Dark Legacy by Jen Talty (reading books for 4 year olds .txt) 📗

requested about Shannon’s daughter arrived. I haven’t opened it.”

“Feel like swinging it by my place?” He knew the information in the packet wouldn’t tell him where Shannon’s daughter had ended up or her name, but it would match non-identifying information and give him a start. He figured he’d be able to give Shannon some peace of mind in a week or so.

At least, he hoped the news would be good, and that Shannon would let her daughter go through life with the loving parents she’d been placed with and not insert herself into their lives, disrupting their family dynamic.

A surge of hot pain rushed through his body. Shannon was nothing like his birth mother. He shouldn’t compare the two.

But, still, certain skeletons were sometimes best left locked in the closet.

“I’m in your driveway,” Katie said.

“Thanks. I’ll be there shortly if you want to hang out for a bit.” Well, his sisters certainly would be pleased by his hospitality, but he wished he hadn’t uttered the words. He wanted some alone time with Shannon. One of these days, he hoped they would move past neighborly conversation and into something different. Something more.

Something that might make his mother and his sisters happy.

But he’d be lying to himself if he didn’t have reservations, regardless of his attraction. It had nothing to do with Shannon giving up a child and everything to do with her wanting to find that child.

“Wish I could. I’m going to meet with Jacob’s dad about my uncle’s case. No way do I want that man out of jail, but something tells me he might actually make parole this time,” Katie said, the words tumbling out of her mouth like a volcano. “I used my key and left it on your desk.”

“Perfect. Thanks. I’ll see you in the morning.” Jackson ended the call. He navigated his way down the long, dark road, his mind heavy with thoughts he’d long forgotten.

His parents and sisters had always told him that blood didn’t make a family.

And they were right. People even thought that he and his sisters looked alike, but none of them had the same DNA.

Jackson slowed at the top of his driveway. The light blue sedan was long gone, but as he rolled slowly down toward his cottage on the lake, he noticed a pricy BMW in Shannon’s space.

But Shannon’s car was nowhere to be found.

He pulled in and made his way toward the side of his cabin. He always thought it strange that these particular properties only had one entrance, located on the side of the house. They were small domiciles, Cape Cod-style, but not so small they couldn’t support a front and back door. However, for security reasons, he liked having only one way in and out.

He hadn’t taken ten steps when two women came barreling around the corner.

“Oh,” the older woman said. “You’re not Shannon.”

“Nope,” Jackson said, seeing the resemblance immediately between the older woman and Shannon. They both had striking blue eyes and sandy brown hair. The older woman wore way too much makeup and dressed as if she were the first lady, but otherwise, she looked very much like Shannon. “Name’s Jackson.”

“Yes,” the woman said. “I’m Shannon’s mother, Melinda. And this is my daughter, Tara. I was hoping Shannon might be home by now.” Melinda checked her watch. “I need to head back to Saratoga, but Tara here,” she paused, glancing at the young girl, “she was planning a girls’ night with her sister, and her car is in the shop so I agreed to drive her.” Melinda tapped her watch. “Wonder what could be keeping Shannon.”

“I wasn’t planning anything,” Tara said. “I thought this was—”

“She’s always late,” Melinda said. “Maybe Jackson here can keep you company until Shannon gets home?”

Before Jackson could say anything, Melinda nearly sprinted toward her car.

“See you tomorrow.” She glanced over her shoulder and blew a kiss. “You two have a pleasant evening. You know, it’s such a beautiful night. You should walk down to the waterfront and watch the moon and stars come out while you wait for Shannon. Yes. Go now.” She waved to them as she slipped into her car.

Cue music for The Twilight Zone, Jackson thought. He turned and glanced at Tara, who appeared just as shocked as he felt. Tara had Shannon’s eyes, but otherwise, they didn’t look that much alike. Tara was tiny compared to Shannon’s lush curves. Tara had to be at least four inches shorter than her sister. Even though her jet-black hair didn’t show roots of another color, having five sisters, he could tell a dye job a mile away.

He tried to picture the girl with light brown hair, and as he did, he knew he’d seen her somewhere before. “You look familiar.”

“You’re the PI guy that works with Katie, right?”

He nodded.

“Yeah. You might have seen me in your building. My boyfriend is Kevin Bengal.”

“Oh, yeah. I do work for him and his father’s law firm. Nice guy.”

“Too bad our parents can’t stay the fuck out of our lives. Unbelievable. I hope Shannon gets home soon,” Tara said. She tapped her phone then put it next to her ear. “Oh, come on, Mom. I know you have your phone turned on. Pick it up.”

Jackson stood there, hands on his hips, trying to figure out what to say. But his mind was devoid of words.

Tara groaned and banged on her cell with her index finger. Damn thing might break if she kept that up.

“It’s cool. You don’t have to babysit me. I’ll just hang out on the patio until Shannon gets back or until I get my mother to turn around.”

Well, that didn’t explain much. “I’m a little confused. Your sister didn’t tell me you were coming, and she and I were supposed to have drinks.” He cringed. If his mother were here, she’d slap the back of his head for being so rude.

Tara glanced in his direction and smirked. “Seriously? My sister finally said yes to a date with you?”

He cleared his