"I can see why she wouldn't. She was using the money to raise her child. But over time, it must have added up to something like thirty or forty thousand dollars. That's a lot of money."

"It is." His mouth turned down in a frown, his brown eyes darkening with a mix of emotions. "I don't understand where this group gets its money and why Laura uses her home address for distribution. I looked them up, and I couldn't find anything."

"They must have funding from some wealthy people."

"Maybe. I also keep asking myself, why did they choose my mother? She was living on the other side of the country. Unless… Did your mother ever live in New York?"

I shook my head. "Not that I know of. She was born in Atlanta. Her parents died early. She lived with her grandmother until she was seventeen. After her grandmother died, she moved to San Diego with a friend to go to community college. And then she went to LA to work. That's where she met my father."

"What did she do for work?"

"She taught music, worked in an office, waited tables…a bit of everything from what I know. But what I know is very suspect now, isn't it?"

"I'm starting to feel the same way. I'm questioning every conversation I had with Laura."

"Did you talk to Laura about your parents?"

"Not in depth, but I mentioned my father had died when I was young, and she said she could relate to that as she'd lost her parents."

"Maybe that part was true then."

"At some point, I told her my mom was being treated for cancer. She expressed concern. But we never talked about money. She certainly never mentioned the nonprofit or the fact that she had been sending my mother money for two decades. I don't think she just forgot that, so why did she keep it a secret?"

"I have no idea. Do you think she met you by accident in Seattle or was it planned? Because it seems like another huge coincidence. She was paying your mom. She had to know who you were when she met you."

"You're right, Brynn. She had to know. Her patronage was pity or charity."

I heard the unhappiness in his voice. He felt betrayed by my mother. I knew what that felt like. "Maybe after your mother stopped accepting the cash, my mom wanted to find another way to help you," I said. "But why would she do that? Why is she so obsessed with your welfare?" Once again, I couldn't quite keep the hurt tone out of my voice.

Kade's eyes softened. "I can't think of any reason."

A crazy idea came into my head. I immediately tried to shove it away, but it wouldn't go.

"What?" Kade demanded, straightening in his chair. "What are you thinking now?"

"I don't want to say it out loud."