Faith sat at her new desk and looked out the window. She felt so official now even though her workload was much the same. At least now there would be a paycheck associated with her hard work.

Never in her life had she felt so needed as she did at HOPE. She felt like the kids needed her, but also Olivia as she seemed to be struggling with something lately.

“Lunch?” Olivia said as she handed Faith a bag from the local deli. “Don’t worry. It’s vegan.”

Faith smiled. “You know me so well.”

Olivia sat in the chair across from her desk and pulled out her salad. “So, how’s your first day going so far?”

“Well, I spoke to a couple of the teachers at the school. Maggie and Jose are both improving in their grades since we started the new tutoring program. And I’m planning a special picnic at the park on Elm just after Easter.”

“Wow! You’ve been busy.”

“I need to keep busy right now, so that’s a good thing.” Faith took a bite of her sandwich and closed her eyes. “This is amazing.”

“Brandon told me what he did.”

Faith stopped chewing. “And did he tell you I freaked out?”

“Not in those words… but yes.”

“It just made me mad that he went behind my back, Liv.”

“I know it did, Faith, but you know Brandon is a great guy. And he only did it because he was trying to help.”

“I know.”

“So, was your father any help?”

Faith froze. “Any help for what?”

Olivia’s eyes grew wide. “Oh jeez…”

“Oh my gosh! He told you? Can that man keep his mouth shut about anything?”

“Faith, he just wants to help you.”

“I didn’t want people to know.”

“Why? We’ve become friends, right?”

“Of course,” Faith said, feeling bad that Olivia was hurt she hadn’t told her. “I just didn’t want people to pity me.”

“No one would pity you for being adopted, Faith.”

“I guess you’re right.”

“So did your Dad have any other information?” Olivia asked again.

“No. Not a bit.”

“I’m sorry. But Brandon said the DNA testing would be back soon. Maybe that will lead to something?”

“Maybe. I’m trying not to get my hopes up. Besides, I have plenty to keep me busy here.”

“Are you going to forgive Brandon?”

Faith sat quietly for a moment. “It’s more than this, Olivia. Can you keep a secret?”

“Sure.”

“I think Brandon is moving back to the Middle East. I accidentally saw some messages on his cell phone.”

“You looked at his text messages?”

Faith stilled for a moment. How stupid was it to tell her new boss that she spied on someone’s text messages? Duh.

“Not on purpose. I was looking for the remote to his TV. Anyway, there were notes beside his phone about the Middle East charity he worked with, and then the texts…”

“But, Faith, it sounds like you don’t know that for certain.” Olivia seemed to know something, or maybe she was just trying to play mediator. Either way, Faith decided it was best not to interrogate her boss on her first day at a new job.

“Look, I know he’s your friend. And he’s my friend. And I’ll forgive him. But that’s it. I almost let myself get a little too invested in thinking about a future…” Faith purposely trailed off because she didn’t want to admit to too much.

Thankfully, the ringing phone on her desk cut the conversation short.

* * *

Brandon walked out of the hospital toward the physician’s parking lot. It was a beautiful day with clear blue skies, and he wished he could spend it with Faith. She hadn’t spoken to him in days, and he missed her.

“Brandon?” Olivia called out from across the parking lot. She caught up to him, winded from running across the hot pavement.

“Liv? You okay?”

“I’m fine, but I think you need to tell Faith about your plans.”

“No way. She’s already mad at me, and if this plan goes off track then…”

“I know, but she has totally the wrong idea.”

“What idea does she have?”

Olivia took in a deep breath and then sighed. “I can’t say. I promised. But I’m afraid it’s going to ruin any chance you have of a future with her.”

“Well, that’s not helpful at all if you can’t tell me anything.”

“Look, all I can say is that you need to talk to her. Try to get her to understand why you contacted her father. I think she’ll forgive you for that. But she still has assumptions about other things.”

“Your vagueness astounds me, Liv.”

“I’m sorry. She’s my friend, and I just can’t break her confidence.”

“I understand. Thanks for catching up with me. I think her DNA results will come in this week, so that will give me a reason to meet up with her.”

Olivia stared at him for a moment. “This week. Really? Wow. Okay. Well, let me know what ya’ll find out, okay?”

“Will do.”

Brandon drove away and watched Olivia stand there for a moment before she walked slowly across the parking lot. The women in this town were suddenly acting really squirrelly.

* * *

Faith turned off the lights in her office and grabbed her purse. She was looking forward to a night of Netflix and ice cream, followed by a hot bath and hopefully sweet dreams. As she pulled the door to the office closed behind her, she realized her plans might just get derailed.

“Brandon, what’re you doing here?”

He was standing just outside of the office on the sidewalk. Faith had told Olivia to go home early since she had a headache and looked stressed. Now she was stressed too.

“We need to talk.”

“Okay. About what?”

“Care to take a walk with me?”

“Brandon, I don’t…”

“Come on. Just to the pier. We can sit on a bench and take in some of that ocean breeze you love so much.”

She sucked in a deep breath and let it out before nodding. “Let me put my stuff in my car.”

They walked quietly down the road, the sound of sea gulls and the occasional car the only things disrupting their trip. It was awkward. She really wanted that ice cream.

When they got to the pier, they both sat down and stared out at the ocean for a few moments. It was a beautiful day, as most days were in January Cove. No storms looming. No puffy white clouds. Just blue ocean touching blue sky.

“I’m sorry, Faith. I didn’t mean to hurt you or make you angry by contacting your father,” he said as he rubbed his hands together in his lap. “I thought I was helping, but it’s obvious that I didn’t. I hope you can forgive me. Sometimes I get a little overzealous trying to help people I care about.”

“You care about me?” Faith said, trying not to make eye contact.

“More than you realize.” Her heart was starting to pound. No no no! She couldn’t get reeled in. He was leaving. She would never ask him to stay for her. People needed him across the world, and she’d never stand in his way.

“I forgive you, Brandon. I know you were trying to help. And honestly, it did help.”

He turned slightly to face her. “Really? How?”

“Well, he didn’t know anything about my birthmother, unfortunately. But he said he missed me, and he wanted to hear from me. I’m planning to write him a letter soon… when I’m ready.”

“Oh, Faith, that’s great. I’m so happy for you,” he said, touching her knee. Faith moved her leg slightly, just enough that his hand fell away. Brandon cleared his throat.

“Sorry.”

“Look, Brandon, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. And I want to be friends. But right now everything feels kind of weird between us. I don’t know how to fix that. I don’t even know if it can be fixed,” she said, still trying not to look at him. Because if she looked at him, she might want to kiss him. And then her heart would be broken when he left. Oh, who was she kidding? Her heart was going to be broken no matter what. The story of her life.

“I know I did something wrong, Faith, but you seem upset about something else. Please, just tell me what it is.”

Her gut churned. Should she be honest and tell him about reading the texts? Or should she just let him go on thinking it was the letter to her father that broke up their promising relationship?

“I know you’re leaving.”

Brandon cocked his head. “What?”

“I accidentally saw the notepad at your house about the Middle East charity. And then your phone dinged, and I saw some texts.”

“You read my texts?” He sounded irritated, but not angry.

“Not on purpose. Well, the first time it wasn’t on purpose. The second time was definitely on purpose.”

“Faith, I don’t think you understand…”

She put her hand up. “I do understand, Brandon. I know that place and those people mean everything to you, and I would never stand in the way…”

“But, it’s not what you…”

“Just tell me the date.”

“What date?”

“The date you’re leaving.”

Brandon sat for a moment and looked like he was pondering something. “Two weeks. It’s tentative, but yes my life is going to change big time in about two weeks.”

Faith sucked in a breath through her nose and blew it slowly out of her mouth. It was the one yoga trick that she still used. Downward dog always gave her a headache.

“I want you to know that I appreciate your friendship. It really helped me make January Cove my home. And I want the best for you. I know you’ll make a huge difference in a lot of lives.” She was trying to be the bigger person, but she really wanted to fall to the ground, grab his leg and beg him not to go. Not her finest moment.

“Faith, I really think I need to explain…”

“Please don’t. Why did you want to see me? Was it just to apologize?”

He pulled an envelope out of his shirt pocket and unfolded it.

“Oh no. The last time you handed me an envelope, it didn’t work out so well,” she said.

Brandon laughed. “This one you already knew about. It’s the DNA results.”

Faith’s eyes widened. “Really? What does it say?”

“I haven’t opened it. I thought you’d like to do the honors.”

He handed her the envelope but she pushed it away. “Please, you open it. I wouldn’t know what I was reading anyway.”

Brandon ripped the envelope open and pulled the paper out, carefully unfolding it. As his eyes scanned the contents, Faith watched him intently. He was a gorgeous man. She sure would miss looking at him.

“Faith?”

“Huh?”

“Why are you staring at me?” he asked, a crooked smile playing on his lips.

“Sorry. I was thinking about dinner. I might have a salad.”

“Alrighty… Anyway, these results are helpful, I think. No connection with anyone who looks to be your birthmother. But, there’s someone on here who might be a distant aunt or great aunt.”

“Really? So how do we connect that person to my birthmother?”

“This entry looks like it’s an older woman, and I don’t recognize the name. But, Jackson Parker knows everyone in this town. He’s been here his whole life, and he’s older than me. Maybe I could pick his brain and see if he remembers this person.”

“That’d be great,” Faith said. She suddenly felt like she was getting closer to actually finding out the answers she’d been seeking.

“Okay. I’ll go see if I can catch up with Jackson then. Thanks for meeting with me,” Brandon said as he stood. She suddenly realized she didn’t want to go back to Addy’s. She wanted to stay there and sit with him all night, even if they never said a word.

Faith stood. “Hey, Brandon?”

“Yeah.”

“Thanks for helping me with this. It means a lot.”

He smiled, almost sadly, and started walking down the beach toward his house.

* * *

Brandon stopped around the corner where she couldn’t see him and made sure she got back to her car safely. Chivalry was a part of him, and he wasn’t going to let anything happen to Faith. But he couldn’t have stood there any longer because his impulses were getting the best of him.

The impulse to pull her into his arms and protect her from anything that might hurt her in life.

The impulse to kiss those pouty, perfect lips of hers.

The impulse to tell her the whole truth about what was happening in two weeks.

But instead, he was hiding behind his neighbor’s fence, watching her walk to her car.

He clutched the DNA results in his hand as he started walking down the beach again. Jackson had to know something that could help, and he was determined to find answers.

* * *

“Good to see ya, buddy,” Jackson said as he shook hands with Brandon. “Have a seat.”

The two men sat down at a small bistro table outside of Jolt. Brandon pulled the paper from his pocket.

“So, I’m going to cut right to the chase. You know Faith?”

“Of course. Great lady. Doing great things at HOPE from what I hear.”

“She is. And I’m hoping we can help her with something.”

“What’s that?”

“Well, Faith actually came to January Cove because she recently learned she was adopted and her birthmother might have been from this area. She had virtually no information, so I had her do a DNA test.”

“Like one of those online kits?”

“Right. Anyway, so it came back today and she does have a distant relative. Maybe a great aunt, from what it says here.”

Brandon handed the paper to Jackson. “Looks a bit complicated…”

“In a nutshell, there was a woman named Norma Peters. I don’t recognize the name.”

“Miss Norma. I remember her. She died years ago, though. So she’s related to Faith?”

“Looks that way. I don’t know how she’s related, though. Do you remember anyone younger than Norma who might have…”

“Oh my gosh.” Jackson’s face went pale, and he dropped the paper on the table. “I think I know who Faith’s mother is.”

* * *

Brandon’s stomach was in a knot. How was he going to tell her this? Would she even believe him? For days, he’d been conflicted on who to tell first. Faith or her birthmother. When Jackson had told him the story, he couldn’t believe it. Things like this only happened in movies.

When he saw her walking up to his porch, he wiped his sweaty palms on his pants and opened the door.

He’d told people before that they had a bad diagnosis. He’d had to tell families that their loved one had passed away. But this was way out of his comfort zone.

“Hey,” he said as he opened the door.

“Hey. You okay? You look white as a sheet.”

“Sure. Come on in.”

She followed him to the living room and sat down.

“Why’d you call me here? You seemed a little anxious on the phone.”

“Well, I have some news… about the DNA test, actually.”

She stilled in the chair, eyes open as big as saucers. “Okay…”

“It’s a little shocking…”

“Just tell me, Brandon.”

“You’re Faith’s birthmother, Olivia.”

* * *

Faith stood at the pier, the wind blowing through her hair. She closed her eyes and took in the smells that only the ocean can produce. She loved that she could literally taste the salt from the ocean water on her lips. January Cove was home to her now, even if Brandon James was leaving.

Maybe he’d get some answers about her birthmother, at least. Maybe she’d finally get some closure about her earliest moments of life.

Right now, she was confused as to why Olivia had asked to meet her at the pier. They normally met at the office and coordinated the day’s events, but Olivia had offered to bring breakfast that they could share at one of the picnic tables at the water’s edge.

Olivia had been acting strange lately. Faith worried maybe something was going on in her marriage. Or maybe she was sick. Or maybe she didn’t like the job Faith was doing at HOPE. Her mind was swirling with “what if” scenarios that only made her more anxious everyday.

“Good morning,” Olivia said with a smile.

“Oh, hey. I didn’t see you coming.”

“Looked like you were lost in thought?” Olivia said as she put the white paper bags on the table and slid into her seat. “Everything okay?”

“Just thinking about all kinds of stuff. Brandon leaving, the kids at HOPE… the search for my birthmother.”

Olivia swallowed hard and smiled. “I get it. Life can get pretty complicated.”

“You seem in better spirits this morning,” Faith said as she pulled out her fruit cup and muffin. Olivia always knew what to get her. It was weird how she seemed to “get” Faith in a way no one else did.

“I am. I found out some news last night.”

“Good news?”

“Very good news. But shocking.”

“Oh… do tell,” Faith said as she took a bite of her muffin. “I love juicy gossip.”

Olivia smiled, but she was definitely nervous about something. So nervous that she dropped her breakfast sandwich on the table, wiped it off and took a bite.

“Liv, are you alright? You seem almost petrified about something.”

“I am petrified, honestly.” She put down her sandwich and sucked in a deep breath.

Faith reached over and took her hands. “We’re friends. I’m here no matter what.”

“Oh gosh…” Olivia said.

“Just tell me. You’re freaking me out.”

She looked at Faith, her eyes welling with tears. “Faith, I’m your birthmother.”