell you, but can we do that over a date? This weekend, please?” He settled his hands on the wheel again. “And maybe we could finally get that custard later.”
She chuckled. “Yes, I’d be glad to.” She strapped in her seat belt.
“Thank you. Let’s go get changed and eat something at the safe house first.” He eased off the lot, and both police cruisers followed at a close range.
“I also need to check with Ruth about the upcoming wedding. I want to ensure nothing goes wrong.”
“Cool.” He joined traffic again, and switched on a good Christian radio station, which they listened to while he drove, maneuvering the Hummer with ease. “The rescue went well, thank God. Alessandra and Nicolas are finally safe and starting their lives over. I told her about you, and she said she’d be glad to meet you someday…”
Summer smiled as she listened. This was the kind of company she could get used to—for life.
***