Desiree used to visit my grandmother, bringing sweets and stories that I, being too young, couldn't understand.
I hadn't seen her in years.
The instant her eyes met mine, something inside her broke.
As if he were holding onto something for too long.
"I was looking for you," she said softly.
Before I could react, he crossed the room and hugged me.
That caught me by surprise.
Cozy. Familiar.
It was completely unexpected.
"I was looking for you."
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I stood there, rigid at first, then slowly relaxed.
"What's going on?" I asked when he finally walked away.
Desiree analyzed my face.
"You look a lot like her," he murmured.
"Nana?" I asked.
She nodded, then looked at the man behind the counter.
"Everything's fine, Samuel. I'll take care of it."
He nodded quickly, almost relieved.
"What is happening?"
I frowned. "Why did he call you 'the master'?"
Desiree exhaled slowly. "Because this place is mine, just like three others on the other side of town. He says I act like a 'boss' instead of being a real boss."
That alone surprised me, but not as much as what happened next.
Desiree's gaze fell upon the necklace.
"That's why I was looking for you," she said softly.
That alone surprised me.
"Why?"
Desiree hesitated, then pointed to a chair. "Please, sit down."
Something in her tone of voice made me want to listen to her.
I sat down.
He sat down in front of me, clasping his hands together.
"What I'm about to tell you... Your grandmother, who has passed away, never had the chance to explain it to you."
A chilling sensation ran through my chest.
Something in her tone of voice made me want to listen to her.
"She wasn't your biological grandmother," Desiree said sweetly.
I immediately shook my head in denial. "No. That's not how it is. She raised me. She..."
"I know," Desiree said quickly. "And he loved you. That part was true. Completely."
So, what are you saying?
Desiree took a deep, slow breath.
"Years ago, your grandmother found you."
My mind went blank.
"Did you find me?"
"That part was true."
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