Blind Faith - Sharon Sala Page 0,59
She answered.
“Hello.”
“Hello, may I speak to Katrina Delgado?”
“I’m Katrina.”
“Katrina, my name is Wyrick. I’m working for a woman who is looking for a granddaughter she lost touch with. I need to ask you a few questions. Is that okay?”
Katrina’s heart skipped a beat.
“Yes, I guess,” she said.
“Was your mother killed in a car wreck when you were seven?” Wyrick asked.
“Yes. She and my new dad, Andy Delgado, both died.”
“But your name was Sharp?”
“Yes, but I went by Delgado after my mom remarried,” Katrina said.
Wyrick began going down the list of facts that she’d gathered, checking them off.
“And after their deaths, you were put into the foster care system?”
“Yes, in the state of Illinois. I live in Philadelphia now.”
“Is your birthday June 4th, 1994?”
Katrina’s heart was starting to pound.
“Yes, it is.”
“And your mother’s name was Vivian Ray Sharp?”
“Yes.”
Wyrick sighed. “Katrina, your grandmother, Wanda Carrollton, has been looking for you.”
“Oh my gosh!” Katrina said. “Is she my mother’s mother?”
“No, she’s your paternal grandmother. Your father was her only son. Are you interested in reconnecting with her?”
“Yes, oh yes. I don’t have any family,” Katrina said, and started crying. “Where does she live?”
“She lives in Dallas, Texas. It’s where you were born, and where you lived until you were six.”
Katrina was stunned. “I have no memory of any of that.”
“May I give your grandmother your phone number so she can call you? My job was just to find you. However you two decide to begin a relationship or not is for you to decide.”
“Yes, absolutely,” Katrina said. “But tell her to call me in the evening after 6:00 p.m. I work from 5:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at a pancake house, then ride a bus home. I don’t get home until almost 4:00.”
“Yes, I’ll tell her,” Wyrick said.
“What did you say her name was again?” Katrina asked.
“Wanda Carrollton.”
“Wanda. Oh my God! I have a grandmother! I have family! Real family!” Katrina said. “Tell her to call. I’ll be waiting, and thank you! Thank you for finding me!”
“You’re welcome,” Wyrick said, and disconnected.
The timer went off on her casserole. She jumped up from her desk to take it out of the oven, but she was still riding the high from her success. This was the best feeling ever, and as soon as she set the casserole aside to cool, she called Wanda.
She was going to make two women happy tonight. Not a bad day’s work, she thought, as she made the call.
When Wanda answered, Wyrick could hear the television blaring in the background.
“Hello?”
“Wanda, this is Wyrick, calling from Dodge Investigations. I have some news for you.”
“Okay?”
“I found your granddaughter,” Wyrick said, and then heard Wanda squeal.
“Oh Lord, oh Lord...bless you. Is she okay? Does she remember me? Does she want to meet me?”
“Yes, she’s okay. She does want to meet you, and I have her phone number, so you can be the one to reach out to her. But she doesn’t remember anything from her past. The reason you lost touch is that her mother remarried within a year of leaving. Then she and her husband were killed in a traffic accident. Katrina wound up in foster care and was never adopted.”
“Oh no!” Wanda said, and then started to cry. “Where does she live?”
“Philadelphia.” Then Wyrick gave Wanda the phone number and filled her in on the best times to call.
“I’m calling her the minute we hang up,” Wanda said. “How do I pay the final bill?”
“Your retainer covers all of it. Consider yourself paid in full. I wish you and your granddaughter many happy years together.”
“Thank you, Wyrick, thank you.”
“Yes, ma’am. You’re welcome,” Wyrick said, and disconnected.
* * *
Katrina Delgado was still overjoyed from the earlier phone call, so when her phone rang again, she thought twice in one evening was nothing short of a miracle. When it occurred to her that it might be the long-lost grandmother, and then caller ID came up with another out-of-state number, she grabbed it.
“Hello, this is Katrina.”
“Katrina, I’m Wanda Carrollton, your grandmother. I am so very, very happy that you answered my call.”
Katrina dropped down onto the sofa with the phone pressed against her ear, listening to a voice from her past.
“I didn’t know I had a grandmother...or any family at all. Thank you for looking for me,” Katrina said.
Wanda sighed, thinking of all the time they’d lost. “And you are my only living family, too. We have a lot of years to make up for, if you’re willing.”
“Yes, ma’am. I am very willing,” Katrina said.
“Not