When A Man Loves A Woman(48)

Her impatience made him want to laugh. She was almost as invested in this quest as he was.

Without waiting a second longer, he redialed Parker’s number. Parker picked up on the first ring. “Mac. I’ve been trying to reach you,” Parker said, his voice filled with urgency.

“Sorry. We’re at the beach. I wasn’t by my phone. What’s up?”

“I think I’ve found her Mac. I think I found Callie.”

**

Delilah watched Mac’s face as he spoke to Parker on the phone. His eyes widened with shock as his face lost most of its color. She stood close to him, not wanting to eavesdrop but needing to make sure that he was all right. What in the world was Parker telling him?

Dear Lord. Please protect Mac and Callie. Let this be good news for the both of them. Let their story have a happy ending. Let love win.

She heard snatches of Mac’s conversation. When? How? I can’t believe it. Are you sure?

It was terrible hearing a one-sided conversation. Parker could really be telling Mac anything, she surmised. There was no way in the world she should jump to any conclusions about their discussion.

By the time he hung up with Parker, Delilah was ready to burst with questions. She kept it cool though, wanting Mac to be able to digest whatever news Parker had just delivered without her throwing inquiries at him.

He shook his head, appearing dumbfounded. A lopsided smile graced his face. “Parker thinks he’s found Callie.”

Delilah let out a squeak of surprise. Although she’d hoped Parker was delivering good news, she hadn’t been certain of it. There was always the possibility that he had found out something tragic about Mac’s sister.

“Oh Mac. I’m so happy for you. What did he say?” Delilah asked.

Mac pulled her away from the group. His family was oblivious to what was happening. She was certain he would fill them in later. But for now, he clearly wanted a private moment with her.

“Parker said that his team got lucky with the age progressed photo. An internet search brought up dozens of matches which he went through painstakingly. One fit the profile. He did a full investigation and found a twenty-six year old woman named Callie Duvall living in Savannah, Georgia. Based on what he discovered, Callie was adopted by a very prominent Savannah family as a five year old. It all fits, Delilah.”

Delilah threw herself into Mac’s arms. “Oh, Mac. I can’t believe it. How wonderful.”

“I think I’m still in shock,” he said in a stilted voice. “All these years I’ve been dreaming of this moment and now…I barely now how to feel or what to do next.”

She pulled away from Mac and looked deeply into his eyes. “There’s only one thing to do next, Mac. You need to fly to Savannah and find her. You need to go to Callie and claim her as your sister.”

Mac looked at her with an intensity she couldn’t ignore. “Will you come with me to Savannah, Delilah? Will you be by my side as I reintroduce myself to my sister?”

Delilah felt so honored by Mac’s request she could barely respond. Mac looked at her expectantly. There was so much hope in his eyes.

“Yes, Mac. I’ll come with you to Savannah. There’s no place I’d rather be.”

Mac blew out a breath that sounded a lot like relief, then reached out to pull her close. He placed a tender kiss on her forehead while repeating his thanks over and over again to her . If Delilah hadn’t already been in love with him, this simple act of gratitude would have pushed her straight over the edge. At this very moment she knew he would always be everything she needed to keep her world spinning on its axis.

Wherever this journey took Mac, she planned to be right by his side. Everything in her life experience had brought her to this moment, one where she could aid the man she loved with unconditional love and support. And she planned to do just that, even if she wound up wearing her heart on her sleeve in the process.





“Family. I love that word. I love what I found with the Donahue family. Not only did I find the man of my dreams in Remy, but I found a wonderful family that loves me just as I am.”

Gabrielle Donahue





Chapter Nine



Savannah, Georgia. It was a blazing hot summer day in the historic city. Mac and Delilah had flown in from the Barnstable Municipal Airport this morning and landed mid-day at Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport. The temperature clocked in at a humid ninety degrees.

They hadn’t even checked in at their hotel—the Belle Reve—a beautiful inn by the riverfront. Mac was too full of anticipation to waste a single moment. So, with their luggage in the rental car, they headed to the address that Parker had provided them. 122 Magnolia Drive. Right in the middle of the historic homes district.