Finding Her (Sequel to Judging Me)

(2) Talking

                “Welcome! Can I help you guys find anything?” A man behind the counter welcomed us as we walked in the gift shop. The old woman at the entrance told us we could find Alisyn here. Why was it always an old woman?

                “Actually, we’re looking for Alisyn. Alisyn Montery.” Ronnie snapped me out of my old woman ramble.

                The old man smiled, “Just a second.” He went to some back room and came back five minutes later with a girl with brown hair and dazzling green eyes. Seeing her made a pit open in my stomach. She looked so much like Marcie. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her.

                “You wanted to see me?” She asked with surprise in her voice. Her lips were identical to Marcie’s.

                “Oh my god.” I snapped my gaze away from her and looked at Zee. Her bottom lip was quivering. Great. She’s gonna cry.

                Alisyn’s eyebrows knitted together, “I’m sorry, but do I know you?”

                I shook my head, “No.” That one word barely came out. Zee was making that dry prick come back to my eyes. I gave Ronnie a look hoping he knew I needed him to talk for me.

                He nodded at me then looked at Alisyn. “I’m sorry about them.” He looked pointedly at Zee. “She’s emotional.”

                Alisyn’s eyes darted between the three of us. “Okay. What did you want?”

                “We knew your sister.”

                “I don’t have a sister.”

                “Not anymore,” I whispered. Apparently too loud.

                She looked at me as if she was studying me. “Look, I’m sorry this girl you loved died. I don’t have a sister though. My parents would have told me.”

                I just blink. Ronnie spoke for me again, “They aren’t your real parents.”

                She gave him a “duh” look. “I know. They are Cherokee.” I took this time to study her. She was wearing a thin white shirt that showed the black bikini under it. “Let’s go outside and talk.” She walked past us towards the door. The back of her shirt reached down to her lower back and showed a long, puckered cut. It must have been deep. What had happened?

                Zee had finally snapped out of her almost-cry mode. She sat down right beside Alisyn. “What happened to your back?”

                I noticed Alisyn didn’t let her back touch the chair. “Hiking accident. I slipped on a rock at the waterfall. I almost died.”

                Zee seemed to be thinking, “Almost? So you didn’t die? Not even for a second?”

                She shook her head, “Nope. Lucky me.” This whole time she hadn’t had emotion in her voice. I sat across from her so I could continue looking at her.

                “Tell me, why do you think this girl is my sister?”

                “Her-“ I paused and cleared my throat, “Her parents told me. They were going to tell her on her 18th birthday, but she- she uh-“ I still couldn’t say it. Not even after a year.

                Her eyes showed me sympathy, “You really did love her.” She spoke in a whisper. At a normal tone she said, “Why me? How do you know it’s me?”

                Ronnie spoke, “You look a hell of a lot like her.”

                She raised an eyebrow. “Proof?” I pulled my wallet out of my pocket and took out a photo of Marcie. A bit shakily, I put the picture on the table in front of her.

                She picked it up and looked at it carefully. After what seemed to be forever she spoke. “Okay. I see the resemblance. How did you find me though?”

                Zee rolled her eyes dramatically. “It wasn’t easy, but Andy wouldn’t give up. Her parents gave us your name the name of your first adoption parents. From there, it was all us.”

                “So I really have a sister?”

                We all nodded.

                “And she’s dead.”

                We nodded again, but slower.

                “Then what possible reason do you have for finding me?”

                Zee and Ronnie looked at me. I sat there looking dumb.

                Alisyn sighed, “If you’re hoping I’m like her, sorry. I can tell just by looking at her I’m not. My childhood was rough, and I don’t talk to people that often unless I have to. I can be brutally honest, and if I don’t like you or something you’re doing I will let you know. Now, if you don’t mind, I have work to do.”