Jonathan and Trina alternated between periods of quiet and periods of chatting in undertones. They’d been married a long time, and while she didn’t see evidence of fawning adoration, she did see evidence of rapport, companionship, respect. Her parents’ relationship had been tempestuous and transitory. The couple before her seemed to represent the opposite.

The service opened with worship music, and the congregation stood to sing. Near the end of the first song, Trina looked to the side, smiled, and lifted her hand in a gesture of greeting.

Leah followed the direction of her gaze—

A pang vibrated through her, because she recognized Sophie approaching. Closely behind Sophie, Sophie’s groom. And then a third person. . . . A young woman with long blond hair who resembled Trina strongly.

Father God, does Sophie have a sister?

Do I have a full-blooded sister?

Her lungs reminded her that she’d forgotten to breathe, and she pulled air into a tight chest.

Clearly, Trina and Jonathan had saved seats because the three newcomers easily made themselves at home in the pew.

Leah moved her lips as if singing, but for the remainder of the worship time, no sound emerged. The family before her commanded her full attention.

The blonde had to be a sister. By the looks of her, she was a few years younger than Sophie.

Leah thought of her lonely childhood . . . of all the times she’d wished for a sibling and imagined a blond-haired sister. It was almost as if she’d been implanted with knowledge of the sister biology had intended for her.

Did Jonathan and Trina have more children? For all she knew, they might have five kids. Seven kids. And every one of those children, other than Sophie, would be a full-blooded biological sibling of hers. They might look like her and think like her. Talk like her. Love math like her. Fail at sports like her. She couldn’t imagine the security of growing up in that type of homogenous family, because her own experience had been so different.

A minister prayed and made announcements. “Before we continue with worship, please stand and take a few moments to greet one another.”

The minister’s invitation provided her with a golden opportunity that felt like the culmination of five months of research, waiting, and soul-searching.

Sophie turned in her direction first, and Leah was taken aback by how much she looked like Dylan, with her fair skin and big brunette curls. She could see both her mother, Erica, and her father, Todd, in this woman who’d been born at Magnolia Avenue Hospital just minutes before Leah.

“Hi, I’m Sophie Robbins.” She offered a manicured hand.

Leah shook it. “Leah Montgomery. This is my first time to visit this church.”

“Oh? I’m so glad. Welcome! Here, let me introduce my family. This is my husband, Logan.” He was handsome in a money-buffed sort of way. “Abigail,” Sophie said, to gain the blonde’s attention.