The Truth About Rachel by Deanna Sletten (recommended reading .TXT) 📕

and your name are the same on this certificate, right down to the hour and minute of birth, except your last name isn’t Arden; it’s Parnell. The seal on this birth certificate is two months after your actual birth date.”

Rachel’s mind spun as she tried to piece the truth together. If all this was true, Aunt Julie was her real mother, and Judith Parnell was her aunt. That meant that Julie had given her up. But why?

“It looks like Julie Arden was twenty when you were born,” Gladys said. “Maybe she wasn’t ready to be a mother. Maybe she and Gordon weren’t ready to marry. Whatever the reason, it looks like her sister adopted you, then a few years later, Julie regretted it.”

Rachel stared at the paperwork, trying to absorb all the new information. If this was true, it would answer so many questions. This was why her DNA placed Keith as a half-sibling or first cousin. And Judith would be related to her, but not as her mother.

“This is so hard to believe,” Rachel finally said. “But it makes sense, too. It’s a lot to take in, though.”

Gladys patted her arm. “I’m sorry, dear. I know this must be difficult. Everything you thought was true has been turned upside-down. But this might help to unravel your case.”

“How do you mean?” Rachel asked.

“I talked to Avery earlier. He said Jeremy won’t let you see the evidence. But now, with what we know about your parentage, you can prove you’re Rachel Parnell by getting a DNA test from your true mother, Julie.”

Her true mother, Julie. Those words hit Rachel hard. This was the truth her Aunt Julie had wanted to keep secret. Ever since her memory had been failing, all Julie could talk about were secrets. She hadn’t wanted Rachel to learn she’d given her up once.

“Are you okay?” Gladys asked, looking concerned.

Rachel shook her head to clear it. “I’m just trying to sort this all out. I need to talk to Avery so we can decide what we should do next.” She stood. “Thank you so much for finding this information. I don’t know what I would have done without your help.”

Gladys stood and took off her reading glasses. “It was a pleasure, dear. It’s time the truth came out. If I can do anything else, let me know.”

Rachel slipped the documents into the file folder and headed out of the building. As she opened the doors, she was shocked to see a crowd of people standing on the top step. Someone pushed a microphone into her face.

“Is it true you claim to be Rachel Parnell, the little girl murdered thirty-five years ago?” the woman wearing too much makeup and a blue suit asked her.

Rachel blinked from the bright lights, and a flood of flashbulbs went off with everyone screaming at her at once as microphones were shoved in her direction.

Chapter Eleven

Rachel stood, stunned by what was happening. Questions were coming at her from all sides as lights blinded her. She raised her hand up to shade her eyes. Where had all these reporters come from? How did they find her?

Jeremy suddenly appeared beside her, having come from the City Hall door. “No comment!” he yelled at the many journalists who continued to barrage Rachel with questions. “And get off the steps! This is city property.”

He wrapped his arm around the stunned Rachel and pulled her back into City Hall, clicking the lock on the door behind them. The crowd outside grumbled but did as they were told, moving down off the stairs.

Jeremy faced Rachel. “What the hell was that all about?”

“I don’t know. I walked outside, and there they were. I have no idea where they came from,” Rachel said, still stunned.

Jeremy waved for her to follow him, and he unlocked the door that led into the offices. She followed him past Gladys’s desk as the older woman stared at her, shocked. They took the short hallway into the police station and headed for his office.

Rachel fell into one of the chairs across from Jeremy’s desk. Jeremy went out a moment and came back with a can of Coke.

“Here. You look like you could use a stiff drink, but this is the best we can do,” he said, setting it in front of her.

Automatically, Rachel snapped it open and took a sip. Her mind was trying to register what had happened.

“Now. Do you want to tell me why you called the press? Did you think this was going to force me to show you the evidence?” Jeremy asked, his face tight with anger.

“Me?” Rachel yelled, the shock finally wearing off. “I didn’t call the press.”

Jeremy sat up straight, nervously tapping his fingers on the desk. “From the deer-in-the-headlights look on your face a moment ago, I’m inclined to believe you. But it doesn’t matter who called them. What matters is now this case is going to be splashed all over the headlines, and I’m the one who’ll have to deal with it.”

Rachel watched him, noting that he was clearly upset over this. She wondered why having the press dig into this case bothered him so much.

“What is going on over at City Hall?” Avery asked, rushing into Jeremy’s office. He kneeled next to Rachel. “Are you okay? We had the television on at the newspaper, and suddenly I saw your face splashed all over it.”

“I’m okay, now,” she said, getting her bearings back. “But it scared the crap out of me. Where did they all come from so quickly?”

Jeremy narrowed his eyes and pointed at Avery. “You! It was you, wasn’t it?”

“Me?” Avery asked, standing up. “Why would I call the press?”

“Because you have access to the right people. You used to work in L.A. You’d be able to pull this together quickly.”

Rachel looked up at Avery. “Did you do this?” she asked softly.

Avery’s eyes met hers. “No. I didn’t have anything to do with it. I promise.”

She nodded. She had to trust someone, and