The Ripple Effect Read Free

feet then up into his father’s face. Should he mention the subject yet again? Risk leaving on a sour note, spoiling the taste of this, his first visit in months. “You know I only want to try to find my sister, don’t you? It’s something I’ve thought about nearly all my life and now seems like the right time. It’s not because I don’t love you. You know that, don’t you?”
    “We know that, pet,” said Mum. Her round face crinkled with concern. She glanced at his father, seeking his agreement. “We just don’t want you to be disappointed. It can be very difficult. Might take years and she may not want her life disturbed. That’s if you ever track her down.”
    Dad’s jaw tightened. He’d never admit it outright but his disapproval was clear. He didn’t want to discuss it. Changing the subject. Stonewalling all weekend. “They have those privacy laws for a reason, son.” Gravel voiced.
    “I know.” One last try. Surely Dad could understand? He wasn’t a hard man. Not normally. But this topic hit something raw—must have done to provoke such an uncharacteristic response. “Can you imagine Lisa or Ben or Evan not wanting to know each other, or find each other, if they were split apart?”
    The eyes narrowed. He said dismissively, “That’s different. You never knew her. She was a newborn baby when you were separated.”
    “Or you, Shay. They’d want to find you,” his mother said fiercely. “You’re just as much part of this tribe as any one of the others, don’t ever forget that. I chose your name deliberately—it means gift and that’s what you were and still are.”
    Shay stepped across and hugged his mother. She was a thousand times right. Adopted he may be but he never lacked for love from any of these people who had welcomed the lost toddler into their lives so wholeheartedly.
    “And didn’t I pay for that at school,” he said in a choked voice. “Shame, shame.” His voice rose and fell in mock derision.
    She pushed him away with a laugh. “It’s a good name, Shay Brookes. A good strong name. Goes well with the Doctor before it,” she said.
    “Safe trip.” His father stuck out his hand, but the smile held the shadow of hurt in the tenseness of his mouth.
    One last kiss, one last slap on the back and Shay was waving his arm out the window to the fast-receding figures in the rear view mirror. Mum and Dad. They’d always be Mum and Dad. Why couldn’t his father see that?
    He knew his real mother was dead. Emily Grayson. Died in childbirth having his sister.Dad said she’d never uttered a word about who she was or where she was from and he’d had a devil of a job tracking down her identity. No-one ever discovered who the missing father was or even if they’d had the same father. But he couldn’t have done better than Stan Brookes.
    Shay hoped with all his heart they understood this unquenchable desire he had to find that little sister. Mum assured him she did and that Dad would come round, eventually. He’d known all along how he came to be adopted. They’d never lied to him. That was one of the strengths of the Brookes family—their honesty. Stan impressed his values upon the children and they’d all grown up valuing truth and openness. People always said they knew where they were with a Brookes.
    Far from making him feel like a stray, Amy and Stan had made him feel special. A gift, she’d said just now. Was his sister regarded as a gift by her adoptive parents?
    “Why didn’t you take both of us?” he’d asked once.
    “Because we couldn’t handle a tiny baby as well as you and we didn’t have enough room in the house. The adoption people told us it would be difficult to place the two of you together but the baby would find a home very easily. We already said we wanted you with us.”
    “Will I ever see her?”
    “The other parents have to agree to it. Sometimes they think it’s best not to. Everyone has to agree.”
    “I want to find her. I will find her one