Love Blanket

LOVE BLANKET
by
Kenna Marie Clayton

It was before sunrise Monday morning. Veronica Layne, a reporter for the channel six news out of Sacramento, California was scanning over the News Six computer message board looking for a fresh story. She was looking for something new and interesting, which didn't have to do with violence. She scanned the board for several minutes to no avail. Just when she was ready to turn away her eye caught a subject title that read: Lover-Sister-Both. Veronica quickly scanned the message. Yes! This was the type of story she was looking for.
The message briefly detailed a brokenhearted young man, by the name of Scott Ryder that fell in love with a girl named Tina. He had proposed and was planning on marrying her when, through a conversation with his mother, Tina accidentally learned that her birth mother was Scott's mother. Scott's mother, Kara Ryder, had been forced to give her daughter up for adoption at birth.
Veronica excitedly jotted down notes. She started to reach for the phone, wondering why the name Scott Ryder sounded familiar. Then checking her watch decided it was too early to call. She would wait until after the Early Edition news broadcast to call.

Scott Ryder was fully dressed, lying on top of his bedcovers, sleeping off a hangover he'd received after polishing of a bottle of Jim Beam the night before. He woke to the ringing of the phone, acutely aware of his headache. He reached for the phone without opening his eyes.
"Yeah"
"I'd like to speak with Scott Ryder please."
Scott, realizing this wasn't a social call, tried to wipe the cobwebs from his brain.
"This is Scott Ryder. How may I help you?"
"I'm Veronica Layne, from channel six news..."
Scott bolted straight up and forced his eyes open, wondering why a prominent news reporter was calling him. While listening to her spiel he vaguely recalled posting a message on the board the night before.
During their conversation Veronica learned that Scott managed the bookstore half of the Bookworm Cafe. The Bookworm Cafe rang bells. While speaking with Scott, Veronica started searching computer files of past reports.   She quickly found what she was looking for.
Two years before there had been a robbery and hostage situation at the bookstore that left four people dead, one of which was the owner Frank Ryder.
Veronica confirmed that Scott Ryder was the son of Frank Ryder. She offered her belated condolences and commented on how this latest heartbreak must have only added to Scott's already heavy heart.
Scott mumbled something in return. Then Veronica asked him for an interview. His heart sank. The last thing he wanted was for all this to become public. Still he felt like he'd brought this on himself and not wanting to seem like a fool and say no outright he asked if he might have a day or two to think about it.
Veronica recognized a put off when she heard one. She didn't want this story to get away from her. She replied, "Certainly." Then gave Scott her number. Before letting Scott go she asked if she might have some additional facts for her notes.
Scott consented, though he hadn't written down the number and had no intention of pursuing an interview.
"What is your mother's name?" Veronica wanted to confirm that his mother hadn't changed her name since the death of her husband.
"Kara Ryder."
"Your girlfriend - or should I say sister's - name is Tina?"
"It's actually Christina Marie Harris, but everyone calls her Tina."
Veronica and Scott said their good-byes.
Scott looked at his watch and realized he was going to be late for work. He hurriedly took a shower, shaved, dressed and was on his way in about twenty minutes.
On Scott's drive to 'the shop' he realized he was going to have to tell his mother about his dumb stunt, just in case Veronica Layne tried to contact her. Somewhere in the recesses of his brain he realized he was going to have to tell Tina too, but wouldn't allow himself to think about that at the moment.
As Scott pulled into his parking place behind the shop in Roseville he wondered why he and his mother, co-owners of the Bookworm Cafe, called their business 'the shop'. It was a bookstore and a luncheon cafe, specializing in coffees, teas, pastries, and soups. It was hardly what one would thing of as a shop, but that's what they called it.
Scott tapped on the door to his mother's office.
"Come in Scott."
"How'd you know it me?" Scott walked over to the coffee stand that set in the right hand corner, opposite mother's desk, as he spoke.
"Your knock. It's distinctive."
"My own personal calling card, just what I need," Scott said rather sarcastically, as he poured himself a cup of coffee. He held the coffeepot, silently asking his mother if she would like a refill.
She shook her head.
"Sorry I'm late. I..."
"No need to explain. I understand. I arranged for extra help when I first came in this morning."
Scott took a seat in the leather chair that sat in front of the desk, wondering how his mother could look so good. Every strawberry blonde hair was in place. He did note that her green eyes didn't hold their normal sparkle.
"The executive boss gives the under boss a day off."
Scott could see his attempt at humor had failed. He murmured his thanks and took a sip of coffee.
"I did a rather dumb stunt last night. Actually a couple of dumb stunts." Scott gave his mother an embarrassed smile. "The first was killing off a bottle of Jim Beam, all by myself. I'm still paying for that one." He placed his coffee cup on the corner of the large desk blotter that nearly covered the top of his mother's desk and rubbed his temples. "Then it seems I got on the computer and posted my heartbreak to some news message board."
"Yes I know. I just got off the phone with Veronica Layne."
Scott's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "That was fast work." There was a moment of pause, as Scott seemed to recovery from the surprise. "Sorry. Didn't mean to drag a reporter into this mess."
"Well nothing we can do about spilled milk."
Scott mentally noted he'd made his mother's boner list of the day. He could always tell when his mother used one of her cliches.
"Have you spoken to Tina this morning?" Kara removed her reading glasses and gave Scott an evaluating stare.
"No." An involuntary sigh escaped Scott. "It was late last night when I last spoke to her. Hopefully she's still sleeping."
"Well you'd better try and speak to her before long. I believe I talked Ms Layne into waiting on contacting Tina until after we had a chance to speak with her, but I'm not sure."
"Great," mumbled Scott under his breath.
"Ms Layne seems anxious to get the three of us together for the interview."
"Interview?" Scott looked at his mother stunned.
"Yes. I agreed to be at the interview with you and Tina. Isn't that what you agreed to?"
"No!" Scott's instant anger showed in the tension in his shoulder and his brown eyes, which seemed to deepen in color. "I told her I would think about an interview and contact her."
"Stop to think about it she didn't exactly say that you'd agreed to an interview she just gave me the impression you had."
"She can forget it now!"
Scott drank a slug of his coffee, resisting the urge to get up and go straight to the TV station and give Veronica Layne a piece of his mind.
"Scott, don't be like that. Stop and think. This is a very hard situation for all of us. Yet our story may help many others in Tina's position."
"So? It'll only add public humiliation to our heartbreak."
"You mustn't look at it that way."
Scott gave his mother a 'don't go there' look.
Kara looked at her watch. "It's late enough that I think you should go try and speak with Tina."
Scott drank the last of his coffee, then got up and placed the cup on the lower shelf of the coffee stand. The spot reserved for used cups.
"I suppose your right." Scott looked down at floor. "If she'll even speak to me."
"Did you part on bad terms last night?" Kara held a worried look on her face.
"Bad? Well there's nothing good about this situation. The woman I planned to marry turns out to be my sister - well half-sister." There was a moment of pause. "We didn't argue, if that's what you mean. We just both feel like seeing each other only deepens the pain we're experiencing."
"Turning your back on a situation never made it better."
"Easy for you to say. I should have just stuck to my guns and never gotten involved in romance again."
"Not true Scott. I admit what Susan did to you was a terrible thing, but swearing off women is not the answer. I was so happy for you and Tina when you two fell in love. I feel like your heartbreak is all my fault." Kara looked as if she wanted to cry.
Scott suddenly remembering that his mother was in almost as much pain as he was went to her and gave her a hug. "Don't feel that way Mom. You had no way of knowing. None of us did." Scott gave his mother a wink. "Besides you gained a daughter out of the deal."
"Did I?" Kara swallowed, as if holding back her tears. "Tina didn't seem exactly happy at the revelation that I was her birth mother."
Give her some time Mom. Like you, she's torn in two. She's always wanted to know what her birth parents were like. She just didn't expect her birth mother to be the mother of the man she fell in love with."
There was a knock on the door.
Kara replied, "Come in."
Dana, one of the waitresses, entered the office. "Kara, the tea dealer you've been expecting is here."
"Tell him I'll be right there."
Dana nodded an exited the office.
This was Scott's clue to leave. He said his good-bye and told his mother if he wasn't at Tina's she could find him at home.
Scott noted, on his drive to Tina's, that the skies were as overcast as his spirits. He tried to formulate in his mind what he was going to say to Tina. Nothing sounded right. No matter how he told her he knew she would feel like kicking his butt for pulling such a dumb stunt."
Tina was in her upstairs bedroom, standing near the window, brushing her long blonde hair, when she noticed Scott's car parking in front of the house. Her heart skipped a joyous beat at the sight of Scott, while at the same time breaking. She raced downstairs and into the kitchen, where her mother was, and begged her mother to tell Scott she was asleep.
Mrs. Harris answered the knock on the door and was in the middle of telling Scott that Tina was still sleeping, when they heard a sneeze come from the kitchen area. Both knew it was Tina's sneeze. Looking rather embarrassed Mrs. Harris said, "I'm sorry Scott. Tina doesn't want to speak with you."
Scott briefly explained the reason for his visit and asked Mrs. Harris to pass on the message.
Mrs. Harris led Scott to the living room, as if he were a first time visitor, and asked him to wait as she went and spoke to Tina.
A few moments later Tina entered the living room.
Scott could tell from the expression on her face and her stride that she was upset.
Tina came to a stop, standing directly in front of Scott. "So you went and broadcast this whole mess to the press." She put one hand on her hip.
Scott attempted to stand, but Tina was standing too close. "Tina it's not exactly like that. I admit I didn't use could judgement. ..."
"That's an understatement."
Scott felt like a schoolboy that had done some unpardonable act and was sitting in front of the school principal. "Tina, could you please take a seat and let me explain?"
Tina stood a moment longer, continuing to give Scott a disapproving look, then went and sat in a chair opposite Scott, who was sitting on the sofa.
Scott watched Tina as she took her chair, thinking how she always looked beautiful. Even more so when she was mad or excited. When mad she took on the look of a lioness protecting her brood. Her long blonde hair seemed to rustle like a mane and her deep blue eyes had a wantonness look.
Entranced by her beauty Scott didn't realize several seconds had gone by in silence.
"Well? Are you going to explain?"
"Yes." Scott shook off his thoughts, reminding himself that this was his half-sister. "Like I told your mother, I was feeling sorry for myself and posted a message on a news message board. I wasn't fully aware of what I was doing." Noting the look of disbelief on Tina's face, Scott explained, "I was rather inebriated at the time."
"You were drunk?" A shocked look came over Tina's face.
"Admittedly it's a rare occasion when I drink, but yes I was drunk. Drank a fifth of Jim Beam."
"Scott!" Tina's disbelief turned to humor as she suppressed a giggle. Her face turning stern. "Did it do any good?"
"No."
Tina started to say something then thought better of it. She looked at Scott in silence for a few moments, before saying, "Do you think speaking with this reporter will do any good?"
Scott shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Mother seems to think that it will help other adopted kids that may be in a similar situation."
"I see." Tina thought over Scott's words. "I suppose she might be right."
"I haven't agreed to an interview yet. Mother is willing. How about you?" Scott held his breath hoping Tina wouldn't explode.
"I don't know Scott. What's the reporter's name?"
"Veronica Layne."
Tina sat forward, giving Scot a wide-eyed look.
"From channel six news?"
"That's the one."
"You never did do things in a small way."
Scott gave Tina an embarrassed smile and a shrug of his shoulders.
"Do you have a number where I can reach her and speak with her before making my decision?"
"To be honest, no. But I can get one."
Mrs. Harris entered the room. "Tina, there is a Veronica Layne on the phone. She'd like to speak with you."
"Tina and Scott exchanged looks of surprise. Standing, Tina said, "Well I guess this takes care of the need for her number."
Scott started to follow Tina to the kitchen. Tina stopped him, asking him to wait in the living room.
Scott returned to his seat. He thought about how amazing it was that life and attitudes could change so in just twenty-four hours. Yesterday morning he was going around this house like he was one of the family. Today he felt like an unwanted visitor.
It seemed like an eternity before Tina returned. In reality it was probably only about fifteen minutes. When Tina returned she remained standing, near the living room entrance. "Scott, I've agreed to speak with Veronica Layne tomorrow at two in the afternoon, here at the house. Do you think you and your..." Tina paused momentarily. "mother could be here also?"
"I can be. I'll have to check with mother and get back to you."
"Okay."
"There was an unspoken quality about Tina that told Scott it was time for him to leave.
"Well I better go. I'll call you after I speak with mother."
"Thank you. If I'm not here, just leave a message with whomever answers."
"Alright." Scott's disappointment showed in his voice.
Scott resisted the urge to hug Tina as he passed her and headed to the front door. Tina followed him.
Scott opened the front door. "See you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow."
Scott had no sooner cleared the doorway than Tina shut the door. Scott's heart ached as if she had stabbed him.
Instead of going home, Scott returned to the shop and spoke briefly with his mother.
Kara agreed to the interview and told Scott she would call Tina and tell her.
Scott passed on the message that if Tina wasn't available, as he felt she wouldn't be, to leave the message with whomever she spoke to. Then he went and cleaned up a storeroom he'd been meaning to clean for some time.
That evening Scott learned that his mother had spoken to Tina and that the interview had been switched from Tina's to their place, at the same time. Scott dealt silently with the jealousy he felt that Tina would speak to his mother and not him.

At the sound of the doorbell Kara knew who it was. She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, and then answered the door. Recognizing Veronica Layne from TV and when she covered the incident in which her husband had been killed she said, "Welcome Ms Layne." Taking note that she looked smaller than she remembered.
They exchanged greetings and settled in the living room. Veronica chose the plum chair by the front windows. Kara took a seat on the floral sofa, thinking to herself how Veronica looked more like an athlete than a reporter, with her compact body, short auburn hair, and hazel eyes.
Veronica opened her rather large briefcase, taking out a tape recorder, notepad and pencil. Advising Kara to call her Veronica and asking where Scott and Tina were.
"They'll both be along directly. I thought Scott would be here by now." Kara took a throw pillow from the back of the sofa and placed it on the sofa arm, under her left arm. "Tina called a few minutes ago and said she was running late."
"Well perhaps I could get some background information "from you while we wait."
"Certainly."
"Could you tell me, in your own words, the circumstances surrounding Tina's birth and adoption?"
Kara placed with the pillow beneath her arm. "I'm not sure where to begin."
"I take it you were unmarried at the time?"
"Yes. I was a naive seventeen years old attending high school. I fell in love with an older man, a charming bamboozler. When I told him I was pregnant he disappeared."
"How did your family take the news?"
"Not very well I'm afraid. My father was a bank president, in Berkeley, and all he could think of was how the scandal was going to ruin his reputation. My mother was a prominent part of society and saw my pregnancy as a blot on her shinning record." Kara paused as she recalled the past. "I desperately wanted to keep my baby. At first I thought I had succeeded in convincing my parents to let me keep my child."
Veronica asked, "What gave you that impression?"
"They sent me away to a private boarding school, out of state. I studied hard and graduated high school in my seventh month of pregnancy. After that they arranged for me to stay with a retired schoolteacher by the name of Miss Hornaby. She lived in the Berkeley hills and led a quiet life. She was a wonderful person. She taught me to crochet. I made several things for my baby." Kara reached to the back of the sofa, where she had previously laid a rainbow colored crocheted baby blanket. Retrieving the blanket she fondled it and then laid it on her lap.
Veronica noted the blanket with interest. "I take it that blanket is one of the items you made?"
"Yes." Kara become overwhelmed with emotion and took a moment to compose herself. "My daughter, who I named Diana Marie, was born on August 1, 1972. It was one of the happiest moments of my life. The next morning my parents arrived at the hospital with a woman, a stranger, and literally took by daughter out of my arms and placed her into this stranger's arms, informing me that Diana was being given up for adoption. I was devastated." Kara forced her tears back and rubbed the blanket in her lap. "Diana was wrapped in this blanket. As the lady walked out of the room with a nurse and Diana I called after Diana telling her that her love blanket would surround her with my love always. Then I broke down sobbing."
Veronica's heart went out to Kara. "You had no knowledge of the adoption before hand?"
"No. And being only seventeen I wasn't of age to contest the adoption."
"How is it that you come to have the blanket?"
"Tina brought it to me, after I told her the story of Diana, and she realized that she was Diana."
They heard the front door open and a moment later Scott entered the living room.
"Sorry I'm late, got held up with a customer."
"That's alright," said Veronica. "It gave me a chance to get some background information from your mother."
After introductions Scott took a seat on the loveseat across from his mother. "Tina's not here yet?"
"She called" replied his mother "saying she was running late."
Scott simply nodded his head, wondering if she would show.
Veronica briefly brought Scott up to speed on where the interview presently stood. After which she said, "I have a couple of more questions for your mother, then I'd like to hear from you."
"Alright," replied Scott, happy that he was off the hook for the moment.
Veronica continued her questioning of Kara learning that Kara had met Frank Ryder two years after Diana's birth. She was surprised to learn that Kara and Frank had been married after only knowing each other for six weeks and that Scott was born ten months that.
Kara made the comment, "Scott was a joy to raise. A bit mischievous at times and always the adventurer, but a very loving son."
Veronica noted the affection between mother and son as Kara spoke. She concluded the background information on Kara by asking, "Did you ever look for Diana over the years?"
"Oh many times, without success. Father had arranged everything privately and would never tell me anything. He took all the details of the adoption with him to his grave. Mother always claimed she never knew any of the details." Kara gave a small sigh, as she looked past Veronica and out the window. "I'll never know if that was true or not."
Veronica turned her attention to Scott. "I'm sure you don't remember, but I was one of the reporters that covered the story when your father was killed."
Receiving no reply from Scott she continued. "If I remember correctly you left college to help your mother run the family business. Is this correct?"
"Yes."
"Do you ever regret doing so?"
"No."
"Scott, any background information you could give me would add to the story."
Scott thought for a couple of minutes before speaking. "Every since I was a small boy I dreamed of being a professional baseball pitcher. I use to eat, drink and sleep baseball. When I was a senior in high school I had several professional scouts checking me out. I just knew my dreams were coming true. Then one day my girlfriend, Susan Malone, came to me and told me she was pregnant. I was "devastated. I liked Susan, but in all honesty never planned to marry her. However, considering the circumstances and the fact that I was brought up in a good Christian home, I felt it was my duty to do the right thing. We were married the day after I graduated from high school." Scott bit his bottom lip. "I tried to pursue my baseball dreams, but Susan wouldn't let me. She told me I was about to be a parent and had to quit playing silly games. Learn to be responsible.   So I went to work for her father in his construction business." Scott looked to his mother as if recalling the past. "One day, about two months into our marriage, Susan and mother had a showdown. Mother questioned Susan's pregnancy. Susan broke down and admitted that she had an abortion the week before we were married."
"Really," commented Veronica, raising one eyebrow. "How did you feel about that?"
"Angry, hurt, confused. I couldn't understand how she could say she loved me and yet abort our child, without even consulting me."
"What explanation did she give?"
"She admitted that she'd gotten pregnant to get me to marry her. She claimed she loved me and she didn't want to lose me." There was momentary silence as Scott suppressed old memories that surfaced. "She told me she was sorry, but she wasn't ready to be a mother."
"Was the marriage over at that point?"
"No. I tried to honor my marriage commitment for better or worse. Things only got worse. Eventually we were barely speaking and I was spending most nights on the sofa."
"What finally ended the marriage?"
"Susan came to me one day and said she thought we should have a child, to put our marriage back together." Scott paused, making a face and shaking his head. "Something in me snapped. I felt she was trying to trap me all over again. I walked out and filed for divorce the next day."
"I take it that's when you quit work and went to college."
"Yes. I took up law. Probably because that is what my best friend, Jay, was taking. It wasn't long before I realized I wasn't cut out to be an attorney, but felt I had to stick it out, since my father was footing the bill."
"Not to undermine your decision, or the gravity of the situation, but your father's death was then an excuse to quit?"
"Exactly."
There was a knock on the front door.
Kara went to answer it and returned with Tina at her side.
Introductions were made and Veronica once again gave the status of the interview.
Scott was disappointed to see Tina take a seat at the opposite end of the sofa, from his mother. He'd hoped she'd sit by him.
Veronica looked from Scott to Tina. "Now that you're both here, could one of you tell me how you met?"
Tina and Scott exchanged looks, both giving the other a slight smile.
Tina replied, "I literally fell into Scott's arms."
Veronica prompted Tina to go on. Between Tina and Scott she learned that Tina had been attending a book signing of Sue Grafton's when a customer, apparently irritated by the overpopulation of the store, started pushing his way out of the store. In the process he elbowed Tina so hard it caused her to lose her balance and she began to fall. Scott caught her, but in doing so tripped over the leg of the book table and they nearly both fell, causing Tina to twist her ankle.
"So was it love at first sight?" Veronica studied the two as she asked the question.
Tina and Scott looked at one another and laughed.
"Not exactly," replied Tina.
Veronica waited a moment for one of them to continue. When neither did, she said, "Well don't keep me in suspense."
Tina smiled. "I had plans to go to South Africa with a missionary program. I was recovering from a romance gone wrong and was very bitter towards men in general. I had immersed myself in helping others, trying to forget my dreams of love, romance, and having a family."
Veronica looked to Scott. "And you?"
"I had sworn off women forever, after my experience with Susan."
"So tell me, how did you two get together?"
"Guess you could say it was fate," replied Tina.
"The day of the incident, I learned that Tina had taken a bus to the bookstore," said Scott. "I offered her a ride home. Feeling attracted to her, but not wanting to admit it, I asked her to dinner. She declined my offer, but did accept my offer to chauffeur her around on some errands she needed to do over the following few days before she was to leave."
"Then I became ill," interjected Tina.
"Her mother called me," continued Scott "saying Tina was ill and would call me in a day or two when she was better. I didn't hear anything and was concerned."
"Not to mention a bear to live with," added his mother.
Scott continued, "I called Tina's house to find out if she was better, or if perhaps I was being politely dumped. I learned she'd had an appendicitis attack that resulted in surgery and she was in the hospital. I rushed over to hospital with roses in hand."
"He pretty much camped out at my bedside," concluded Tina.
"So, as they say, the rest was pretty much history?" asked Veronica, watching both closely.
Scott and Tina exchanged looks that began with smiles and ended with sadness in their eyes.
"I guess that's a good way to put it," replied Tina.
The book signing having been the past October, Veronica wondered how long before Scott and Tina had become engaged. "When did you propose Scott?"
"On Valentine's Day."
"How romantic." Veronica smiled. "So you were only engaged about three weeks before you learned the devastating truth?"
Tina solemnly nodded, while Scott replied, "Yes."
"Am I correct that you, Tina, just learned last evening that you were Kara's daughter?"
"Yes, well yesterday afternoon actually."
"Could one of you please tell me about the moment when you learned that Tina was Diana?"
Kara, Tina and Scott exchanged looks. Kara started to answer, and then Tina said, "Let me."
Tina gave a heavy sigh. "Scott and I were here going over our invitation list with Kara. I didn't know if Kara knew I was adopted and thought it was something she should know before Scott and I were married. After I mentioned it she started telling me about..." Tina momentarily paused and swallowed hard. "the daughter she'd given up for adoption." Kara again paused. "When she got to the part about the rainbow blanket it hit me like a ton of bricks that I was her daughter Diana."
Veronica interrupted. "How so?"
"My parents kept a blanket I was wrapped in the day they adopted me. It was a hand crocheted blanket." Tina pointed to the blanket lying on Kara's lap. "That blanket. My mother always told me it was a blanket of love and that she was sure that the woman that had given me up for adoption had done so out of love, so that I would have a better life than what she could offer me."
"What did you do when you realized the truth?"
"I ran, crying, from the house. Scott followed but I didn't want to talk to him. I had so many emotions running through me that I didn't know what to think or do. I'd found the birth mother I'd always wondered about. Yet she was the mother of the man I loved. I felt happy, sad, confused, mad..." Tina stopped, not knowing what else to say.
When Veronica asked Scott to explain his feelings, at the moment he learned the truth he became angry and said, "How the hell do you think I felt? The woman I planned to marry turned out to be my half-sister. How would you feel if you had sex..." At that point he saw Tina begin to cry, and couldn't take anymore. He left the room.
Veronica wrapped up the interview with Tina and Kara telling about the emotional moment when Tina and Scott had returned to the house to tell Kara their discovery. Tina explained that she was pretty much drained at that point, as she had made Scott take her home, so she could retrieve the blanket, before telling Kara.
Veronica was glad the tape recorder was going when Tina and Kara explained their joy and heartbreak at the moment when Tina had given Kara the baby blanket, as she could have never found the words to capture the emotion.
By the end of the session both Kara and Tina had tears in their eyes and it was all Veronica could do to keep from crying herself.
Tina left before Veronica. Veronica thanked Kara and told her to pass on her thanks to Scott and her apology for upsetting him. Before saying her good-bye she told Kara that after she got the story together she would need to get with the three of them and set up a photo shoot.

The next morning Veronica Layne woke up with a start. The night before while trying to assemble her story on Scott and Tina there had been a little bell going off in the back of her mind, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was her mind was trying to tell her. Upon awaking it came to her.
Veronica remembered a story she had done several years before. A young woman named Amanda O'Brien had been in a car accident and needed a blood transfusion. Her family had all donated blood only to discover that none of them had the same blood type as the girl.
In the lengthy investigation that followed it was discovered that during the late fifties the hospital where Amanda had been born had a faulty system of identifying newborns. It was surmised that Amanda and another newborn had been accidentally switched.
Veronica woke with the words of Amanda's mother in her mind. During an interview with Mrs. O'Brien, Veronica recalled the woman saying, "I should have known something was wrong when they wheeled Amanda in to me. She was wrapped in a handcrafted rainbow blanket. I recognized it as the blanket that I'd seen my roommate give to the nurse to put on her baby." Mrs. O'Brien had told Veronica that she had been very irritated and stripped the blanket off and given it to the nurse to give back to her roommate.
Veronica remembered that when she had tried to track down the roommate the hospital had told her that Mrs. O'Brien had to be mistaken, as there had been no one else in the room with her. When Veronica had questioned Mrs. O'Brien further she'd insisted that there had been another young woman in the bed next to her. She recalled waking from a nap and hearing the young woman sobbing. It appeared her parents were with her consoling her. Soon after the young woman had left the hospital. Mrs. O'Brien always wondered if the baby died or what had happened.
Veronica rose ready for action. Praying that her gut feeling was right.

Scott woke to pounding on the front door. He pulled his pants on and stumbled to the front door, noting the phone was ringing. The ringing stopped just before he reached the door and he assumed his mother had answered it. Scott opened the door and was shocked to see a jubilant Tina, practically dancing, before him.
Tina entered and immediately began pushing Scott toward his bedroom. "Hurry up, get dressed. You have to go with me. I can't do this alone."
"What are you talking about?" Scott tried to look at Tina, but she was jumping around so he couldn't focus on her. "Do what alone?"
They had nearly reached Scott's bedroom when Kara appeared in the hallway, wearing her robe.
Tina took one look at Kara and knew Veronica had called her. "Isn't it exciting? I may not be Diana after all." She rushed to Kara and gave her a hug. Then darted back to Scott and pushed him in his room. Closing the door she said, "Get dressed you have to go with us..." she stopped. Looking at Kara she said, "You are going for DNA testing?"
Kara nodded as a smile crossed her face. She was pleased to see Tina happy again, though a part of her heart was saddened by the fact that Tina might not be Diana after all.
Tina explained, through the closed door, to Scott that Veronica had called and told her the story of Amanda O'Brien and had arranged for DNA testing for Amanda, Kara, and herself.
Scott emerged full clothed. "So Veronica thinks that Amanda is Diana and you are, or should have been, Amanda?"
"Right."
The three were soon on their way to the hospital for Tina and Kara to undergo DNA testing.

The next couple of days were a blur, as all involved waited on pins and needles for the results of the DNA testing.
Scott was in the bookstore stocking shelves when Tina rushed in. She threw her arms around Scott and said, "The wedding is on!"
Tina's words gave new life to Scott's heart. He swung her around saying, "Hallelujah!" Oblivious to the stares they were getting from customers, Scott took Tina's hand and started for the cafe. "Let's tell Mom the good news."
Kara was working behind the counter, filling in for an ill employee, when she saw Scott and Tina walking towards her hand in hand. She knew what their news was going to be before they ever spoke. Her heart was overjoyed to see the two of them together again.
After telling Kara the news that the DNA testing had proven beyond doubt that Tina was the O'Brien's daughter, Tina whispered something in Scott's ear.
Scott gave Tina a surprised look. "Really?"
Tina nodded.
Scott excused himself and came back with a clerk from the bookstore to take his mother's place behind the counter.
"Come with us we have a surprise for you." Scott took his mother's hand and led her around the counter. Then he told Tina to lead the way.
The three left the store and under sunny skies walked down to the end of the block to a restaurant. Once they entered the restaurant, Tina led them to a back booth where Veronica and another young lady were sitting. Turning to Kara, she said, "Kara let me introduce you to your daughter Diana Marie, otherwise known as Amanda O'Brien." She turned to Amanda and said, "Amanda let me introduce you to your birth mother Kara Ryder."
Tears filled Kara's eyes as she recognized how Amanda resembled the man that had abandoned her over twenty years before.
Amanda exited the booth and gave Kara a hug, tears streaming from her eyes.

Now, three months later, Veronica sat scanning film footage shot at Scott and Tina's wedding. Her heart warmed by the bond the three families had made. She smiled as she looked at the maid of honor, Amanda O'Brien. Her story was ready to air. All it needed was a title. Veronica's eye got a clip of Kara holding the baby blanket. She thought, it's the blanket that tied the story together. That's it!
I'll call the story - THE LOVE BLANKET.

                                              The End

Copyright �2001 Kenna Marie Clayton