And once Katie made the announcement, Carly’s happiness, already at a high point, completely lit up her life, like a brilliant sun in the noon sky.

Cord was her dad!

The two of them had been sitting together to hear the news, Cord’s phone on speaker. He threw it down so they could exchange a long hug. Then Carly ran to tell first Shallie, and then her “second mom,” Tina, while Cord accepted J.P. and Eli’s congratulations.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

EVEN THOUGH—OR probably because—certain decisions had now been made, there seemed to be more planning than ever. Shallie was constantly making lists, comparing notes with Cord, getting opinions from her friends. And, of course, from her daughter-to-be.

One thing she’d decided was that she’d return to her graphic arts work; she’d help Cord, Russ, Susan and Carly with advertising and websites. Cord had his out-of-town PR group and Carly was certainly familiar with YouTube, but Shallie could contribute art, design and logos, and help set up the pet support website. Not that she intended any of that to be a moneymaker; it was simply a matter of doing something for family And the people she’d come to consider her friends.

Another plan—photography. It was an interest that had recently grown, and she was going to experiment, taking pictures of this beautiful country, with all its strengths and paradoxes, its people and their love of the land.

She’d have to buy a new and more sophisticated camera.

Then, on November first, she received an unexpected call from Eddie, telling her he had a possible lead on Christine Fletcher—emphasizing the word possible. When he described what he knew, or might know, it sounded to Shallie like another bizarre saga. He said that a former staff member at Sunny Days, the motel in Orlando, had contacted Tony, his investigator friend, to say she thought she’d seen “Sharon Sutherland” a couple of months ago, although she and Sharon hadn’t spoken. “No idea why she’d go back there, or what her name is now, but Tony’s on it and we’re not letting this go. Melanie’s doing another online search, too.”

Later that evening, she, Russ and Cord considered various potential circumstances over a drink at Bailey’s. Had Christine/Sharon left something behind? Could she be looking for another job? Was she, for whatever reason, nostalgic about the place, considering she’d lived there for quite a few years. And the most basic question of all—was it even her?

“We’ll have to leave it to the professionals,” Cord concluded.

Shallie confessed that she was worried about the increasing expense, but they both told her it was more important to track down Christine and assured her they were willing to help. Especially generous of Russ, since he didn’t have a lot of money to throw around.