Free Ties That Bind by Debbie White

about,” I said, leaning down giving him a peck on the cheek.
    “Like what?” He asked.
    “Just kid stuff. Nothing to help us with what we’re doing. In fact, we didn’t even talk about that. Strange, huh?” I called out from the kitchen.
    “Well, I got a reply back from old Francis. We’re going to meet her at a local coffee shop tomorrow. In the meantime, she’s added a few more names to the family tree.”
    “That’s interesting,” I said plopping down next to him on the couch. “I’m nervous about meeting her.”
    “Nothing to be nervous about, Pat. You’re with me, and I’m not going to let anything happen to you. You know that, right?” He added.
                 
    ***
     
    The following day we drove to the coffee shop. It was more of a diner. It had lots of glass windows that looked out to a rather busy street. Its location was ideal. We weren’t sure what Francis would look like so I scoured the place looking for an older woman with glasses and short hair. I don’t know why I thought that’s what she’d look like, but I did. I knew she wouldn’t be holding up a sign saying “Phillips Family.” That much I knew.
    The diner was busy and only a few seats remained unoccupied. Just as we were about to give up, thinking perhaps we’d been sent on a wild goose chase, a short man with glasses and graying hair approached Charles.
    “Are you Charles?” He asked.
    Charles and I looked at one another and then we both nodded. The man led us to a table he had secured in the back corner. Charles and I sat next to one another with Francis sitting across from Charles. Who’d have thought, Francis would be a man! Boy, our investigative skills needed sharpening.
    We ordered cups of coffee and water, and soon Charles had Francis engaged in deep conversation about local events, sports, and the weather. I learned early on that part of being a good detective is to get your opponent softened up, so they spill the beans later. Charles was doing just that.
    Our coffee arrived and I fixed Charlie’s and mine with a splash of cream while the men continued talking. I listened intently as Charles soon changed the tone of the conversation to more about what we were gathered there for and less on the local politics and weather.
    “I knew your sister, Patsy.”
    Those words stumbled around inside my brain for a while. I wasn’t sure what to make of it. I searched his face for more details, but I also realized he was waiting for me to make a comment, a sound, a facial expression – anything after he told me this startling news. I finally said, “Oh.”
    “I dated her after her husband passed away,” he added, hoping that would get me to say more.
    “Husband passed away,” I repeated, looking at Charles then back to Francis.
    “Eddie Spencer was his name.”
    “Does this mean Teresa is still alive?” I queried.
    “Yes, she is. She’s in a convalescent home, however. She was stricken with a rare bone disease and unable to walk anymore. Her son…”
    “Her son lives here too?” I interjected.
    “No. I believe he moved to Texas,” he concluded.
    We learned that Teresa’s husband had passed away from all his years of drinking. We also learned her son, James was alive and well. In fact, he was a prominent attorney. I knew from my private investigating days that attorneys could also muck things up. “Lawyered up” was a term I often heard in our line of business.
    “What can you tell me, if anything about my parents?
    “You mean your biological parents?” He asked.
    I was about to correct him, when he added, “I know who your real parents are.”
    I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard. Did he really say he knew who my real parents are? I pondered his statement and what it could mean for me. Was I really ready to know the truth?
    Charles, sensing my stupor, interrupted my thoughts and what I was about to say.
    “Hold on just a moment,” Charles said in a commanding voice. “Let’s take