Don't Say a Word - Barbara Freethy [34]
"Maybe that's true," she said, deciding not to tell him about the photo for now. "Do you know anything about her life before she met you, or before she had me?"
He thought for a moment. "Let's see. I must know something."
"That's what I thought, too, but then I realized I didn't know much."
Gino frowned, his eyes reflective. "I know Sarah went to college at Northwestern near Chicago. She said she lived over a coffee shop on University Avenue. That's when she picked up her caffeine habit. She mentioned something about a roommate named…" He pursed his lips as he thought. "What was her name? Jackie. Yes, I think it was Jackie."
"I thought she went to college in New York," Julia said in surprise. "The only thing she ever told me about her past was that she was born in Buffalo and lived in upstate New York most of her life. She said she came to California after college to visit a friend and never went home." | "I don't believe it was after college but much later. Sarah mentioned that she came here for a friend's wedding when you were three years old. She loved it so much she never left. And she said you did much better in the California climate. Something about allergies."
"I don't have allergies."
"I guess they improved when you got here."
"I thought I was born in Berkeley. She said we lived in Berkeley." Julia shook her head in confusion. Why were such simple facts so convoluted?
"You were living in Berkeley when I met you," Gino said. "That's true."
But how long had they been in Berkeley? Her mother had married Gino when Julia was four and a half years old. "Tell me again about your first meeting," she said, knowing the story, but wondering if she'd missed something in the details.
"Sarah brought you into the restaurant. She had met Lucia at a fabric store, in some workshop on draperies or something. They both loved to sew. Lucia told her about the restaurant, so Sarah brought you over one day to see the lobsters. You were a pretty little girl. I think I fell in love with both of you at the same time," he said with a warm, loving smile. "Lucia suggested that I let Sarah make up some new curtains and tablecloths for the cafe. I agreed. Three months later we were married. I thank God Lucia met Sarah and brought her to me. She was my angel." His voice caught, and he wiped his hand across his eyes. "I'd never met a woman who wanted to give up her whole life for me."
"What do you mean?" Julia asked, struck by his words. "What did she give up?"
"Well…" He thought for a moment. "She gave up her friends in Berkeley, and when I told her I wanted to have another child and have her stay home, she readily agreed. I don't know if I can explain it, Julia. Sarah just became an integral part of my life. And selfishly I never questioned her devotion or her lack of friends and family away from me. I was happy that we never had any conflicts about where to spend the holidays." He paused, letting out a small sigh. "I know you want to ask me about your biological father."
"Not because I don't have a terrific father," she assured him. "And it's really not about him-whoever he is. It's about my mother, and my grandparents. I don't even know their names. I don't know if they're still alive or what they did for a living or if they ever wanted to see me. I feel like I should know that much."
"Henry and Susan Davis," he said abruptly. "Those are your grandparents' names."
Her heart skipped a beat. "How do you know that?"
"Sarah told me. I don't really remember why or what we were discussing at the time."
"But Mom went by the last name of Gregory before she married you. How did she get from Davis to Gregory?"
Gino stared back at her, puzzlement in his eyes. "I don't know. I suppose I could be wrong. Maybe your grandparents' last name was Gregory and not Davis. I'm not sure, Julia.