Free A Forever Family (Forever #6) by Sandi Lynn Page B

chair and walked out of the office.
    “Where are we going?”
    “To Cherry Hill, New Jersey.”
    * * * *
    Collin pulled up to the curb of the house and we sat there a moment while I pulled out the picture of my father. It was the same house the picture was taken in front of. A small half brick, half vinyl-sided house with a bay window and a porch with a white railing. I swallowed hard as I got out of the Range Rover.
    “Dad, what are you doing?”
    “Hopefully getting some answers,” I replied as I walked up the driveway and to the steps of the house.
    “You can’t just go up to someone’s house like that.” He followed behind me.
    “I can and I will.” I knocked on the door and waited a few moments. There was no answer, so I rang the doorbell. Still no answer.
    “Fuck!” I ran my hand through my hair as I stepped off the porch and looked around.
    “Can I help you with something?” an older woman asked as she was watering her flowers next door.
    “I was wondering who lived here,” I replied as I walked over to her.
    “The Vines live there. Do you know them?”
    “No. I don’t think so.” I handed her the picture. “Do you know this man and child?”
    She looked at the photograph and then up at me. “You must be Mr. Black.”
    I was stunned and then startled when my phone rang. I pulled it from my pocket. It was Ellery. “Excuse me one moment. I need to take this.” She nodded her head and continued to water her flowers.
    “Hey, baby,” I answered as I took a few steps away from the old woman.
    “Hi, Connor. I was just checking in to see how things were going. We’ll be heading to the house soon.”
    “Don’t come to the house, Ellery. Collin and I aren’t there.”
    “Where are you?”
    “We’re in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. It’s a long story and I’ll explain everything tonight. Just have Ralph drive you and Amelia back to the penthouse and Collin and I will be there later.”
    “Connor Black. What is going on?”
    “Baby, please listen to me. I will explain everything later. I promise.”
    “You have me worried, Connor.”
    “There’s no need to be worried. Collin and I are just checking out something we found in one of my father’s files. I promise to tell you everything later, but now I have to go. I love you.”
    “I love you too. We’ll be waiting at the penthouse for the two of you.”
    I sighed as I hit the end button and placed my phone back in my pocket. As I walked over to the older woman, she set her hose down and invited me and Collin inside.
    “Please come inside for some iced tea and homemade cookies.”
    “Ma’am, I’m sorry but we—”
    “Do you want your answers or not, Mr. Black?”
    I gave her a small nod and swallowed hard as Collin and I followed her into the house.
    “Have a seat in the living room and I’ll get the iced tea and cookies.” She smiled.
    Collin and I took a seat on the floral couch. The room looked like it hadn’t been updated in over thirty years.
    “Here we go.” The old lady smiled as she set a tray of cookies and iced tea down on the coffee table. “First off, we haven’t properly met. I’m Flora Dunsworth.” She extended her hand.
    “I’m Connor Black and this is my son, Collin.” I lightly shook her hand and Collin did the same.
    Flora took a seat in the wing-backed chair that sat across from the couch. Collin reached over and grabbed a cookie from the tray.
    “Oh my God, Flora, these are amazing!”
    “Thank you, dear. They’re my secret recipe. They’ve won all kinds of awards over the years.”
    I shot Collin a look because we weren’t here to discuss how good her cookies were.
    “Flora, you said you had answers for me. Did you know my father and this child?”
    “Yes, I did. The woman who lived next door was Charlotte Oaks and that boy in the picture is her son, Lucas. We became very close.”
    I swallowed hard, finding it difficult to ask the next question. “Was Lucas my father’s son?”
    She pursed her