Free Shadow of Suspicion (Haunted by the Past) by Danielle Rose-West

lurched and she
almost choked on her food. Could it be her father? Had her mother contacted him
and he wanted to meet her too? After all, she had let her mother know where
she’d be staying, just in case Sandra had needed to get in touch with her.
    Her heart raced and her body shook.
Surely it had to be. Who else would race over to see her? Callie’s head spun
and her mouth went dry. She sipped her coffee. Her hands shook as she placed
the cup back onto the saucer. Questions ran though her head so fast, she could
barely keep up with them. Stop it, Callie. You don’t know that the man is
your father. Don’t get ahead of yourself.
    She drew in a steadying breath and
closed her eyes. So much had happened the previous day that she hadn’t had time
to contemplate the biggest reason that she’d come here. Somewhere close by, her
mother would be having breakfast too. Did she think of Callie? Did she wonder
what her daughter would be like? Had she contacted Callie’s father for a full
family reunion? Would Callie have half siblings to meet too?
    She licked her lips and placed a
shaking hand to her cheek. Could she cope if it turned out to be a large group
of people waiting to meet her? Why hadn’t it occurred to her before now? Her stomach
churned and the small amount of food she’d eaten, threatened to make a
reappearance.
    A throat cleared and she jumped.
Callie’s eyes popped open. She turned to see a large man standing by her side.
He had his thumbs hooked into his jeans as he stared at her. Something about
the man seemed familiar.
    “Are you Callie Price?” He sounded
nervous. Callie sprang to her feet.
    “I am.” She held out a shaking hand.
Her gaze roved over him from head to foot. “Are we related?” Did her voice have
to squeak like a frightened mouse?
    “No. I’m Doug, your mother’s
partner.” He shook her hand briefly. “Can I sit with you?”
    “Sure.” Callie sat back down.
Disappointment dragged at her insides. He wasn’t her father. She hadn’t
realised how much she’d wanted him to be until that moment.
    Doug sat down and leaned back in his
seat. He stared at her intently for a moment. “You don’t have your mother’s
colouring,” he observed, “but I can see her in your face.”
    “I wouldn’t know.” Callie blinked
away the tears that pricked her eyes.
    He leaned forward and linked his
fingers together. “I guess you must be wondering why I’m here.”
    Callie simply nodded, too afraid to
speak in case she cried.
    “I have a rather difficult confession
to make, Miss Price. I won’t blame you for being angry when you hear it.” He
gazed at her, his brows drawn together in a deep frown.
    Callie tensed up. “What is it? Has
something happened to Sandra?”
    “No, nothing like that.” He waved his
hands as if to brush the notion aside. “I don’t really know how to say this, so
I guess I should just come right out with it. The truth is…………I wrote to you,
not Sandra.”
    Callie stared at him. She couldn’t
have heard him right. “What do you mean you wrote to me?”
    “I found your letter. The one you
sent to Sandra when you were eighteen. I thought she had kept it because she
wanted to meet you one day.” He shook his head, his face clouded over with
sorrow. “I know what it’s like to lose a child. I thought I was doing the right
thing by contacting you and asking you to come here and meet her. I couldn’t
imagine never having contact with your own flesh and blood. Unfortunately,
Sandra doesn’t see it that way.”
    Callie’s heart turned to stone in her
chest. “Are you saying she doesn’t want to meet me? That I’ve come all this way
for nothing?”
    “I’m sorry. She made it clear that
she wanted me to explain the situation to you and ask you to go home.” Doug
shifted in his seat and stared at the floor.
    Callie gripped the arms of her chair.
Her head spun and she gasped in much needed oxygen. She hadn’t even realised
that she’d been holding