His Wife. Muriel Jensen

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СКАЧАТЬ used the library as an office. In a corner was a small wet bar and a coffeepot.

      “Ah. Here they are.” Killian pulled cups out from under the counter as China Grant stood uncertainly at their arrival. Killian had apparently already introduced himself, and Sawyer could only guess from the hospitable act of coffee-making that his brother had decided she was worth listening to.

      Sawyer introduced Campbell. “He’s the youngest brother. Killian and I are Abigail’s half brothers, from our father’s first wife, but Campbell is her full sibling. Still, we’re all very close and none of us notices that we aren’t all full-blooded relations.” He sent Campbell a look that told him to keep his personal confusion about his place in the family to himself.

      She offered her hand. “Hello,” she said in a warm, quiet voice. “I’m China Grant. That is, that’s who I’ve been for twenty-five years. I’m not sure who I was for the fourteen months before that.”

      Campbell shook her hand politely, but didn’t bother to hide his skepticism. “What makes you think you’re our sister?”

      “I found these things….” She pointed to the box she’d carried in. The name China was printed on the lid in broad-tipped black pen. “I did a little research about your family and thought…I might be related.”

      “Why?”

      Killian encouraged China to sit on the sofa and took the other end of it. Sawyer saw him send Campbell a look that told him to show a little courtesy.

      Campbell held his stare without flinching as he sat in a chair opposite the sofa. Sawyer sat in the matching chair.

      China removed the lid from the box, pulled out several yellowed newspaper clippings and handed them to Killian. She folded her hands as she watched him scan them.

      “They’re all stories of your sister’s kidnapping,” she said. “I can’t imagine why my parents would have saved them in my box if they didn’t relate to me.”

      Killian’s expression grew grim as he passed one clipping to Sawyer and perused another.

      “Then,” China went on, pulling a pair of light blue corduroy rompers out of the box, “there’re these.” She exposed the label sewn into the back of them. It was the same label Abbott Mills’s children’s wear division used today. Abbott Mills Baby, with a lamb curled atop the double L. In the logo for the company’s other products, a sheep stood on the double L.

      “We sold millions of those,” Campbell challenged. “Anybody could…”

      But Sawyer had a nebulous memory of a favorite pair of rompers the nanny always put on Abby because of their durability and the baby’s high-speed crawl. The knees were reinforced with star-shaped patches.

      China held the garment up by the straps, the patches worn, two corners of one star unraveled.

      Sawyer’s heart slammed against his aching ribs.

      Killian took the rompers from her and studied them, frowning with concentration.

      “I remember them,” Sawyer said softly.

      Killian nodded. “I think I do, too.” He ran a hand over the knee patches. “She used to crawl everywhere,” he said, lost in his thoughts. “None of our stuff was safe from her.” He passed the garment to Sawyer.

      “I repeat,” Campbell said firmly, “that Abbott Mills made thousands of grosses of those.”

      “I’ll bet,” China said, lifting something else out of the box, “that there aren’t thousands of grosses of these.” She drew out a rag doll wearing a miniature pair of the same rompers, with the same star patches. The doll had obviously been specially made, with style and skill. It had painted eyes, cheeks and lips, and elegantly embroidered eyelashes. Brown yarn hair was woven into long braids.

      “I think…Chloe made this,” Killian whispered. “Abby carried it with her all the time.”

      Campbell crossed the room to take the doll from him. “How can you be so certain this is the same doll? It was twenty-five years ago.”

      “I’m not certain,” Killian said. He looked startled, even a little shaken. “But I think there’s enough here that bears investigating.”

      “Okay,” Campbell said. “All we need for proof is a DNA test.”

      Killian put a hand to his forehead. “Yeah, but Mom’s worried about Tante Bijou at the moment, and I hate to further upset her with the news that a woman who might be her daughter has come to Shepherd’s Knoll. She won’t want to leave Tante Bijou, but she’ll be frantic—Her aunt raised her,” he explained to China, “and she’s in very poor health. Mom’s very worried about her.”

      “Then don’t tell her,” China said in a reasonable tone, packing up her box again. “Wait until she comes home. The last thing I want to do is cause her pain. I’ll leave you my address and phone number in L.A.—”

      “No, wait.” Killian stood, looking pensive. He went to the counter to pour coffee. “Let’s think this through.”

      “Couldn’t we just do the test with me?” Campbell asked. “If she is my full sibling—”

      “No.” Sawyer didn’t like that idea. “Mom should be here before we do anything. She was here when Abby was lost, and she should be in on finding her. If she is Abby.”

      “And if she isn’t?” Campbell demanded impatiently. “Mom gets to grieve all over again? Let’s just do it. Then we’ll know and we’ll spare Mom the pain if she’s lying.”

      “I’m not lying!” China denied with a glower at Campbell. Then her expression softened as she looked to Killian and Sawyer. “I may be wrong about who I am, but I’m not lying. I’m sorry this is hard on all of you. I don’t mean it to be. I just don’t know how else to learn the truth.” She handed Killian a business card and stood.

      Taught Chloe’s European manners very young, all the brothers stood with her.

      “You should stay,” Killian said. “We happen to have a houseful at the moment, but they’ll all be gone tomorrow. We’ll find someplace to put you tonight.”

      “Killian!” Campbell said in complete exasperation. “What are you talking about? You don’t know any—”

      “It’ll be good for her to stay,” Killian repeated. “You’ll get to know each other.”

      “I don’t have time to get to know anybody. I have too much to do already.”

      “I’d be happy to earn my keep,” China put in quietly.

      “There you go, Cam!” Killian was warming to the whole idea. “You’re always telling me that you could use staff to manage the estate. China can help you while she’s here.”

      “But—”

      “I think it’s a great idea, too,” Sawyer put in.

      Campbell groaned, predictably exasperated.

      “Are СКАЧАТЬ