In Search of Sam

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Book: Read In Search of Sam for Free Online
Authors: Kristin Butcher
deep breath to fortify myself, I say, “The thing is I still have some stuff to do here.”
    Silence.
    And then, “What kind of stuff?”
    This is where things get tricky. If I don’t explain my plans to meet Arlo in just the right way, my mother is going to go straight up and turn left. Actually, there’s a good chance she’ll do that anyway.
    â€œBesides the property and truck, Sam left me some personal things. Not much, but one of —”
    â€œWhat things?”
    â€œI’ll show you when I get home.”
    â€œDani!”
    I am amazed at how my name spoken in that authoritative, matriarchal tone can wield so much clout. Even half a province away, my mother still has the power.
    â€œOkay,” I concede. “He left his wallet, a letter from one of his foster families, a picture of himself as a little boy, and half a silver heart. Do you know anything about that?”
    â€œA silver heart? No. At least not that I remember.”
    â€œSo you don’t have the other half of the heart?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œI didn’t think so,” I mumble, “but I thought I’d ask.”
    Mom isn’t easy to sidetrack. “So what do these things have to do with not coming home?”
    â€œWell, Sam also left an address book. Most of the entries were business numbers, but there was also one for an Arlo Jones. So I called it and —”
    â€œYou did what!”
    â€œI called the number. Don’t have a hissy fit, Mother. I thought this guy might be able to tell me about Sam. Arlo was his friend, and he’s agreed to talk to me. So tomorrow I’m going to Barriere to meet him.”
    â€œHave you lost your mind? This man is a total stranger.”
    That sets me back on my heels a bit. Yes, literally speaking, I suppose she’s right. Arlo is a stranger, but because he was in Sam’s address book, I just assumed he was an okay guy. Maybe I should have been more cautious, but there is no way I’m admitting that to my mom. “We’re meeting in a public restaurant, Mother,” I bluster as if she were being ridiculously protective. “Nothing is going to happen.”
    â€œForget it, Dani. You’re not going. I forbid it.”
    I know I shouldn’t, but I burst out laughing. I can’t help myself. I mean, there’s no way she can stop me. She knows it too, and because it must hurt her to realize she can’t make my decisions for me anymore, I say more kindly, “Mom, I’m not a little kid, and I don’t do dumb things — well, not too often anyway. I need to know about Sam. Arlo can help me.”
    â€œDani, please be reasonable. Sam was abandoned on a doorstep when he was a baby. There are no records. What do you think this Arlo can possibly tell you?”
    â€œI don’t know, but it’s a place to start.”
    â€œAre you telling me you plan to turn this into a full-blown manhunt?”
    Until she said that, I hadn’t even considered the idea. All I wanted was to talk to Arlo. But if he told me something that opened another door, of course I would want to follow that lead.
    And because I don’t want to have this discussion again if that happens, I say, “I only had six weeks with Sam, Mom. For my whole life that’s it. I wish it had been longer, but it wasn’t. I’m trying not to blame you or Sam, but sometimes I can’t help it. I feel so cheated. I loved him, Mom, but I know almost nothing about him. He was my father. Half of who I am came from him. How can I know who I am if I don’t know who he was? I’ll wonder my whole life. Can’t you see that? I may come up empty, but I have to at least try, and since I don’t have school until September, now is the perfect time to see what I can find out. Please don’t try to stop me.”

Chapter Six
    I don’t want to be late for my meeting with Arlo, so I give myself plenty of time to

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