Free Most Precious Blood by Susan Beth Pfeffer Page A

herself, so my parents offered to adopt. And that’s why I’m Malcolm Scott and not Joe Bloke.”
    â€œMaybe that’s what your mother meant,” Kit said. “In her letter.”
    Val shook her head. “Mama didn’t know anything about me,” she said. “She called me a gift. Like I was something my father went to a store and bought.”
    â€œI don’t know anything about your father,” Malcolm said. “But that’s just not how adoptions work. At least not legal adoptions.”
    â€œSo how can you be sure it was legal?” Val asked. “Maybe it wasn’t.”
    â€œJamey’s your father’s lawyer, right?” Malcolm said. “He wouldn’t let one of his clients do anything like that, would he, Kit.”
    â€œWhat exactly did Caroline say to you?” Kit asked.
    â€œYou must know,” Val said. “You must have heard it too. Where I came from was the hot topic in school today.”
    â€œI don’t understand any of this,” Malcolm said. “I can see where people would be interested to find out someone’s adopted, especially if they didn’t know. I never told a lot of people, and when anyone found out, I had to go through the inquisition all over again. But nobody speculated about where I came from. Not even me. At least not in public.”
    Val stared at her glass of lemonade. “I hate lemonade,” she said. “Why did you bring me any?”
    â€œSorry,” Kit said. “I forgot.” She moved the glass away from Val.
    â€œCastaladi,” Malcolm said. “Isn’t there a crime family named Castaladi?”
    â€œMy father’s a businessman,” Val said. “He owns a construction business.”
    Malcolm turned to Kit. “What kind of law does your father do, anyway?”
    â€œHe won’t end up on the Supreme Court, if that’s what you’re asking,” Kit replied.
    Malcolm grinned. “When I came out east to college, my parents warned me about the sorts of people I’d meet,” he said. “But I’ve got to say, the two of you look pretty harmless.”
    â€œMy father is not a criminal,” Val said. “All my life I’ve had to put up with whispers. Kit knows what it’s been like. Half the girls at Most Precious Blood won’t have anything to do with me. Her either, for that matter, just because her father’s my father’s lawyer.”
    â€œThat stinks,” Malcolm said. “Why’d your parents put up with that?”
    Val fell silent.
    â€œI don’t think Val’s mother understood what it was like,” Kit replied slowly. “She was really kind of sheltered, mostly did things with her family. And Val’s father took those kinds of slights for granted. I think he assumed it was part of getting a good education.”
    â€œAnd your parents?” Malcolm asked.
    â€œIt drove my mother crazy,” Kit said. “Among other things. And Pop just figures if Kevin and I are the best, the world will come to us in due course.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Malcolm said. “There was one kid I knew who used to really go at me because I was adopted. Claimed that meant for sure I was illegitimate, which I assume I am, but what’s the big deal. He called me a bastard once too often, and I broke his nose.”
    â€œReally?” Kit asked.
    Malcolm grinned. “The only time in my life I ever got into a fight,” he said. “Lucky punch. My parents were hysterical. I wasn’t allowed TV for two weeks, but it was worth it. At least he stopped calling me a bastard where I could hear him.”
    â€œThat’s what Michelle said I was,” Val said. “My father’s bastard, who he just brought home for my mother to raise.”
    â€œI don’t think so,” Kit said. “Rick always seemed to love your mother. I can’t see him cheating on her like