Music City (26 page)

Noel and Shelly checked in on Thomas before they went to Noel’s house. Shelly was excited, but
cautiously so.  She felt like she was in a dream. She decided to wait and call Derek and Alex in the morning. She didn’t want them worrying; she felt good about this, and she did feel like there was a higher power at work here.

The following morning, Lori called bright and early and told Shelly that Mike had requested emergency leave and they had the next ten days free. They were excited to go back with Shelly, get the blood tests done and meet her family. Lori added, “Besides, if it comes out we’re not sisters, we’ve talked about visiting Nashville since we’ve been back here, so no matter what happens, it’s a trip we’re excited to take.”

Shelly smiled into the phone. “I can swing by and pick you up, or you can meet me at the Air Park. My plane is scheduled to leave at noon.”

“We’ll just meet you there. I’m excited Shelly.” Lori sounded excited.

Shelly smiled, “I am too.”

Thomas seemed to be doing a bit better
in the morning, which thrilled Shelly. She hoped he continued to progress, and told Noel she would be back as soon as she could, “Sooner if you need me.”

Noel hugged her, “Just let me know what you find out. I’m so excited for you and for Lori.”

Shelly smiled, “I’m excited for us too.”

As Shelly made her way to the Air Park, she called Alex. “Hey Alex, miss me?” she asked.

Alex laughed into the phone. “Always. Hey, we got some good news in the mail today.”

Shelly was interested, “Oh really?”

Alex continued, “Yes, some more of your, uh, of Maye’s effects. Another
diary.”

Shelly groaned, “Alex! You said it was good news.”

Alex laughed, “It is. This notebook explains the other one. This is more of a journal type diary, and she mentions her ‘baby diary’ several times so far. All of those names in the other book are just babies she took care of while she was working. They are not babies she switched.”

“Oh, thank goodness! You’re sure?”

Alex responded, “We’re positive. We’ve also got a line on the boys Francine said she thought went to Ohio to live.”

Shelly continued, “That is great, Alex! Okay, are you ready for my good news?”

“Shoot.” Alex said.

“I think I found the sister of the baby I was switched with.”

“Huh?” Alex asked. “I thought you were in Alabama?”

Shelly laughed, “I am. I’m on my way to the air park to come home right now. The sister and her husband are coming with me. Can you set up blood tests for us? Blood tests where we can get the results immediately, if not sooner?” She asked.

“I think they can give you an initial analysis, but the actual DNA testing takes a few days, even expedited.” Alex answered.

“Check and see if there is anything they can do for us, please
, cost isn’t a factor here.”

Alex answered, “I will Shelly, but... you sound pretty positive that this person is the real deal.”

Shelly smiled, “I am.” She briefly explained the chance meeting to Alex, who was rendered speechless.

“I’m going to tell Vani I’m just bringing friends of Noel’s who have become friends of mine back with me, you know how she gets, and honestly, I don’t want the kids
to be disappointed if what I suspect turns out not to be true.”

Alex understood her position perfectly and agreed with her, “Don't worry, my lips are sealed, and for what it’s worth, I think it’s a good idea.”

Shelly made a few more phone calls while she was waiting for Mike and Lori to board the plane. Vani, of course, was concerned and Shelly did as much as she could over the telephone to alleviate her concerns. Alex had called back and let her know that they could do the blood tests and would be able to tell if they were related fairly quick, but as he suspected, the DNA testing took a little longer. Shelly said if the initial test showed that they were related, the DNA would only confirm it, and she explained all of this to Lori and Mike when they arrived.

The flight back to Nashville was uneventful, and Shelly’s car was waiting to take them to the Doctor’s office where they would meet Alex and have the blood drawn and tested.

When Alex met Lori, he understood, though they didn’t look as much alike physically as Dorothy and Shelly did; the eyes were a giveaway. Their eyes were identical, those same gorgeous eyes Shelly had, Lori had... and their voices were almost indistinguishable as well.

When the
tests confirmed, as Shelly suspected, that they were, indeed, related by

blood and the DNA results would be back as soon as possible.

Shelly and Lori hugged, both with tears streaming down their faces.

Shelly stepped back and looked at Mike and Lori. “I can’t wait for you to meet my family.”

Lori smiled back, “I can’t wait to meet them either, they sound like such great kids
, and you don’t know how much I have always wanted a niece or nephew to spoil!”  Shelly laughed, “Well, you’ve got one of each, but they’re a bit past the spoiling stage.”

Lori’s laugh sounded
identical to Shelly’s, and Mike marveled at it.  “They’re never too old to spoil, and wow,  not only do they get an aunt, they get new grandparents—Mom and Pop are going to be over the moon excited once the shock wears off.  I can’t wait for
you
to meet them.”

Mike took one lady under each arm. “I
just want it officially stated, that I am

thrilled for both of you, and Shelly, I can say without a doubt, that your parents are the

greatest parents ever, you couldn’t get better  if you handpicked them.”
             

The first few days together passed like a whirlwind. Shelly, Lori and Mike spent time looking at photo albums of Vani and Tracy, and albums that Lori had thought to bring with her. They decided not to tell anyone about the probable relationship until after the DNA results came back.

If Vani and Tracy suspected that Lori and Mike were anything more than friends of the Bradshaw’s, they never let on. Lori and Mike enjoyed seeing Nashville, taking in shows, and getting the VIP treatment that was given to friends of Shelly Shepard.

When the DNA results at the end of the week confirmed they were indeed siblings, neither were surprised, and like Dorothy, it wouldn’t have mattered to Shelly in the least. She and Lori, and Mike for that matter, had already forged a bond that was unbreakable.

Now, they just had to decide how to tell their families. In all of this, Shelly hadn’t really considered the parents. Now that she knew for sure, she thought about it. She had parents. Tracy and Vani had grandparents. She wondered if they would like her. She wondered what it was going to be like, because she really had no idea.

Dennis and Ruth Morgan were enjoying a lazy morning on their nearly two acres on the intracoastal waterway across from Ono Island. Dennis spent a lifetime building things. Since he was old enough to hold a hammer, he was been fascinated with creating things, building things with his own hands.  He had taken that passion and built a very successful construction company from the ground up. Having only daughters and neither with any desire to learn the construction trade, Dennis had long ago decided when the right time came, he would sell the company and enjoy retirement with his beautiful bride, Ruth.  He had done just that.

He was thoroughly enjoying spending time with his beloved wife and building t
hings to make their home more beautiful, they had a gazebo that was the envy of all their friends.  There were beautiful benches scattered throughout the property, tucked in beside banana trees, palms, other beautiful tropical plants that Ruth loved to collect and tend to.  And then there were the beautiful rocking horses that he built in various sizes shapes and woods.  Orders came in year round for Dennis’ rocking horses for Christmas, and many years Dennis had to turn people away because he received more requests than he could handle.  He didn’t want to work hard in his retirement, he always said, he wanted just enough work to keep his mind and hands occupied a bit. They had a large circle of friends, and social engagements and volunteer work kept them as busy as they were during the height of Dennis’ career, but they were enjoying a very fulfilling retirement in the Florida panhandle.

Ruth, a
gifted musician, and talented cook, seamstress and gardener enjoyed so many activities and had so many projects going around the house, that she often wondered how she had managed to raise two children, keep a home, and give piano lessons full time.  She seemed to always run out of time now.  She still gave piano lessons, though very few private lessons, most of her lesson time was spent volunteering at a local group home for troubled children.  The children who were interested in learning to play the piano, or another instrument got to spend time with Ruth every week, she taught them the basics of the instrument, where the notes were, and gave them weekly assignments to practice.  Over the years, a few of those troubled children had become quite good musicians, thanks to Ruth.

Ruth pulled a cell phone from her pocket and looked at the screen. “Oh good, it’s Lori.” Ruth said, smiling as she answered the phone.

Their loving daughter called every week, sometimes more often. Dennis and Ruth were very pleased when Mike was stationed in Alabama, because it meant they would see them more often. It was now only a few hour’s drive to visit, instead of across the country, or halfway around the world.

“You’re where, in Nashville? What are you doing in Nashville?”

“Oh Mom, it’s a long story, an exciting one, we were invited to come here by Shelly Shepard.”

“Shelly Shepard, the country music star? You’re kidding!”

“No Mom, I’m not kidding. She’s wonderful.”

“How in the world did you come to meet Shelly Shepard?” Ruth was confused, she didn’t think her daughter usually hung out with
the rich and famous, especially someone as famous as Shelly Shepard.  Ruth had enjoyed her music for years.

Lori laughed, “
We met through a mutual friend, you remember Noel?  You’ve met her several times.”

Ruth thought for a moment, “Oh, yes, of course I remember Noel, she’s lovely.  How is her father?  I seem to remember
you mentioning he wasn’t doing well?”

“He’s not doing very well right now, Shelly has been a friend of the family for many years, and that is why she’s been spending so much time here, to be here for Noel and her father.”

Ruth smiled into the phone, “Well, what a nice thing to do for a friend.  It’s good to know there are still good people out there, it’s especially nice to know all of those articles I’ve read about her over the years that went on about what a good person she was, were true.”

Lori laughed remembering the celebrity magazines her had mother read faithfully for as long as she could remember. “Yes, Mom, she is truly a good person. 
Anyway, as I said, Noel’s Dad isn’t doing too well, and Shelly has been spending a lot of time down here with Noel and her Dad. Shelly and I just really hit it off.”

Ruth smiled into the phone “Well now, how about that, my daughter is hanging out with the stars!” Ruth beamed.

Lori knew she had her, “Well, just one, though we have met some really interesting people while we’ve been in Nashville.”

Ruth sounded excited, “Oh, I bet you have!  What a lucky girl you are!  I hope one of these days
your father and I will be visiting at the same time Shelly is, and you can introduce us.”

“Actually Mom… that would be great!  I would love for you to meet Shelly.  I know she’d love you and Dad.  She didn’t have a good childhood, and the only family she has are her children and her sister.  You’d be a good influence for her.”

Ruth blushed, “Well isn’t that nice of you to say, well, I hope we do get to meet her one of these days.”

“What are you doing next week?” Lori asked.

“Next week,” Ruth wondered, a bit surprised.  “Honey, I didn’t mean you had to drop everything to introduce me to her.  You just enjoy your time with her, and take lots of pictures.”

This wasn’t going as well as Lori had envisioned, “Mom, really, Shelly and I would like to arrange something sooner rather than later, she wants to meet you and dad.”

“Oh, well, I suppose we can work something out, we don’t have anything pressing, we’re retired.” She laughed.  “Hold on, let me talk to your father.  I’ll have to go shopping, though, I don’t have a thing to wear to meet a famous person.”

“No, you don’t, Mom,
anything you wear will be just fine.  Shelly is very down to earth, she isn’t going to care what you’re wearing

“Hold on, Honey, I’ve got to tell your Dad.”

The flight between Montgomery and Pensacola was less than an hour on the private plane. Shelly and Lori sat beside each other in two of the six seats. Shelly loved using private planes, they were so much quicker and easier than using commercial flights, but today, she wished it would fly just a little slower.