I had gone to my parents, and while I didn’t expect pushback because they’re two of the most understanding people in the world, I was worried about hurting their feelings as I’m sure most adopted children feel when they’re prepared to go looking into their birth parents. Calvin and Virginia Calloway were my parents, my family, the people I loved most in the world perhaps even more than I loved James because they changed my life in the blink of an eye. I used to think of them as my saviors. Still do. The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt them or make them think that I didn’t consider them my parents. That they were simply placeholders or substitutes.

But they hugged me and told me they loved me and that they understood, but also that there was no way in hell I was going to Mississippi by myself.

Naturally, James agreed with that and took off from work to come with me.

Our dad is also here in case we needed him legally for any reason, but he opted to stay at the hotel because he knew James could handle this.

“A little,” I reply in response to James’ question. There’s a car in the driveway so I know someone lives here and I’m apprehensive of who that someone might be. I rub my hands down my clothes suddenly wishing I hadn’t changed from the original outfit I had on. “Do I look okay? Does it seem like I’m trying too hard?” I look down at myself, kicking myself for not dressing more casually and not my usual attire which looks like I belong in an episode of Gossip Girl. I opted for a plaid skirt and a shirt with a jacket that matched over it. “I look ridiculous, let’s go,” I say turning back to the car that we rented when we got down here.

The neighborhood is certainly different than where I live in Connecticut and I worry I’m coming off as the ‘poor little rich girl’ coming to the south on a quest for self discovery before returning back to her life.

“You look great, Gabrielle, and we aren’t going anywhere.” He turns me around to face him, keeping his hands on my shoulder and I have to actively tell myself that it’s an innocent touch to avoid getting worked up. “It’s normal to be nervous. I wish there was more that I could do to help.”

“Just being here is enough,” I tell him, and it’s the truth. James has always dropped everything for me when I need him and I shouldn’t be surprised that he’d be here for one of the biggest moments of my life.

He takes my hand in his and squeezes it. “I’ll always be here for you, Gabrielle.”