Page 125 of Cole

Would her dad be that way with Angelica too? What would it mean to suddenly share that focus with someone else? Someone who looked identical to her but was, for all intents and purposes, a stranger?

Annie rolled onto her back, staring at the intricate molding on the ceiling. Nyla shifted at the foot of the bed, stretching before padding up to nuzzle Annie’s hand.

“Morning, girl,” she whispered, scratching behind the dog’s ears.

The concerns that had been mere whispers last night now seemed to shout in the quiet of the morning.

What if Angelica—Angela—didn’t want anything to do with them? Maybe she just wanted answers without the entanglements of a relationship with them. Or worse, what if she only wanted access to the Burke fortune? There would be no way to hide that from her. Suddenly, her father’s caution made more sense in the cold light of day.

And then there was Julian. He’d been so drunk the previous night, and was probably still sleeping it off. How would he react to the news? Julian had been just as affected by Angelica’s disappearance, though he showed it differently—through reckless living, through keeping everyone at arm’s length.

A soft knock at her door interrupted her thoughts.

“Come in,” she called, sitting up and pulling the covers around her.

Elizabeth peeked in, already dressed in casual but elegant clothes. “Good morning, sweetie. I thought you might like some tea.” She entered, carrying a steaming mug.

“Thanks, Mom.” Annie accepted the tea gratefully, inhaling the soothing aroma.

Elizabeth sat on the edge of the bed, her hand reaching out to smooth Annie’s tousled hair. “Your father told me about yesterday’s discovery.”

“Big surprise, huh?”

Elizabeth nodded. “How are you feeling about it all?”

Annie cradled the warm mug between her palms. “Honestly? I don’t know. Part of me is thrilled, but part of me is…”

“Conflicted,” Elizabeth finished for her.

Annie nodded. “Is that terrible of me?”

“No, darling. It’s completely natural.” Elizabeth’s hand found Annie’s. “This isn’t a simple reunion. It’s complicated by decades of separation, by the circumstances of her disappearance, by the lives you’ve both lived apart. This will change things for all of us. It’s okay to acknowledge that.”

“I’ve never had to share Dad with another daughter.”

Elizabeth’s eyes softened with understanding. “Your father has enough love for both of you. That won’t change.”

“I know that logically, but…” Annie sipped her tea, grateful for Elizabeth’s understanding. “Did you ever think we’d find her?”

Elizabeth’s gaze drifted to the window, where morning light filtered through the curtains. “Your father never stopped believing. I… I had to prepare myself for the possibility that we wouldn’t.” She reached out to squeeze Annie’s hand. “But I never stopped hoping for his sake that we would.”

“What if she doesn’t want to know us?”

“Then we’ll respect her wishes,” Elizabeth said gently. “But Annie, she recognized you in that photo. That has to mean something. The likeness wouldn’t have made her reach out unless she was willing to deal with what that might mean.”

Annie nodded slowly. Elizabeth was right. Angela—Angelica—had reached out, however tentatively, because of that recognition.

“Did you see the pictures of her?”

“I did. It’s remarkable how alike you are.”

“It’s like looking in a mirror.” Annie took a sip of tea. “What do you think will happen when Julian finds out?”

Elizabeth’s expression grew more serious. “That’s harder to predict. He’s carried this loss differently than you and your father.”

They sat in contemplative silence for a moment, the only sound Nyla’s contented sighs as she lay at Annie’s side.

“I should get ready,” Annie said, setting aside her tea. “Is Cole up yet?”

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