it will bring you the happiness you deserve.”
I pull away from him, worried I will ruin his suit with the tears I’m struggling to hold in. “Bill, please. I’ve cried too much lately. I don’t want you to set me off too.”
“Come on, Ana. You can do this. I’ll be here to hold your hand.” When he shows me his arm, I put my arm through his, only too glad to let him lead the way in to the station.
“Got room for another there, Bill?” I turn and find Jessie following behind.
“Of course. Who wouldn’t want to have two beautiful, young ladies on each arm? It would be my pleasure.”
Jessie grabs his other arm, then we all stroll in together. When Tom spies us, he pats David on the shoulder. “Lookie here, if it isn’t Hugh Hefner in da house.”
Jessie and I turn to Bill, and we each give him a kiss on the cheek. Bill seems to be loving every minute of it as he grins like the cat that’s got the cream.
“See, boys, that’s where you two are going wrong. You need to treat ladies the way they deserve to be treated. Maybe you could learn a lesson or two.”
Tom quickly retorts in his typical, big mouth way. “Yeah, I’m all for that, if the woman in question is a lady.” Jessie and I gasp as David gives Tom a high five.
“Little assholes,” Jessie mutters as she storms off.
“Oh, dear, I think she may be a little pissed at you Tom,” David says, a smile splitting his face.
“Well, I think I had better leave. If I stand here close to you two any longer, I’ll end up catching a disease. Excuse me, fellas.”
I make my way past, knowing that they’re watching me, smiling with my head held high. I know full well Bill is about the rip them each a new one.
At my desk, I can’t help but stare at Jake’s door. The pain in my stomach churns, but I will myself to concentrate on work and try to move on.
A hand is suddenly placed on mine. I look across to see Jessie offering me an encouraging smile. “You can do this.”
I nod, thanking her. A few hours later, I’m also thanking my lucky stars that I haven’t had to look at Jake’s face despite being at work for a few hours now. He obviously doesn’t want to see me as much as I don’t want to see him.
Luckily, my workload hasn’t been overwhelming since Tony and those burglars were caught. Not sure how long that will last, but I’m grateful for it now. I am also grateful for the distraction my job provides, and by the end of the day, I’m glad I chose to come back to work.
After thinking about everything that has happened the last few days, I change gears and think about the trip being planned. I spare a few minutes to look on the internet, and I find a government website where I can order my birth certificate. I punch in my name and my mother’s name, but nothing comes up. I think for a little while then decide to try it under my father’s name, Terence Jacobs. It searches for a few seconds, but soon I have a hit.
I look at the details listed, and everything looks right. My name, date of birth, my father’s name and place of birth, but the mother’s name is wrong. It says Anabelle Lucia Jacobs, nee Thompson. I scroll down to find out more details, and my heart stops at what I find. The words jump out at me like a jack-in-the-box.
Died in childbirth.
I burst up out of my seat, causing Jessie to jump.
“Ana, what the hell?”
I stare into space for a while, unsure of myself, but then I realize what I must do. “I have to go out for a little while.”
I storm over to Jake’s office door and barge my way in. Jake looks up, surprised, but he seems pleased to see me. “Ana, are you okay?”
I walk over to the chair opposite his desk and grip it tightly. “I want the address of my mother. Where is she?”
He looks at me confused. “Ana, I—”
I stop him before he can say anymore. “Jake, just give me the address I need to see her. Right now.”
Noting my urgency, he grabs a pen and writes the address on a sticky note then hands it to me. It’s an address in Reston, so thankfully not too far.
“Can