Page 45 of Someone Like You
It was her. He had known that voice since high school.
“Maddie?” He didn’t want to scare her, didn’t want her to run. There wasn’t a single smart reason why he should continue the call, but he did.Please, God, give me the words.“Is … that you?”
“Yes.” She sounded unsure. “You were right.” The words seemed hard for her to say. “I was adopted. As … as an embryo.”
There it was. The dots were connected, but only because of him. He felt terrible. “You didn’t know? Before I showed up?”
“I didn’t.” Her tone sounded a bit more relaxed. “My parents told me everything.” She paused. “The people Ithoughtwere my parents.”
Oh, man.Dawson felt his heart drop.What have I done to this girl?“Did … they say why they hadn’t told you? Before?”
“You know … they always wanted to say something … they kept waiting for the perfect moment.” Bitterness flashed in her voice. “All the things you say when you’re caught in a lie.”
Dawson squeezed his eyes shut for a brief moment. “I didn’t mean … to cause any trouble, Maddie. I didn’t.”
“It’s not your fault.” Maddie rushed ahead. “I called because … I’m coming to Portland, Dawson. I want to meet the biological family you talked about.” So much about her voice reminded him of London. But the sound was different, too. She was her own person. He had to keep reminding himself of that.
The girl on the other end of the call wasn’t London.
Then her words hit him. Wait. What had she said? She was coming to Portland? The wooden dock beneath him seemed to give way. What was he supposed to tell her? “They respect your privacy, Maddie. You don’t have to come.”
“I already booked my flight.” Her voice softened. “I want to meet my sister. London, wasn’t it?”
Dawson’s heart broke in half. He had to tell her, had to make the situation clear. “Maddie … She isn’t …” They were the toughest words he would ever say, now and forever. “London was killed in a car accident a few weeks ago.”
Maddie’s gasp was quiet, but Dawson could hear it all the same. She didn’t say anything for a full minute, and Dawson didn’t either. Then he could hear her. Maddie was crying. How could he comfort her? After another few seconds, Maddie did a quick cough. “That’s … what you came to tell me?”
“Yes.” If only it weren’t. Dawson stood and walked closer to the water. She was just right here, standing beside him. He could feel her still. London would’ve been thrilled to know she really did have a sister. He pictured Maddie on the other end of the phone. “I … thought you should know.”
She didn’t speak for a bit. When she finally did, she sounded like she was suffocating in sadness. “I can’t believe it. I just found out about her and now …” After half a minute, she took another deep breath. “Now she’s gone.”
“So you don’t have to come.” Dawson didn’t want her to feel obligated. She belonged in Bloomington with her family, no matter how badly her world had been rocked. “I just … wanted you to know … what happened to her.”
It took time, but eventually Maddie seemed to find control. “I want that, too.” She paused. “I’ll be there tomorrow.” She told him the details of her flight and asked about a hotel near the airport.
In a matter of minutes Dawson had given her the information she needed. He offered to pick her up and then he said the only thing he could say. “I’m sorry, Maddie. I didn’t mean any of this to hurt you.”
“I know. You were only trying to help.” She seemed more stoic now. “See you tomorrow, Dawson.”
He hung up and took his seat again. He would have to tell Louise and Larry. And his father. The ordeal had taken a dramatic turn. Most of the day he’d tried to convince himself that he was impulsive for going to Indiana and definitely wrong for approaching Maddie West. But now she was coming to Portland. Not as a replacement for London. Of course not. But as a girl whose entire world had just been turned upside down. He checked the time on his phone. She’d be here in eighteen hours.
Dawson had a feeling he’d be counting every moment.
16
There was one thing Maddie had to do before boarding the plane to Portland. She packed early that Sunday morning and then went down the hall to her sister’s room. Hayley was still asleep, but Maddie couldn’t wait. She needed to leave in fifteen minutes to make her flight.
She opened the door and stepped inside. At first she just stood there, watching Hayley sleep. The girl had their mother’s nose and cheekbones. Same pretty hair and profile. She had their father’s sense of humor and his long fingers.
Why hadn’t Maddie seen it sooner, the way Hayley looked just like their parents?
Her parents.
The truth was out now for everyone, even Hayley, Mom had said that much on text. But Maddie hadn’t talked with her sister yet. She had no idea how Hayley would treat her given the situation.
God had been kind to Hayley, healing her a little more every year from the near-drowning accident she had when she was three. But she still struggled with processing complicated things. And nothing was more difficult than this. Either way, whatever her reaction, Maddie knew one thing.
Hayley would always be her sister.
