Part 18 (1/2)
Chapter 17.
I didn't waste a second. My paranoia had reached new heights. I was afraid that in his angry state, Benjamin Greaves would call Destiny and then whisk her off to some faraway land, safely out of my reach.
I was never more grateful to hear someone's voice than I was when Destiny said ”h.e.l.lo.”
”Destiny, thank G.o.d you're home!”
”What's wrong, Kris, you sound terrible.”
”I have to talk to you. Can I come over?”
”Sure, come right now if you want.”
”I'm on my way.”
”Are you sure you can drive? You sound really upset.”
”I'm fine. I'll see you in a few minutes.”
With every ounce of energy I had, I concentrated on my driving. I knew Destiny thought something was wrong with me. I knew she'd be preparing herself to comfort me. I knew her misunderstanding would make it all the more difficult for me to tell her what I needed to, but I couldn't have said anything more on the phone.
I was still reeling from my whirlwind afternoon when I burst through her door and perched myself on the edge of the couch.
”I've got some bad news a””
”What is it?” she interrupted me, her concern apparent.
”Please, Destiny, this is hard enough for me. Let me just spit it out,” I said, my voice cracking with emotion. ”Today, I found out you're adopted.”
She started to smile, and she looked like she was going to interrupt me again.
I put up a hand to silence her.
”Not by your parents, Liz and Benjamin Greaves. By the Ken-woods. They weren't your natural parents. They adopted you when you were a week old.”
In her eyes, I read shock, disbelief, and finally anger.
”Very funny, Kris!”
”I'm not joking,” I said wearily. ”Everyone seems to think I have a warped sense of humor today. I don't. I'm dead serious. Lydia Barton let it slip this afternoon. I've been to your grandma's, and she confirmed it. I'm sorry.”
”No, no, no, no.” She started sobbing.
I didn't know what to do, how to comfort her. I wanted to touch her, to hold her, but I wasn't sure how to approach her. The louder she cried, the more awkward I felt. As her breathing became faster, I started to panic. Unable to do more, I finally decided to sit down next to her. When I reached over to pat her leg, she grabbed me, almost frantically, and hugged me.
It was almost an hour before she stopped crying and was able to breathe normally again. The whole time, I held her, and the physical touch felt good. I tried to will my strength into her body. I lightly stroked her hair. I told her everything would be okay, though I didn't have the faintest idea if it really would be. Mostly, I listened to her grief filling the room and tried not to drown in it.
”Tell me exactly what they told you,” she commanded when at last she raised her head to look at me.
Still holding her hand, I told her all about my afternoon.
”I can't believe my father never knew!”
”Unless he's the world's greatest liar, he never knew. He was as shocked as I was.”
”He's a terrible liar.”
”Then he never knew.”
”I can't believe I sat at that woman's house for three hours and she let me believe I was her granddaughter.”
”You were, Destiny. You are. Nothing changes the years you two spent together.”
”Still, I would have appreciated hearing this little tidbit a few days sooner.”
”She was afraid of losing you.”
”For good reason. She has lost me.”
I went along with her anger, knowing she didn't mean it but wanting to show I supported her.
”Maybe it is best you don't see her again. You've been through a lot lately. A break would do you good.”
”I did enjoy myself the other night.”
”Yeah, but it's too stressful.”
”Actually, it was the most healing thing I've ever done.”
”She'd probably be a burden on you anyway.”
”Not at all. I thought she was independent and charming.”
”So did I. Plus she invited us over for dinner again.” I smiled at her slyly.
She hit me with a pillow.
”Kris, you really are a terror!”
”I know.”
”My mother will die when she hears this. She's always been very concerned with what other people think, and this won't set well with her. She's constantly flaunting other people's accomplishments in front of me, as if life were some sort of race and I'm not running fast enough. Appearances mean a lot to her. This is not going to look good. She'll die!”
'Your dad said the same thing. Except his words were This will kill her.'”
”He's right. Maybe I should call her, and h.e.l.l, maybe I should call him, too.”