When A Man Loves A Woman(36)

Mrs. Worther held up her hand. “Wait. There is something. It may not mean anything,” she said in an apologetic tone. “Several months after you left to live with the Donahue family, we got a phone call about you.”

Mac frowned. “About me?”

“Yes,” Mrs. Worther said. “It was odd to say the least. The person on the phone was a woman. At first we thought it might be your mother, but we later found out that she was deceased at the time of the phone call, so it couldn’t have been her.”

“What did she say?”

“The woman on the phone wanted to know where you were placed and if there was any genetic defects or abnormalities in your family. She actually used the word lineage which I found strange. When we told her we couldn’t divulge any such information, she ended the call. We considered it a prank of some sort since nothing ever came of it.”

Mac knew instinctively it hadn’t been a prank. He had just seen the news article about himself from the Farmington Gazette. His first name had never been mentioned, only the names of his mother and Frank. He had been referenced as a minor. Clearly, whomever had made the phone call knew him or had knowledge of him. Adrenaline coursed through his veins at the thought that the phone call could have been a connection to his sister.

“Anything else you noticed?” Mac was sitting on the edge of his seat, eager to find out anything that might provide a clue or two.

“She had a twang to her voice. A southern accent, I believe. It threw me because it was so sweet and refined. Yet there was a desperation in her voice.” She shuddered. “It raised a red flag, although we never passed it on to your parents because we knew she had no leads on where you’d ended up. We didn’t want to worry anyone unnecessarily.”

A woman with a southern accent who had been trying to find him and obtain information about his genetic history. Odd to say the least. But it served as a huge clue moving forward. Someone had tried to make an inquiry about him.

“How are your brothers? I remember each and every one with such fondness,” Mrs. Worther said.

Mac smiled. “They’re all doing very well. Matter of fact, they’re all here. Outside.”

Mrs. Worther’s eyes bulged. Her mouth hung open. “N-No! Not really. Are you pulling my leg?

“I would never do that to you, Mrs. Worther. You mean too much to me…to all of us, to ever play a trick on you like that.”

Mac watched as tears pooled in her eyes. She reached out and held onto the arm of the couch, then gingerly raised herself to a standing position. Within seconds she had made her way over to the front window. She pulled back the lace curtain and peeked out. She let out a loud sigh.

Mrs. Worther turned back toward him and said, “I think that’s the most stunning sight I’ve ever seen in my life. Please, Mac. Bring them inside.”

Mac got up and walked toward the front door. He let out a whistle and made a motion with his hand. His brothers began walking toward the house. Mac walked back inside and stood to the side, knowing each of his brothers would want to greet their old friend.

All six of his brothers trickled into the house. Mac steered them toward the living room. The scene unfolding before his very eyes was emotional and staggering. Remy was first in line. He walked up to Mrs. Worther and stood before her as she lovingly ran her eyes over him.

“Remy. I would recognize you anywhere,” she cried out, tears running down her face. “You broke my heart sitting in that hospital bed after your parents died in the car accident.”

“You’re as beautiful as ever,” Remy drawled. He took Mrs. Worther’s hand and raised it to his lips then kissed it. “And you got me through that terrible moment as no one else ever could have.”

“I’ve followed your career,” she said, pointing her finger at a painting of a jazz musician playing his saxophone in New Orleans hanging on the wall. “I even bought one of your paintings years ago before your fame skyrocketed.” Mac knew the painting had looked familiar. He hadn’t recognized it as one of Remy’s works.

Mrs. Worther let out a giggle. “Not sure I could afford one of your paintings now.”

Remy pressed a hand against his heart. “I’m honored. And humbled.” He stepped aside, allowing Blue to step forward. Blue wrapped Mrs. Worther up in a bear hug. She wrapped her hands around him. Once he released her, she said, “Oh Blue, you haven’t changed one bit. It’s those hazel eyes. The first time I laid eyes on you I knew you possessed the wisdom of the ages. You were so hopeful about your prospects. How I wanted you to soar like an eagle. And you have.” She reached up and ran her hand alongside Blue’s cheek.