Free Most Precious Blood by Susan Beth Pfeffer Page B

that, let alone making her raise his kid without even telling her.”
    â€œMaybe your father hired a surrogate to have a child,” Malcolm suggested. “She could have been impregnated by artificial insemination. It’s a little strange that he didn’t tell your mother, but it was probably legal. Jamey might well have handled the paperwork.”
    Val thought about it. “Do you realize that’s the best possible explanation?” she said. “That’s how pathetic things are right now, that I’m relieved at the thought he hired a surrogate without telling Mama.”
    â€œAre there other alternatives?” Malcolm asked. “Besides your cousin Michelle’s version.”
    â€œPlenty,” Val said. “At least according to Caroline.” She felt better knowing there was another explanation, one without violence or betrayal. “The girls at school think maybe I was kidnapped. Snatched so my parents could have a child to raise. Or maybe they had my parents killed.” She felt tears welling in her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she said. “It’s just I always knew who my parents were, and now I don’t know anything anymore.”
    Kit ran to the kitchen and brought back an unopened box of tissues. Val tore it open, and pulled a tissue out. It felt strange to cry in front of Malcolm, but she knew it was okay. He was a trusty. Kit said so.
    â€œDo your parents love you?” Malcolm asked her.
    Val nodded.
    â€œThen it can’t be too bad,” Malcolm said. “Whatever the explanation is, I’m sure it’s all perfectly legal.”
    â€œDo you think so?” Val asked Kit. “You know my father. Do you think he could have just stolen me?”
    â€œI can’t answer that,” Kit said. “I don’t have as high an opinion of parents as the two of you do. They’re just adults with children, and adults do strange things.”
    â€œYou’re wrong,” Val said. “Not about your parents maybe, but about mine. Daddy’s a businessman. He’s not responsible for what his father used to do, what his brother might do. He builds buildings. He’s built half the condos in this town. He doesn’t kill people or kidnap them, and I won’t have anyone saying otherwise.”
    â€œGood,” Malcolm said. “That’s settled. Now maybe we should talk about other things.”
    But before they had a chance to find something safe to talk about, the doorbell rang. Kit got up and answered it.
    â€œI need to talk to Val. Connie told me she was here.”
    It was Terry. “I’m in here,” Val called from the living room. Terry followed Kit in.
    â€œI’ve never been in here before,” Terry said. “It’s a nice house, Kit.”
    â€œThank you,” Kit said. “Terry, this is my cousin Malcolm. Malcolm, this is Terry Bellini. She’s Val’s father’s cousin’s wife.
    â€œPleased to meet you,” Malcolm said, getting up. Terry nodded at him.
    â€œWe need to talk, Val,” Terry said.
    â€œWe can talk here,” Val replied. “Malcolm and Kit know what’s going on.”
    â€œMichelle went a little crazy yesterday,” Terry said. “Because of Sunday. She was upset about Sunday.”
    Val examined Terry closely. She could see the remnants of a bruised eye under the heavy makeup. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I should have come over the way you wanted.”
    â€œThat’s water under the bridge,” Terry replied. “What’s important now is you.”
    Terry had been her mother’s matron of honor, Val thought. Terry was one of who knew how many people in on her parents’ secret. Hell, Michelle had learned it from Terry and Bob. All the Castaladis knew, and so did her mother’s whole family. For sixteen years, they’d managed to keep it a secret from her.
    â€œI’m all