SWNOVELS Chapter 31
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE–FINDING A NEW SISTER
Jasmine stared at the letter in her hands, her heart pounding. She read it again slowly.
“Dear Ms. Delacroix,
My name is Samuel Briggs and I am a private investigator. I have important information regarding your family that may come as a shock. After an extensive search, I have discovered that you have a long–lost sibling – a sister named Elena Delacroix who has been trying to locate you for many years. Elena has hired me to finally reunite the two of you…
Jasmine’s hands trembled as she kept reading. A sister? She had no idea. How could this be possible? Her mind raced with a torrent of questions.
The letter provided Samuel Briggs’s contact Information, encouraging Jasmine to call him to learn the full story. She looked at the phone for a long moment, wavering between Intense curiosity and apprehension about opening this Pandora’s box.
Finally, she steeled herself and punched in the number. It rang a few times before a pleasant male voice
answered.
“Hello, Samuel Briggs speaking.”
“H–Hello, Mr. Briggs. This is Jasmine Delacroix. I…I received your letter about…” She trailed off, the words. catching in her throat.
“Ah yes, Ms. Delacroix. I’m glad you reached out. This must be very surprising news for you,” he said sympathetically.
“That’s an understatement,” Jasmine replied, trying to gather her composure. “I had no idea I had a sister out there, let alone one searching for me.”
“I can imagine how shocking this must be,” Briggs said. “Why don’t you come down to my office and we can discuss everything in person? I can provide you all the details and documentation I’ve uncovered.”
Jasmine hesitated for a moment. “I…I don’t know. This is all so overwhelming. Are you certain about this supposed sister?”
“Absolutely certain, Ms. Delacroix,” Briggs stated firmly. “I’ve been hired by Elena to locate her long–lost sister – you. I have records, photographs, even a DNA test confirming your biological relation.”
Jasmine felt light–headed at his words. A million thoughts spun in her mind. “But how…? My parents never mentioned…”
“That’s part of the story I need to explain to you,” Briggs interrupted gently. “There are many layers to t situation that you deserve to know. Please, come to my office. I can answer all your questions.”
Jasmine drew a steadying breath. “Alright…alright. I’ll come by tomorrow, if that works?”
“Of course, I’m free anytime. Say 2pm?” Briggs suggested.
“Yes, 2pm. I’ll be there,” Jasmine replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
“Excellent. I’ll provide you all the information then, Ms. Delacroix. I look forward to meeting you.”
Jasmine ended the call, feeling dazed. This was unbelievable. She looked around her art studio loft numbly. The canvases seemed to blur together as her mind raced.
A sister? Why had her parents never told her? Anger began to mix with the shock and confusion. She deserved to know the truth, no matter how difficult. Resolved, she made her way to Briggs’s office in
this
1
downtown Manhattan the next day at the appointed time.
Entering the unremarkable office building. Jasmine felt nervous butterflies in her stomach. She approached the front desk where a young woman greeted her politely.
“I’m here to see Samuel Briggs? 2 o’clock appointment.
“One moment please,” the woman replied, checking her computer and making a call. Jasmine waited anxiously, barely aware of her surroundings.
“You can head on back, Ms. Delacroix,” the woman said after hanging up. “Third door on the left.”
Jasmine nodded distractedly and followed the directions down the bland hallway. Reaching the third door, she rapped her knuckles against it firmly.
“Come in,” a muffled voice called out.
Taking a deep breath, Jasmine opened the door and stepped inside. She found herself in a modestly- sized office with a large desk, computer, filing cabinets and a few chairs. A middle–aged man with graying hair and a kind face stood up from behind the desk, extending his hand.
“Ms. Delacroix, thank you for coming,” he said warmly, shaking her hand. “Please, have a seat. Can I get you anything? Water, coffee?”
“Just water, thanks, Jasmine replied tersely, her nerves getting the better of her.
Samuel Briggs poured her a glass from a cooler and handed it to her before retaking his seat. He regarded her with a measured gaze.
“I know this is an immense shock for you, Ms. Delacroix. I’ll try to explain everything as clearly as I can.” Jasmine nodded tightly, gripping the water glass. “Please…start from the beginning.”
I
Briggs leaned back, steepling his fingers as he began. “Very well. Several months ago, I was hired by a young woman named Elena Delacroix to locate her long–lost sister – you, Jasmine,”
Briggs continued solemnly. “Elena had recently obtained her original birth records which listed your mother’s name. It was the first real lead she’d had after years of searching.”
Jasmine felt her throat tighten as she listened raptly. This was all so overwhelming.
“From there, I used databases and public records to try and trace your mother’s whereabouts and any relatives she may have had,” Briggs went on. “That eventually led me to you, Jasmine. I confirmed your relation to Elena through a DNA test using samples I was able to obtain.”
He paused, allowing that to sink in. Jasmine stared at him, scarcely able to breathe.
“B–But…my parents…they never said anything. How is this possible?” she finally managed.
Briggs gave her a sympathetic look. “That’s where Elena’s story comes in. You see, your mother became pregnant with Elena when she was just a teenager herself – only 17 years old. From what I’ve gathered, it was an unplanned pregnancy in difficult circumstances.”
Jasmine’s mind spun as she listened in disbelief.
“Your mother’s parents essentially forced her to put the baby up for adoption,” Briggs said carefully. “She had no choice in the matter. Elena was adopted by a family shortly after being born.”
Jasmine felt sick at the thought. “Oh my god…”
“A couple years later, your mother met your father and they had you, Jasmine,” Briggs said. “For whatever reasons, they never told you about your older sister. Elena never knew about you either until finding those birth records.”
Tears stung Jasmine’s eyes as everything started to make sense and yet still felt so unreal. A million emotions swirled within her shock, anger at being kept in the dark, but also a growing need to meet this apparent sister.