The furor from the Snotty Garlic died down quickly, most because Marc had signed into effect another controversial piece that Ari believed would create the technological jobs that he was so gung-ho to bring to Texas.

Those were a good thing. And she knew he’d worked extremely hard to make it happen. Especially when half of those jobs were with her own brother's company. She’d had an insider look at just how the deal was made, thanks to Luc having her keep track of all the paperwork involved.

She suspected he’d done it on purpose. To keep it within the family, so to speak.

Her big brother didn’t trust easily.

Luc was on his way down again to bring Simon back for the end of his basketball camp. It had been a very busy few time for her brother. All of her brothers.

Rafe was everywhere she turned lately.

It seemed like every time she saw Jillian, Rafe was with her. It made it very awkward.

Especially since she knew what was going to happen next. Mel had called her that morning. Blessed Reunions had found definitive proof that there were at least four more brothers and one more sister out there somewhere. But some were born to a Denise Alverez, instead of Daviess.

Now they had to search out possible aliases, and any children born under those names. It was getting far more complicated than she’d ever imagined that it would.

Ari certainly didn't understand it; she just wished it made more sense, but it didn't. And Ari had no clue what to do next.

They were going to decide tonight when her sister was there. She had given a lot of thought to inviting Zoey and Pen up, as well. But she didn’t think Zoey was ready for that step yet. If she ever would be.

No. It was for her, Rafe, Luc, Simon, and Paige to decide.

Paige often returned to Finley Creek. Ari suspected it was mostly because of Paige’s connection to Jillian's family, rather than any desire to see Ari specifically.

She hadn’t expected to be close with all her half siblings, of course. That was an irrational expectation. She just needed the answers, mostly for Simon. Mostly to know that there wasn't some other kid out there alone because of what that woman had done to all of them.

Which there had been—Pen was proof of that. There could be more. That thought kept her going, even when the rest of it threatened to send Ari into full-out panic mode.

The meeting was happening at the Becks’ house.

Luc had the company car drive her to the Becks’, where he and Paige were already waiting. She hugged her sister quickly and then her brothers. Then she turned to the baby sleeping in her sister's arms; she and Paige might not be close, but Ari was determined that the baby knew that he had people who loved him in Texas.

He was such a pretty baby and he looked very much like his mother.

He looked the most like Rafe. Everyone joked about it, but it was the truth. Travis had even supplied some baby photos of Rafe as proof.

Simon was with Paige, and Ari took a moment to study her youngest brother. Well, her youngest Daviess brother. There were only a few months between him and Jaden, her first brother on her father’s side. Simon looked okay. Happy, and that was what was important. No matter why they were there tonight.

They had hard decisions to make; decisions no thirteen-year-old should ever have to even know existed. That Simon did was just another thing they could lay at their biological mother's feet.

The idea that there could be more Simons out there terrified her, made her willing to do whatever it was she had to do to ensure that her family healed.

No matter what the personal cost. She was going to find any children out there and make sure they were not being hurt because of who their mother was. Period.

By the time the meal was over, and they had the discussion that Paige and Luc were down there to have, Ari was a complete bundle of nerves. But she wasn’t going to let those nerves get the best of her any longer.

They had finally made the decision. Mel would send the letter, Mel and Ari would go the following weekend to make contact with one of the brothers. Jillian wanted to go with her. Rafe wasn't too happy about that idea and he made that very clear. She was half used to the way he and Jillian argued with one another constantly at this point. They were either arguing or pawing at each other.

It was just the way the two of them were going to be.

But she would do it. She’d started the quest, it was up to her to finish it.

She, Simon, and Paige had all nearly died because of the search for the truth. Ari had to see it through, no matter what.