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“You have brothers,” Dad said.
“I haven’t met them yet, but I hope to soon.” Darcy searched her parents’ expressions. “Are you angry with me?”
Dad shook his head. “Of course not. You have a right to know where you came from.” He came around the table and pulled her into a warm hug.
Darcy rested her cheek on his shoulder and shuddered as her tears broke free.
“It’s okay,” Dad whispered into her hair. “We knew you’d want to find her someday.”
Darcy held on to her father until he loosened his grip. When she stepped out of his embrace, she found her mother beside her with her arms outstretched. “Mom?” She watched her mom’s expression carefully. “Are you okay?”
“Of course I am.” Mom pulled her in for a hug, and Darcy held on tight.
“Thank you for understanding,” Darcy whispered.
“Of course we understand,” Mom said. “You’re our daughter.”
When her mother released her, Darcy sat down at the table with her parents on either side of her. She wiped her eyes and gathered her thoughts. “I asked her if kidney disease runs in her family, and she said her grandfather had been on dialysis. So now I know it’s hereditary.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Dad said. “But that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll pass it on to any future children.”
“I know,” Darcy said, but the worry still haunted her.
“Did you get photos of her?” Mom asked.
Darcy pulled out her phone. “Yeah. I also have some pictures of her sons.” She opened her photo app, and her parents each put on their reading glasses as she started scrolling through the photos.
“Oh my,” Mom exclaimed. “You look so much alike.”
“I know. And here are my brothers.”
“They definitely look like they’re related to you,” Dad said.
She flipped through photos, and her parents looked with interest. “I would like you to meet her someday. Would that be okay?”
“Of course it would,” Dad said.
“Thank you,” Darcy said.
Mom chuckled. “Honey, she gave birth to you. We’re thankful for that.”
Darcy felt her heart lift and her shoulders loosen.
“I’m going to go check on Carter.” Dad slipped his reading glasses into his pocket. “After you two talk, we can have dessert. Text me when you’re ready for us to come in.”
After her father walked out the door, Darcy held her mother’s hands. “I also realized this morning that today is the two-year anniversary of Jace’s death.” She sniffed. “I’d been so wrapped up in Haven’s shower that the date completely slipped my mind.”
“I thought of that this morning too. Are you okay?” Mom’s blue eyes searched hers.
Darcy swallowed. “I’m not sure how I feel.”
Mom hugged her again. “If you need to cry, it’s okay, sweetie.”
Darcy rested her cheek on her mother’s shoulder and closed her eyes as more memories rained down on her. She had to tuck those feelings away and not reveal them in front of Carter. She wasn’t ready for him to see that side of her. She would cry with her mother and then keep this anniversary to herself.
As her tears broke free, Darcy didn’t know when or if the pain would ever stop. All she knew was that she wasn’t completely ready to let go of Jace.
Chapter26
