“Well… I don’t know for sure. I was left at an orphanage and this was in the blanket with me.” She pulled the postcard out of her jacket pocket and handed ittohim.
“Let’s go into my office,” he said. “Can I offer you something to drink? Usually my secretary is here to do that, but I always give her the week before Christmas off. I only keep the office open foremergencies.”
“I’m fine,thankyou.”
“This isn’t much to go on,” he said as he studied thepostcard.
“I know, but it’s allIhave.”
“I don’t think I can help you. This doesn’t even haveaname.”
She leaned forward. “I know. I was hoping someone might remember a pregnant woman who disappeared for a while and came back without a baby. I know it’s astretch.”
“Things were different back then. If she’d been an unwed mother, she would have been ostracized. Her parents might have sent her away to havethebaby.”
“Do you remember anything like that happening to one of the residents? Hank said you’ve lived here a long time,”shesaid.
“HankGrant?”
“Yes, I’m staying at the Curvy Bear Ranch Bed andBreakfast.”
“Good man. Good family. I was friends with his parents for over thirty years. It was a damn shame that they died before they got to see their grandkids. I wish I could help you, but with nothing to go on, there’s not much I can do,”hesaid.
“Okay,thankyou.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be of any help.” He stood. “Was thereanythingelse?”
“No,” shemumbled.
As she left the room, her leaden feet refused to cooperate. She stumbled, then rightedherself.
“Are you okay?” heasked.
“I’ll be fine. I went this long without knowing. Maybe I can find the information another way.” She tried to infuse hope into her voice, butfailed.
“Take care,” he said as he ushered her out thefrontdoor.
A blast of icy wind curled into her lungs. She coughed as she crossed the street. At least she’d be warm in the diner. Maybe then she could figure out what todonext.
As she entered the restaurant, the scent of greasy burgers filled the air. While the waitress led her to a booth, she eyed the food on the plates in front of the other patrons. She’d been too nervous to eat earlier, but now she couldn’t wait to cram a handful of French fries intoherface.
“I’ll have a bacon burger with seasoned fries…” For a second she considered ordering an unsweetened iced tea.Screw it.“And a large chocolatemilkshake.”
After the waitress left, Carol pulled the postcard out and set it on the table. She’d studied the clue on and off for years, but it was useless. She’d never even considered trying to find the person who’d abandoned her until she’d transformed into a bear. If they didn’t want her as a baby, they sure as hell wouldn’t wanthernow.
The waitress returned with the milkshake just as the bell over the front door rang. Hank walked in. When he spotted her, he smiled andhurriedover.
“How did it go?” heasked.
“He couldn’t tell meanything.”
“I’m sorry,” he said while covering her handwithhis.
She fought back a sea of tears. She didn’t want to lose it in the middle of the restaurant, and she certainly didn’t want to turn into a blubbering woman in front of the sexycowboy.
As she struggled to compose herself, the door chimed again. A grizzled man—probably in his early seventies—ambled in. His watery gaze scanned the room and passed her for a second beforewhippingback.
“I’ll be dammed.” He shuffled toward her. “You look just like VictoriaFuller.”
