Bloodlines by Dinah McCall Page A

called you when it all started,” she said.
    â€œWhen what all started, dear?” Anna said, then jumped up from the sofa. “Wait! Before you start, I’ll get us something to drink.”
    â€œNo, no, thank you,” Olivia said. “Maybe later. We need to talk in case the reporters start calling you, although I can’t think why they would.”
    Reporters? Suddenly, Olivia had all of Anna’s attention. The old woman sat back down, then folded her hands in her lap.
    â€œWhy would reporters be calling me, dear?”
    â€œThey shouldn’t, but that doesn’t mean they won’t. Grampy and I both agreed that you should be warned of the possibility.”
    â€œOf what?” Anna asked.
    â€œAbout a week ago, a man found the remains of a small child…a girl…in a suitcase in the wall of a house up at Texoma. The police are trying to connect it to us because the baby was born with three thumbs.”
    Anna paled, then reeled, as if she’d been slapped.
    â€œA baby? In a suitcase? Good Lord! That’s appalling.” Then she added, “But I’m not sure I understand. I know having three thumbs is unusual, but yours can’t be the only family where that happens.”
    â€œYes, but there are other complications.”
    â€œLike what?” Anna asked.
    â€œThe coroner claims that the remains are abouttwenty-five years old, which is when I was kidnapped. And with the timeline, the age of the girl and the three thumbs…well…the long and short of it is, we had to submit to DNA testing to prove that I’m me and not someone else.” Then her chin quivered, and her eyes filled with tears. “Oh, Nanna, I know it’s silly, but I’m scared. What if I’m not Grampy’s real granddaughter? What if that poor dead baby is the real one?”
    Anna’s chin jutted, and her voice grew rough in anger as she grabbed Olivia’s hands.
    â€œNow, you listen to me. That’s foolish, and you know it. DNA or not, you’re Marcus Sealy’s granddaughter. I’ve seen the pictures. You’ve seen the pictures. I can’t believe you’d think for one minute that you don’t belong. Sealy blood runs in your veins. Now straighten up and act like it!”
    Olivia had expected sympathy, not a scolding. For a moment she was too taken aback to react, but when she did, she managed a crooked smile.
    â€œOh, Nanna…I miss you. I came because I thought I needed sympathy, but as always, you gave me exactly what I need, which was an attitude adjustment.”
    As Olivia threw her arms around Anna’s neck, Anna shuddered, then held her close.
    â€œIt’s all right, sweetheart. Your Nanna is here. I didn’t mean to sound so angry, but I won’t have you doubting yourself. Not ever.”
    â€œYou’re right,” Olivia said. “No more doubts. Now, about that cold drink…”
    Anna leaned back, staring intently into Olivia’s face, as if searching for truth. Whatever she saw inOlivia’s eyes seemed to satisfy her. She smiled, then patted Olivia’s cheek.
    â€œI have iced tea…sweet, like you like it.”
    â€œSounds great,” Olivia said. “I’ll help.”
    Anna grunted as she got up, wincing slightly from the pain in her knee as she stood.
    Olivia saw the pain on Anna’s face and frowned.
    â€œAre you all right?” she asked.
    â€œI’m fine, just fine,” Anna said. “It’s just my old bones.”
    Olivia shuddered. The reference to old bones was too vivid a reminder of why she’d come. She shoved the thought out of her mind and put her arm around Anna’s shoulders.
    â€œI’m sorry it’s been so long since we’ve last visited,” she said. “Let’s go get that tea.”
    Anna grinned as they moved toward her tiny kitchen. It felt good to still be needed.
    At Anna’s insistence, Olivia sat