Free It Matters To Me (The Wandering Hearts Book 2) by Wendy Owens

If this could happen to a family like ours, what would keep it from happening to theirs?
    Even after Mom killed herself, he somehow managed to spin it that what the kidnappers did drove her to it. I knew the truth, though. He knew I knew the truth too, and that’s why he always hated me. Mom despised him so much that death was the only way she could escape him. Had she known he would find me, she would have never left me. At least, that’s what I tell myself.
    It was me who picked Dale Anderson up from prison after he was released. Father assumed I did it to piss him off, but he’d never understand. Dale was the father that my mother wanted me to have. His wife Janet, she was supposed to become my mother. The woman who brought me into this world knew I had a better shot at a happy life with them. She placed me with them, not carelessly, but with great thought and care.
    They were all naive. They thought they could change my name and raise me as their own. I would have a chance to live a normal life. But I was a Calloway. A truth I would never escape and neither would the Andersons.
    I exhale, lurching forward and collapsing onto my bed. I close my eyes, welcoming the sweet, sweet silence of sleep.

 
    I FLIP THE PHONE REPEATEDLY around in my fingertips. I’ve imagined the conversation over and over again in my mind. What words I should use to not sound like an absolute nutcase. I’ve planned out my arguments, a rebuttal for anything she might have to say.
    Anna has been my best friend for as long as I can remember. She’s been the person who has lifted me up out of the darkest times, as well as the one person I can trust to always tell it like it is. If she thinks I’m impetuous, she won’t hesitate to share this with me.
    Shaking my head, I slide my finger across the front of my phone and dial her international number. She’s certain to find out sooner or later that I’m heading to Africa with a man I barely know to do a job I know I’m probably unqualified for.
    The house is eerily quiet as I wait for her to answer the phone. It’s like I’m waiting for judgment. There’s an excited squeal on the other end of the line.
    “Hello?”
    “Oh my God Kenz, I’m so excited it’s you,” I hear my friend’s voice say. Anna is usually calm, not often losing herself to emotional outbursts. This was nothing like her.
    “Anna?” I confirm.
    She laughs.
    “Yeah, sorry, I’ve been wanting to talk to you all day and then bam, you called. Crazy isn’t it?”
    “Umm… maybe you should think about switching to decaf,” I tease.
    “Okay, I am a bit pumped, I know. I must sound like a crazy woman, but I have news!” she exclaims, and I can tell over the phone she’s about to burst.
    I lift the cup of tea to my lips and take a sip. I don’t even know what possessed me to make tea in the first place. I mean seriously, it’s like drinking a hot cup of dirty water. Then I remember because we’re out of sweet and glorious coffee, and if I don’t get my caffeine fix soon, someone might die. “So, is this news you want to share, or do you plan on making me guess?”
    “Oh!” She nearly shouts. “I never even thought of that. That’s fun. Yeah, you should guess.”
    “Seriously?” I scoff. “I was kidding.”
    “Oh come one,” she begs. “Where’s my fun loving Kenz?” Playing along might soften the blow of the news I need to give her. Perhaps telling her about Africa while she’s in this mood won’t be so bad after all.
    “I don’t know,” I pause, trying to imagine what could make my mild mannered friend so excited. “You and Holden finally did the deed.”
    There’s a gasp, then, “okay, I’m not sure what to be more appalled by. The fact that you just called it doing the deed or that you think this soon after having a baby, sex is even a thing.”
    “Fine, I suck at this guessing thing, just tell me.”
    “You are absolutely no fun,” she announces boldly.
    “Look,” I grunt. “I’m