*****

Catherine sat at Tony’s grand desk. It wasn’t like he’d be sitting there anytime soon. Thanks to his kind provisions in his absence, Catherine Marie London was listed as executor of Anthony Rawlings’ estate and anything related to it. The title came with a nice trust fund. That money plus the large sum she’d accumulated over the years left her more than financially solvent.

It took almost twenty-five years, but Marie had finally fulfilled Nathaniel’s desire. She was finally the lady of the manor. Maybe her name wasn’t Rawls, but that didn’t matter. Nathaniel told her many times how he wanted her to live, and it wasn’t as Anton’s housekeeper. Catherine Marie leaned back against the plush leather and scanned the grand office. There was no doubt; the room was much more regal from this perspective.

Catherine opened the drawer on the lower right, to inspect Anton’s private files. She fingered the tabs... in this paperless world it surprised her he’d kept these printed documents. Thankfully, the ICPD hadn’t felt the need to confiscate them as evidence.

She eyed the scribed names. There were so many. How could she figure out which one was her daughter? Catherine saw her own name. Maybe there was a clue in there. When she opened the file, she feared her heart would stop pumping. The writing wasn’t Anton’s. Catherine knew his writing well enough to duplicate it easily. This writing was Nathaniel’s.

Scribbled in the margin of a contract was the name Sophia Rossi. Catherine went through the drawer again. The only Sophia was Sophia Burke. Suddenly she no longer remembered her husband’s love, she remembered his vendetta. Burke? Burke? There was no way her daughter could be connected to Jonathon Burke.

Catherine removed the Sophia Burke file and opened the folder. Above the typed name Sophia Rossi, was the scribbled name Sophia Rossi Burke... Catherine searched the pages. There was a plethora of outdated information. Nonetheless, written above the text on the second page was a telephone number. Catherine couldn’t resist. She used the blocked house phone.

Derek answered his wife’s cellphone. The past few weeks were too much. She wasn’t up for solicitors or blocked numbers. “Hello?”

Catherine hesitated, questioning the correctness of the number. She expected a woman’s voice. “I’m sorry, I’m looking for the beautiful baby girl I was forced to give away thirty-three years ago.”

Derek listened. Sophia had said she didn’t want to know her birth parents. Nevertheless, this may be their only chance to learn the truth. “I’m sorry; my wife is indisposed right now. She’s had a difficult few weeks.”

“Yes, that’s the reason I’m calling. I never wanted to interfere with her and her adoptive parents. But now....” Catherine wasn’t sure how to finish that sentence. Now she was lonely and wanted to at least meet her daughter? Now she thought her daughter might be more open to learning about her birth mother? Now she had nothing better to do...

Thankfully she didn’t need to finish the sentence. Derek interjected. “Tell me the date you gave birth.”

Catherine sat taller. Who was this man demanding information? She sure as hell wasn’t intimidated. She’d loved Nathaniel Rawls and outlasted Anton Rawls... this man was nothing in comparison. However, she answered, “July 19, 1980.”

Catherine heard muffled voices. Then a woman’s voice, “Please, don’t call again. My parents are dead. I don’t know you.”

Marie sat straighter. Of course she deserved this response. Nonetheless, part of reasoned maybe she could fill a void left by the death of her daughter’s adoptive parents. If nothing else, she could look out for the young woman from afar, as Anton and Nathaniel had done. “I’m sorry, I won’t call you again.”

Resolutely, the young woman swallowed her emotions. “Wait, if you could give me your number, I’ll think about it. Then when I’m ready I can call you.”

Catherine breathed a sigh of relief... this was more than she’d expected. “Yes, of course.”

Derek’s voice came back through the receiver, “You may give me the number. When my wife is ready, if she is ready, she will call you. Please do not call her phone again.”

Catherine heard her daughter’s sobs in the background and gave the number of a disposable phone to her son-in-law. After he repeated the number, he disconnected the line.

Catherine grinned. She’d found her daughter. Her daughter was married – to a man named Burke. She needed more information. That was all right, as before, she had the time. And without a doubt, Catherine was up for a new challenge.

CONVICTED

(#3 in the CONSEQUENCES Series)

You must stick to your conviction,  

 but be ready to abandon your assumptions.

—Denis Waitley

Coming: Late 2013 – Early 2014

Aleatha Romig

Aleatha Romig voted #1 "New Author to Read" on Goodreads!  She has lived most of her life in Indiana, growing-up in Mishawaka, graduating from Indiana University, and currently living south of Indianapolis. Together with her husband of twenty six years, they've raised three children. She works days as a dental hygienist but enjoys spending her nights writing. She also likes to spend time with her family, friends, and patients. Her pastimes include: exercising, reading, and writing.

Aleatha enjoys traveling, especially when there is a beach involved!  In 2011 she had the opportunity to visit Sydney, Australia, to visit her daughter studying at the University of Wollongong. Her dream is to travel to places in her novels and around the world. CONSEQUENCES is her first novel. TRUTH, book 2 of the CONSEQUENCES series, is scheduled for release in November 2012!  The final installment, CONVICTED will follow... stay tuned!

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Table of Contents

Copyright

Acknowledgements

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21