Page 26 of A Package Deal

“That I wasn’t a burden? That Stella and Gus didn’t take me in because there was no other family available?” Nelie cried.

Gus slammed his hand on the table, and everyone jumped. “We didn’t take you in. We adopted you. You are our daughter and you’ve never, not once in your life, been a burden to us. You are our sunshine, and Suzanne agreeing to the adoption, giving you to us, was the greatest gift we ever got.” Tears ran down his face, but he looked like he’d fight anyone who disagreed with him.

“But why? Why lie?” Nelie asked quietly, looking at the table. She’d lost her energy to fight their crazy story.

“Stella and Gus were in their forties when they adopted you. Stella was sensitive about their ages and how people might criticize them, so she created a backstory for you,” Mrs. Hart said.

“And like a fool, I went along with her cockamamie scheme.” Gus shook his head. Nelie didn’t know if he was more upset at Stella or himself.

“You never could say no to her.” Nelie gripped the blanket tight around her as the truth of her origin story sank in. She’d stopped shivering, but she was still cold. The clock above the doortick-tocked, and Nelie counted her breaths to it.In two-three-four. Out two-three-four. After a few rounds, Jackson’s snort broke the silence.

“This isn’t funny, Jackson,” Mrs. Hart scolded.

He ran his fingers through his hair. “No, Gram, it’s not. It’s all kinds of wrong, but I finally know why my dad was so insistent I not date orfool around”—he used air quotes—“with any of the Haven girls. I thought he was being a snob. Didn’t realize he was worried I’d kiss my sister.” He and Nelie both grimaced.

I have blood relatives, Nelie realized. A brother and a sister, and a nephew. Emily was her sister-in-law. She didn’t know what to make of Suzanne and Mrs. Hart. Mother and Grandmother didn’t feel right. Maybe when she calmed down, it would.

But did it matter? Did they want her in their lives as a family member? Did she want them in hers? If not for baby Nathan, would she have ever learned the truth? Was she just a means to an end to help Nathan?

“I don’t look like any of you,” Nelie said, her voice wavering in a last-ditch effort to argue away the truth. The Wyatts had auburn hair and green-ish or brown eyes.

“You look like your father,” Suzanne said.Jeez, I’d forgotten about him.Nelie felt sick. She was in over her head. “He’s not as blond as he once was, but his eyes are the same piercing sky-blue as yours.”

“You’re in contact with him?” Pris asked. “Does Dad know?”

“No, and I’d like to keep it that way.” Suzanne squirmed in her chair. Pris pretended to zip her lips. Nelie didn’t think Jackson would tell his father. From what Emily had said, theirs was a strained relationship.

“You might not look alike, but you’ve all got the freaky eyebrow lift,” Gus said, as if they belonged in a circus.

“You mean this?” Mrs. Hart sounded amused as she raised one eyebrow, followed by Suzanne, Pris, and Jackson. They looked expectantly at Nelie. She complied and a part of her died.

Who am I?Nelie bit the inside of her cheek to make sure this wasn’t a nightmare, or that she hadn’t slipped on the steps and bumped her head. Except for where her inner cheek throbbed, she was numb. No matter how many explanations her brain and heart threw at her, she knew in her bones they were telling the truth.

Mrs. Hart poured fresh coffee for everyone. Now that they’d dropped their bomb, the older adults drank and nibbled on cookies, keeping an eye on her, waiting for another explosion. Jackson snatched another cookie.

“You’re eating?” Emily shrieked. Nelie didn’t know who was more shocked. Emily, by her husband’s behavior, or the people around the table who’d forgotten she was virtually there.

“Celebrating,” he said around his cookie. “We’ve got another potential donor for Nate.”Nate, the reason they told me.

Pris’s phone vibrated on the table. “Duty calls.” She stood and patted her mom on the shoulder and gave Mrs. Hart a hug. Nelie noticed the difference and wondered about the dynamics in the Wyatt household. Pris and Jackson seemed distant with their mom, and Nelie knew Emily wasn’t a fan of her in-laws, especially her father-in-law.

Nelie didn’t have the brainpower to figure out the familial potholes she might step into. Not now. Now she needed to escape. She shoved back from the table. “Pris, if I follow you, can you show me where I go for testing? Or do I need to go somewhere else? Like Children’s Hospital in Saint Paul?”

Nelie wiped her hands on her jeans. She didn’t recognize her world anymore, but even through the rubble and smoke of the bomb they’d dropped on her, she knew she needed to be tested.

She was Nate’s last realistic chance at survival. And his survival mattered most. It’s the reason they’d sacrificed the lies they’d raised her on. Built her life on. They’d killed who she thought she was for the chance to save him.

Pris took her hand. “I’ll drop you off at the lab and order the test.”

“To make sure I don’t escape?” Nelie joked, but it fell flat.

“No, to make sure you’re all right. You’ve had a terrible shock.” Pris’s warm voice felt like a hug.

“I’ll drive,” Jackson said behind them.

“You don’t need to do that. I’ll be fine,” Nelie said.

“You’re still clutching the blanket.”

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