She slowly accepted his hand, and he squeezed gently. He wasn’t a monster. He wasn’t unhappy to see her. It looked as if he really cared about her — a stranger. Yes, they were related by blood, but he didn’t know her. Why would he care what happened to her? It was beyond her.
As if he could read her mind, he continued, “I know I’m a stranger to you, but I hope to change that. I hope that we can get to know each other, be a real family.”
Misty looked into his kind green eyes and let herself cry. She’d fought it, but she couldn’t any longer, and she shed a mixture of happy and sad tears, happy because this man she’d been so afraid to meet was far from a monster, and sad because she’d gone her whole life without knowing him.
No one could be such a great actor. And what would be the purpose? She had nothing to offer him. This had to be real. It had to be.
Sierra joined her husband’s side. “I am so excited to have a sister. I want to learn everything about you.” She beamed at Misty with eyes just as kind as her husband’s. “I wrote you the letter because my husband started and stopped about a thousand times. We didn’t want to frighten you away, but really wanted you to know that we couldn’t be happier that you have been found. You’re family.”
“Thank you,” Misty was finally able to say. It probably sounded lame, but no other words would come out. She was too choked with emotion.
“We don’t expect you to do much talking,” Damien said. “We were waiting for you to get off the flight, and when the ambulance showed up, I nearly had a heart attack and joined you in the back. We came right over, and I have a doctor here who’s a friend, and he let me know where you were. I just couldn’t rest until I knew you’d be okay. If you’re up to it, then we’ll just sit with you for a while.” His words tumbled out as if from nervousness.
“I’d like that,” Misty replied, her trembling body finally relaxing. Why had she been so anxious? There was nothing to be afraid of. Yes, they might not end up being the best of friends, but maybe they would grow close. Maybe she’d really found a family who would love her. And who would want all the love she was so willing to give away.
“Good. You are so beautiful, just beautiful,” Sierra said. “Your eyes are the exact same as Damien’s. It’s amazing.” She sported a wide grin on her face as she looked from Damien to Misty and back again.
Damien grinned too. “My eyes have always been my favorite feature. Now, I know why. I must have somehow known that they were a connection to you,” he told Misty, making her practically glow.
“I’ve always liked the color of my eyes, too,” she said, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment. She didn’t normally like anything about herself — and on the rare occasion that she did, she never admitted it.
“It must be some sibling telepathy or something,” Damien said, making Misty smile again.
“Thank you for inviting me here, for wanting to meet,” Misty said. “It was a very nice plane ride.”
“Well, until the part where she passed out,” Bryson piped up.
“Yeah, that must have been hell on you, actually seeing it,” Damien said, turning toward Bryson for the first time. “I’m sorry. I’ve been so focused on Misty that I’ve been rude. It’s been a long time,” he said, sticking out his hand.
“Yes, it has. It’s good to see you, Damien.”
“You, as well.”
They all chatted for a while — maybe an hour. Misty didn’t know. Time had ceased having any meaning, and she didn’t want the night to end, even if she was stuck in a sterile room on a hard bed. Despite everything, she’d never had a more perfect night, not even when she met Brad Paisley; nor had she ever laughed so much. Her stomach was actually developing a cramp.
“Which room is it? Are you all incompetent? I have a relative to visit.”
All heads turned as a loud voice echoed down the corridor and Damien jumped up. “I’d better save the nursing staff,” he said with a chuckle. “Joseph, down here,” he called out from the doorway.
“Well, there you are, boy,” Joseph called back, and then Joseph was standing before her again. Oh, my. She’d forgotten in just a few days how intimidating he was, standing well over six feet tall with shoulders that seemed to stretch on forever. Luckily, the well-trimmed white beard and mustache softened his appearance. “I don’t understand why it took so long for someone to call me. I was waiting for little Misty to arrive, and then I get a phone call saying she had an incident on the plane. It was like pulling teeth to get any information,” he said, his voice lowering as he approached her bed.
“Joseph, she’s Magnolia for now,” Damien said with a meaningful look.
Joseph’s tone quieted. “I’m sorry, Magnolia. I won’t make that mistake again,” he said, and he seemed honestly grieved over his mistake. Mistakes like that could cost everything they’d done to protect her.
“I’m fine,” she said. All this fuss was beginning to make her uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry, darling. I didn’t mean to scare you with all my bluster. I was just worried, that’s all,” he said as he scooted Bryson out of his chair and took a seat. Bryson laughed at the old man’s antics.
“Everyone is fussing over nothing. I just…got dehydrated is all,” Misty said, not wanting them to know she’d panicked at the thought of actually meeting her brother face-to-face. She was grateful when they let her get away with her half-truth.
“It’s never nothing when you have to go to the hospital,” Joseph told her, “but they will take real good care of you here. If not, they have to answer to me, and I’m not pleasant to deal with when I’m unhappy.” He issued that warning just as the doctor walked into the room.
“I can vouch for that, Joseph,” the man said.
Joseph chuckled and leaned back. “How’s our girl doing?”
“Her vitals have improved greatly. She’ll be ready to go home in the morning.”
Everyone breathed a lot easier.
“It’s good to see you still do a fine job here, Carson,” Joseph said, and he stood up and patted the doctor on the back.
Misty’s eyes were growing heavy, but she was afraid that if she went to sleep, they’d all disappear and she’d lose them forever. It would be so much more painful now that she’d had a taste of what having a family was all about.