Page 89 of Tear Me Apart

Jasper looks at his watch again, lips thin, his face suddenly pale. Zack barely notices. He stands in shock for a few moments, trying to wrap his head around what his heart hasn’t let him fully experience. His girl. He’s found his girl. This is real. It’s happening. He starts to smile.

“My God. I didn’t even want to hope, I mean, I didn’t think I’d ever find her. I don’t know, what do we... God.” He has no words for the emotions he is having. He looks at Jasper, who is not looking joyful. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. This situation isn’t of either of our making.”

“You’re her father as much as I am, Jasper. Lauren is her mother as much as Vivian was. Don’t think I’m not aware of this. It’s hard for all of us, but we’ll figure it out.”

Jasper claps him on the shoulder but doesn’t say anything. Kat wakes from her nap in front of the fire and woofs at them, as if she too is celebrating.

“We should call the Nashville cops, let them know. They’ll want to get moving on this right away,” Juliet says.

“No. We should call Lauren, tell her first.” Jasper already has the phone in his hand.

Zack nods. “Yes, you’re right. Lauren first. I think the cops can wait until morning.”

And inside, all he can think is,She’s yours. She’s yours. But who stole her away? Because whoever did killed Vivian.

49

VAIL HEALTH HOSPITAL

Lauren hangs up the phone and stares out into the night.

She should be ecstatic. There is a good chance Zack will be enough of a match that they can at least do an initial stem cell transplant. Maybe he’ll even be a perfect match, and Mindy will go into remission. This is the best news they’ve had in weeks.

But the pervasive dread stalking her edges closer, and she shivers in fear.

Mindy is, thankfully, still asleep. It seems the worst of the flu bug has passed and she is going to be okay. They need her as healthy and strong as possible before the transplant, because it’s going to be hell on her. Isolation, heavy chemo to kill her immune system, then the transfusion itself, almost an afterthought, strange blood snaking into her body, into her very essence, possibly making her whole.

She dials Dr. Oliver’s line without bothering to glance at the time. She knows it’s late, but she also knows this is news he’ll want to hear as quickly as possible.

He answers right away, knowing she’d only call him if there is an emergency. She’s been very careful not to abuse the privilege of having his personal phone number.

“Lauren? Is everything okay with Mindy? I know she caught the gastro floating around, but I thought she was improving.”

“She’s been feeling badly, but I think we’re past the worst of it. That’s not what I’m calling about. I’m sorry to bother you so late, but I wanted to let you know right away. We’ve found Mindy’s biological father.”

His intake of breath is gratifying. “How’d you find him?”

“My sister ran a DNA search and discovered his wife in the system. It’s a long story, but he’s here, in Colorado. At my house, actually.”

“Okay then. I’ll have to send out my own tests, of course, and see if the cellular match will work, but this could be very good news, Lauren. Don’t get your hopes up too high, though. Often siblings are a better match than parents. Does he have any other children we can test?”

“Not that I’m aware of. It’s a rather...difficult situation, Dr. Oliver.” She blows out a deep breath. “It seems the doctor who helped me adopt Mindy did so illegally, and Mindy was stolen from this couple. The mother was murdered. It’s terrible, and we’re all very upset to learn that we’re going to be involved in a scandal, but right now, all of us are focused on the next steps for healing Mindy.”

He whistles, long and low. “Goodness. Well, I’m sure we’ll have time to discuss everything in detail tomorrow. I’ll get on the phone right now, and we’ll be ready to do the testing first thing in the morning. Can you have her father—biological father—at the hospital at 5:00 a.m.?”

“Of course. See you then.”

“Lauren?”

“Yes?”

“This really is good news.”

“I know it is. I’m just trying to temper my hopes.”

“Understandable. Get some rest.”