A Family Secret (Conclusion) (standard:other, 18814 words) [3/3] show all parts
Author: Kenneth Nash	Added: Nov 09 2006	Views/Reads: 2643/1991	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
A story of how a family secret influenced a young woman's decisions in life.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

minutes of awkward silence between them. Then they both started to 
speak at the same time. Janelle hesitated as did Jonathan... and after 
a couple of “you go ahead” they both started laughing.  She had not 
really laughed in a long time. “I don't think he is married... he 
doesn't have a ring on... I wonder if he has a girlfriend. What kind of 
job...he drives a nice car and has stylish clothes... must be a rich 
kid!” thought Janelle to herself. She found herself curious about the 
man at the end of the bench. But, she just said, “It is nice of you to 
come and see Ben each Sunday afternoon. I know he appreciates that. We 
usually don't get many visitors.” “Ben and I have known each other 
since grade school. I wish I had time to visit more often than I do.” 

“What keeps you so busy? Your job?” 

“No, it is my studies... the professors have no pity!” 

“Oh, you are in college then. What are you studying to be?” asked
Janelle.  He told her he was in his second year of law school at St. 
Mary's University in San Antonio. “Wow, you are going to be a lawyer? 
Most people I know don't like lawyers very much.” She smiled, as she 
said, “But you seem like a likeable guy!”  Jonathan replied quickly, 
“Maybe that's because I haven't passed the bar yet!” 

When she asked him why he decided on law school, he told her it just
seemed the natural thing to do. His grandfather and his father both 
graduated from St. Mary's Law School. 

It was beginning to get dark. The sun was setting over the mountains and
the trees were casting long shadows across the pond when Ben arrived 
back at the bench the couple was sitting on. “Hey, dude, I am sorry for 
leaving you...but I know the extra work I put in on my journal will 
make the counselor happy. After all, they sign the papers to get us out 
of here.” called Ben as he strode up. 

Jonathan said he needed to leave and, as he stood up, turned to Janelle
and said quietly, “Thanks for the conversation and company.  I hope to 
see you next Sunday.”  Janelle nodded, picked up her journal, and 
walked back toward the cottage. 

The thought came to her that her parents would approve of Jonathan. 

Janelle found herself looking forward to Jon's Sunday afternoon visits.
The three would sit on the bench near the pond. When it began to get 
colder and windy, they would spend the time in the recreation room 
sipping hot chocolate. 

After a couple weeks, Janelle spoke with Ben. “Ben, I hope you don't
mind me being there with you and Jonathan. I know he is your friend. I 
don't want to interfere with your visits.”  “Don't be silly! He likes 
you, and besides I have been telling him he ought to get a social 
life!” replied Ben.  “Thanks, but I wouldn't exactly call visiting a 
resident in a drug rehab a social life!” said Janelle, as they both had 
a good laugh. The young woman noticed she was laughing a lot more 
lately. It felt good. 

Often when Jon would come, Ben would visit for a few minutes then excuse
himself. It gave Janelle and Jon some time to be alone... he was easy 
to talk to. Jon never asked her any questions about her past. “It is a 
good thing he doesn't question me about it... I will never tell 
anyone... it is my secret!” she thought to herself. 

But, during her last two months at the facility, they became more
acquainted. She talked about the program, her counselor, and shared her 
goals with Jon. He listened quietly as she talked about her fears of 
leaving the center and trying to find a job, a place to live, and 
locating a meeting place. 

“Janelle, let me help you. I will look for a meeting place, pick you up
from the rehab center, take you to the courthouse, and then we will 
just figure it out from there.” 

She wasn't sure... it was hard to trust anyone... but she had no other
options. 

Janelle had her small bag packed with all her “worldly possessions”, the
certificate of completion in hand, and was waiting outside the 
admissions office as Jonathan pulled up smiling. 

As they drove into San Antonio, listening to soft rock on the car radio,
Janelle felt a freedom she hadn't felt in a long, long, time. And yet 
there was the uncertainty of her future. For the first time she had 
goals, a plan, but didn't know what to do with them. 

After a long period of silence, Jonathan spoke up, “Janelle, just listen
to what I have to say before you start objecting... I know you need to 
rest, eat a good meal, take a shower, and make some phone calls... I 
took the liberty of telling my parents about you. Mom insisted that we 
come straight to our house. She will have dinner waiting on us. 

“He had no right to do that without telling me first.” she thought
angrily.  But, she knew that he was right. It was the only rational 
choice at this point. 

Janelle was nervous about meeting his parents. Ben had told her that
Jonathan Scott Mason, II was one of the wealthiest and most prominent 
defense attorneys in San Antonio. “You should see their house, it looks 
like a mansion. They have a pool, tennis court, and two guest houses. 
They even have a maid that comes in and cleans!” said Ben as they 
talked about Jon one afternoon after group session. 

If his dad starts asking questions, and grilling me with that lawyer
stuff... I am just gonna walk out!” said Janelle to herself. She didn't 
say anything to Jon about the decision he had made but, he could tell 
she wasn't sure of it. “Please, don't worry, Janelle.  I am just trying 
to help... it will be okay.” Jon said trying to reassure this young 
woman that he had begun to care about. 

The house was a magnificent two-story home; the landscape suggested a
full time gardener and the long driveway could accommodate three 
vehicles. A new SUV was parked in front of the three car garage. “Jon, 
just leave my bag in the car for now, okay?” pleaded Janelle. 

Inside the house she could smell the aromas from the dinner that Ms.
Mason was preparing.  They entered through the heavy wooden double 
doors into a large foyer. The carpet was pure white, and about a foot 
deep thought Janelle. To the left was a spiral staircase with dark wood 
banisters that led to the upstairs. To the right was what appeared to 
Janelle an office or study. The door was open and she could see a 
massive desk made out of some kind of dark wood. “I wonder what kind of 
wood... her dad would know!” she thought. 

“Oh, there you are!” she heard the woman's voice from the kitchen. “Come
on in; I  just about have dinner ready... I hope you two are hungry!” 
The woman came out of the kitchen through the huge dining room drying 
her hands on an apron. She was a beautiful woman, she had dark brown 
hair with just a touch of gray. It could have been done by the 
hairdresser, but Janelle suspected it was natural. Her eyes were blue. 
The slight laugh-lines around them suggested that Ms. Mason smiled 
often. Jonathan introduced Janelle to his mother. “It is nice to meet 
you, Ms. Mason” “Please... call me Naomi, all my friends do.” “May I 
call you Janelle?”  “Oh! Goodness, I better go take that roast out of 
the oven!” She turned and scurried back to the kitchen. Jon looked at 
Janelle and was relieved that she didn't look so worried and had a 
little smile on her pretty face. 

“Scott, they are here and dinner is on the table!” called Naomi to
somewhere up the winding staircase. 

He came down the stairs, dressed in old worn Levis and khaki shirt that
looked just as worn. He was a big man with soft brown eyes, and a shock 
of unruly snow white hair. 

“So this is the famous Jonathan Scott Mason, the second! If he had a
light gray suit he would look a lot like Matlock!” Janelle mused. 

“Good afternoon, son.  And this must be Miss Janelle LeAnn Armstrong,
the fourth.” he said, displaying a dazzling smile that reminded her of 
that first meeting with Jonathan.  “Jonathan, you didn't....” she felt 
herself blushing. As she felt the young man fidget at her side, Mr. 
Mason guffawed, and said, “Well he did mention that was the first thing 
he heard from you. He has told us quite a bit of his visits with you, 
in fact that is about the only thing he talks about since meeting you!” 
Now it was Jon's turn to blush. Janelle smiled and shook the extended 
hand of the famous defense attorney.  She liked him immediately, and 
that was unusual for a girl that found it hard to like or trust anyone. 


Janelle felt a little awkward as they sat down at the massive dining
room table. But as the family filled their plates with the southern 
cooked meal of pot roast, mashed potatoes and brown gravy, pinto beans, 
green salad, and honest-to-goodness homemade rolls, she began to relax. 
It had been a long time since she had a meal like that. It reminded her 
of her home in Garland. “I have to try to find my parents soon” she 
thought sadly. 

“This is really a good dinner Ms.. Mason...uh Naomi. Thank you.”  Before
Naomi could say anything Mr. Mason said “she is a great cook. I told 
her that we could hire a cook, but she loves to putter around in the 
kitchen, and I love to eat what she putters up” he smiled, reached over 
and took his wife's hand. “Oh, Scott...” she replied modestly. 

Jonathan told Janelle why they referred to his dad as Scott instead of
Jonathan. “Grandma told me that when daddy was growing up if she 
hollered ‘Jonathan' neither one would answer... so they started calling 
him Scott. My mom took the clue from grandma and started calling me 
Jon. So dad and I have no excuse for ignoring her.” “ I will have to 
remember that”, but where did that thought come from and why wondered 
Janelle. 

After dessert of banana pudding and strawberry shortcake, the family
retired to the sitting room. “Janelle, Jonathan told us you need to go 
see the judge and present the certificate of completion so he can close 
out your case.” “Oh, no here it comes” thought Janelle as she felt her 
palms begin to get sweaty. Before she could reply Scott continued “ I 
am acquainted with all the judges, and I took the liberty to visit with 
old McIntyre, the one who will sign off on the case. I didn't think you 
wanted to wait in the courtroom, so I made an appointment for you to 
meet with him in chambers Monday morning.  I will go with you if it 
will make you more at ease.” She thanked him and said yes, she would 
feel better if he was with her. 

She was on her way to accomplishing her goals... but she had a long way
to go. 

As the sky began to get darker, she realized she hadn't made plans for
getting a room. She had enough money for a couple nights; they gave her 
that much when she was discharged this morning. She mentioned to 
Jonathan that, perhaps, they should leave and try to find an affordable 
room. 

“Why, you will do no such thing! We have two guest houses, right behind
the house here. They are both unoccupied so you can stay right here. I 
wont hear of you going to some room tonight!” argued Naomi forcefully. 
Janelle looked at Jonathan, he shrugged his shoulders and smiled as he 
said, “I learned a long time ago not to argue with mom when she speaks 
in that tone of voice.” As Jon went to the car to retrieve her bag, 
Naomi told her there were clean towels, and a full bath in each of the 
guest houses. Both had two bedrooms, kitchen, dining room and small 
living room... she could choose either one. Janelle picked the one 
closest to the house. It was Saturday night, and she was tired, so she 
said goodnight to the Mason family, and Jonathan walked her to the 
guest house, where she spent some much needed time in a very hot 
shower. 

She awoke around 6:30 the next morning. As she was making up the bed and
selecting her clothes for the day from the meager selection, she 
thought about how nice Jon's parents had been to her yesterday. “They 
are so down to earth for rich people. They really don't know me at all. 
Not even Jon knows about my secret; I must be careful and keep it that 
way” she vowed to herself. 

The telephone on the nightstand by the bed rang... should I answer it...
why would anyone be calling? “Hello?”  “Good morning, was you awake? I 
didn't want to wake you.” It was Jonathan. “Yes, I was already up and 
dressed. Where are you calling from?” Jon chuckled and said I am in the 
main house. Mom is fixing breakfast... how do you like your eggs?” 

After they had finished breakfast, Jonathan gave her a tour of the
estate. It seemed like the property stretched for miles. They strolled 
past the Olympic size heated pool to the tennis courts just beyond 
Naomi's garden. Past the courts was a neatly mowed lawn that looked 
like a meadow. They didn't venture into the densely wooded area that 
made up the rest of the Mason's property.  “It is lovely, Jon!” 
breathed Janelle. 

“Yes, it is... but not as lovely as you are!” She blushed, and felt her
heart skip a beat as she said, “Why, thank you Jonathan Scott Mason, 
the third.” “You are welcome” Jon replied as she slipped her hand into 
his. 

On their way back to the main house, he told her that his sister, her
husband, and two children were coming for Sunday dinner today.  “I 
wasn't aware you had a sister.” John told her that his sister, Deborah, 
was six years old when he was born. She and her husband, Harold, have 
two children. Aaron six years, and Jeannie, age four. “They are cute 
kids, but can be a handful at times. They wont be as much trouble 
today, it is a little to cool for them to get in the pool even though 
it is heated. Dad had a playground built for them. Those two have that 
old man wrapped around their fingers” said Jonathan with a smile. 

“I always wanted a little brother or sister... I wonder if my
birthmother had any more kids... probably not... if she had wanted 
kids, she would not have given me away” she thought to herself. 

It was an enjoyable afternoon. She and Debbie got along well. She
thought the children were adorable. Jon and her took turns pushing the 
kids in the swings most of the afternoon.  It had been a busy day and 
she decided to get a shower and go to bed early. They had an 
appointment at 9:00 in the morning with the judge. 

She set the alarm on the clock by the bed for 6:00 am. As she sleepily
reached out and pushed the alarm button, she remembered today was the 
day she had been waiting for, although somewhat nervously. Judges 
always made her nervous, not that she had been before more than two or 
three. They always looked so stern and powerful sitting up there above 
everyone else. She was glad Mr. Mason would be with her even, if it was 
just in the judge's chambers. 

On the way to the courthouse, Mr. Mason was all business. He didn't look
anything like he did when she first saw him in his old Levis. The dark 
blue suit he was wearing must have cost at least 300.00 dollars, 
thought Janelle. She didn't know anything about prices of men's 
clothing but she recognized “expensive” when she saw it. He had on a 
freshly ironed white shirt and a red “power” tie. Except for the neatly 
groomed, snow white, hair he looked like that other TV lawyer. His name 
was Mason too... what was it...Oh, yeah Perry Mason! 

“Janelle, I have been meaning to talk to you about something...” “Now
here it  comes” she thought. Yet, she listened as Mr. Mason continued, 
“My office is looking for some part-time help. It will just be 
answering the phone and doing some light filing. There will be no 
client confidentiality to deal with. It is only part time for now since 
our receptionist has been so overworked and needing to be relieved a 
few days a week. Do you think you would be interested in giving it a 
try? Actually it would benefit both of us. I know that Judge McIntyre 
will ask you if you are employed, or at least looking for a job. You 
may use our address since you are living in the guest house until you 
can find an apartment and be on your own. What do you think? If you 
accept, you can start Friday morning.” Of course she agreed. She 
couldn't wait to tell Jonathan when he came home from classes tonight. 
But, somehow she felt he probably already knew what his dad was going 
to propose on the way to the courthouse. 

“Good Morning, Miss Armstrong. I see you have completed the six months
of rehabilitation. I have before me a letter from your counselor 
stating that you did  excellent work with the program. You are to be 
commended. I hope you will put into practice all that you learned 
there. I also note that you have a local address. Is that correct?” 
“Yes sir” “May I ask if you are employed, or actively seeking 
employment?”  Before she could speak, Mr. Mason said, “She is, Your 
Honor, I have hired her as a receptionist in my law office.” The Judge 
looked at Janelle and then the attorney, then asked, “Counselor, are 
you here in an official capacity?” “No, Your Honor, just as a personal 
friend.”  “Very well, Miss Armstrong, I am closing your case. You are 
aware that you will be on 12 months unsupervised probation?” “Yes, 
thank you, Your Honor.” “Case closed!” ordered the Judge. 

As she was leaving, she heard the Judge say, “Nice to see you again
Scott. Say hello to Naomi for me.” “Good to see you, Thomas. Give 
Beverly our regards.” “Oh, by the way Scott, I thought I recognized 
that address. How is Jon doing with law school?” She thought she saw 
the old Judge wink! 

Mr. Mason took her back to the house before he went to the office. He
said he had to be in court all afternoon.  Jon was still in class until 
4:00 that day. She noticed Naomi's car was gone, so she went to the 
guest house, took out her journal and began to write... it had been a 
couple days and she had much to add. 

“So much has happened since I left the center Saturday morning. I can't
believe how fast things have progressed. Jon's family is so nice. I 
find myself wanting to stay here... but I know I can't. I need to 
pursue the rest of my goals. I have a place to live for now, my court 
commitment is behind me and I even have a part-time job. But, there is 
so much left to do,” thought Janelle as she reviewed the goals she had 
put on paper. 

Janelle knew she had to get her driver's license, and from her first pay
check would get some new clothes. She wanted to look presentable in the 
prestigious law office. “I will check on the adult classes and start to 
work on my GED; college would have to come later. I really need to find 
out about my parents...” Janelle felt a concern, maybe even dread, when 
she thought about them. She had not been able to talk to them by phone. 
Had they moved? “No, daddy would never sell the house”. She had tried 
to call her grandma Armstrong, and received the same message. “The 
number you have dialed is not a working number.” “What has happened to 
my family?  It is all my fault... I should have called them and let 
them know where I was all those years,” she thought sadly. “I have been 
so selfish!” Janelle cried for the first time in a long time. 

She lay across the bed and drifted off into a fretful sleep. The ringing
of the phone startled her awake. It was Naomi. She had gone to the 
grocery store, and was telling Janelle that she had some lunch ready. 
Janelle went to the bathroom and could see the puffiness around her 
eyes from crying. She washed her face, brushed her hair, and hoped 
Naomi would not notice. 

As the two women sat down to eat, the older woman asked, “Honey, what is
wrong? You have been crying. Did everything go okay with the judge this 
morning?” “Yes, everything went fine,” answered Janelle. Naomi knew 
there was something wrong, but she hesitated to inquire further. “This 
girl has been through so much, I wish she would talk to me,” thought 
Naomi. But, she just said, “Anytime you feel the need to talk I want 
you to know that I am here for you.” 

“Oh, yes, Jonathan called this morning while you were out and said he
had to make a couple stops after class and would be a little later than 
usual,” said Naomi. “Why would he do that? He doesn't have to check in 
with me... it's not like we are married, we aren't even engaged, or 
dating for that matter,” thought Janelle somewhat defensively. She 
immediately felt guilty for the thought. It was just Jon's nature; he 
is so dependable and thoughtful. It is his way of being courteous. 
“Yes, mom and dad would definitely approve.” 

She wondered how much Jon had told his parents about her. Couldn't have
been very much... she had not revealed much of the past to him. It was 
still her secret. 

Jonathan arrived home about 6:00. Janelle had returned to the guest
house when the phone rang. “Hi, it's me” he announced cheerfully when 
she answered the ring. “Are you busy? May I come over? I have a 
surprise for you.” She paused before answering. “What could the 
surprise be?” pondered Janelle. Then she said “uh... sure I am not 
doing anything now.” 

She watched from the door of the guest house as he made his way from the
main house. He was carrying several boxes and wearing that “killer 
smile”. 

“Jonathan, I can't accept these clothes,” protested Janelle as she
looked at the skirts, blouses, pants, and even shoes that he had bought 
for her. They were beautiful; you could mix and match everything he had 
purchased. But she knew that she could not keep them. “Janelle, 
please... when will you ever let me do anything for you? You even 
insisted on paying for your own hot chocolate at the canteen!” “But Jon 
you don't understand...” He cut her off in mid sentence saying, “Okay, 
but this is your graduation gift from me.” “If you can't accept a gift 
just consider it a loan.” He looked so sad, and was so darn cute, too. 
“Oh, Jon you have done so much for me already. As has the rest of your 
family and the clothes are great, I will have something suitable to 
wear to work Friday. Your dad offered me a job this morning. And, hey, 
how did you know my size?”  He flashed her the smile and said, “That is 
what sales clerks are for... and if something doesn't fit we will 
exchange it.” “When I came home awhile ago mom told me that dad had 
offered you the job...he can be a pretty persuasive man.” 

Janelle couldn't resist... she got off the sofa put her arms around his
neck and kissed him. He looked a little surprised, and then held her 
close and they kissed again; this one lasted much longer. 

She rode to work with Jonathan the next Friday morning. Mr. Mason had to
be in court early. Mitzi, the regular receptionist was there and happy 
to see her. She set out showing Janelle all the duties that she would 
perform. Most of it was answering the phone, taking messages, and some 
light filing... pretty much what Mr. M had told her. After the first 
few days she felt more comfortable and really loved her job. “This is 
the first real job I have ever had... not counting babysitting 
occasionally,” mused Janelle. It felt really good. 

The next few months brought Janelle and Jonathan even closer. She had
enrolled in the adult class and was working on her GED in the evenings. 
She studied and passed the driving test for her Texas driver's license. 
Janelle was still living in the guest house, but she was making a 
decent salary and was able to pay the modest rent that she insisted. 
Naomi and she spent a good deal of time together in the kitchen. 
Janelle learned that she loved to cook and Jonathan's mother was a 
great cook and teacher. 

One evening she mentioned to Jon that she wanted to go back to Garland
and try to find her parents. She had discussed the fact that she had 
run away from home when she was sixteen, and that was over six years 
now.  He readily agreed that they needed to take some time and see if 
they could locate them. 

The four bedroom brick house could use some paint on the siding in the
gables and fascia board. The lawn was brown and needed mowing. Janelle 
noticed the hedges, also, needed trimming.  This was the home she had 
lived in all her life, well, at least the first sixteen years of it.  
Surely, there was something wrong. Her dad had spent most weekends 
working around the house. It was his pride and joy, next to Janelle of 
course. He would never allow it to get so run down! 

It was with trepidation that the young woman proceeded slowly up the
walk and rang the doorbell. “Can I help you,” asked the lady as she 
opened the door and stared inquisitively at Janelle. “I hope so. I am 
looking for Michael and Michelle Armstrong. Do you know them?” “They 
own ...uh, owned this house, at least until about five or six years 
ago.” 

“Nope, we have just been renting here for two years now. Mr. Whittaker
owns the house. He lives over in Plano.” “Thank you for your time,” 
said Janelle as she turned and walked back to the car. “Ok, honey, now 
what should we do”, asked Jonathan. They drove across town to the 
little house that her grandmother Armstrong had lived in for forty 
years. As they were approaching the house a neighbor waved at them and 
asked who they were looking for. The house was vacant at present. He 
told them that Ms. Armstrong was living in a nursing home now. Yes, he 
knew the one. “She has been at the Garland Nursing and Rehabilitation 
over on N. Shiloh for the past four years. He gave them directions. 

She took notice that the lawns were well manicured, and the landscape
was very pretty. As the young couple entered the well lit, immaculately 
clean foyer they could see men and women in wheelchairs, some with 
walkers, others sitting around watching TV or playing cards and 
dominos. They walked through the open double doors to the nurse's 
station. A pretty young nurse looked up from the chart she was working 
on and with a pleasant smile asked if she could help them. “Do you have 
a Ms. LeAnn Armstrong here? I am her granddaughter,” asked Janelle. 
“Yes, of course, she is in room 137 right down that hall. I am sure she 
is in her room now.” “Would your name be Janelle? She speaks of you 
often. Ms. LeAnn is a wonderful lady”. Janelle's eyes misted with tears 
as the nurse led them to her grandmother's room. It had been a long 
time since she had seen her. Would she recognize her now? 

The frail woman with silver white hair, perfectly combed, and pulled
tightly in a bun at the back of her neck sat in the wheelchair with a 
light hand sewn quilt over her legs. Janelle looked at her for a 
moment. She recognized her dad's mother... her grandmother, but the 
past few years had taken their toll on her. She remembered her as being 
stronger, although she had always been very slim. LeAnn looked up from 
the quilt she was fidgeting with and saw her granddaughter standing in 
the doorway.  She let out a cry, and just keep repeating, “Janelle, 
Janelle, Janelle, my baby has come home!” She started to make an effort 
to rise from the chair as Janelle ran across the distance and embraced 
her. The older woman held the younger for what seemed like a long time 
both sobbing quietly.  As they pulled apart her grandmother, now in her 
eighties, said, “Let me look at you! I never thought I would see you 
again, although I asked God each night if it be His will that I would 
see you again before I die.” “He answered my prayers today.” 

Janelle told her grandmother that she had tried to contact her mom and
dad but, the number was not working. “Oh, my then, you don't know? Oh, 
honey I am so sorry... we tried to locate you... we searched 
everywhere... even on the internet...” “Grandma! Know about what... 
what are you talking about?” 

Janelle felt her knees buckle; her mind could not accept what her
grandmother was telling her. A blackness covered her eyes and thoughts 
trying to drown out the words her grandmother was saying. Jonathan 
caught her just before she collapsed on the floor. 

As she was regaining consciousness, she could hear her grandmother
relating the night of the accident that claimed the lives of Michael 
and Michele Armstrong. Through her sobs, the old woman told of the 
night four years ago. Her son and daughter-in-law were on their way 
home from her mother's house after visiting for Thanksgiving. Michael 
couldn't see the car passing another vehicle on a curve that rainy 
night. It was a head-on collision that claimed the lives of Janelle's 
parents and the two teenagers in the car that caused the accident. All 
occupants were killed instantly. 

As she began to grasp and comprehend the reality of what she had heard,
she began to weep with an agony she had never felt before. Jon knelt 
with Janelle at her grandmother's wheelchair and the three cried and 
tried to comfort one another. 

Janelle realized she would never be able to tell her mom and dad how
selfish she had been and how sorry she was for her actions. 

They spent the afternoon with Grandma Armstrong, promising to come back
the next morning. 

The next day, Ms. Armstrong told Janelle of the insurance policy. Her
parents had taken out $50,000.00 on each of them. That policy would 
double if it was an accidental death. Initially their will stated that 
if they died at the same time, the money would be divided between 
Janelle's two grandmothers and her. Michele's mother died of a heart 
attack eighteen months before the tragic accident. The will was changed 
to read the money would be divided between LeAnn Armstrong and her 
granddaughter. If Janelle could not be located before her 29th 
birthday, then her share would go to the grandmother if she was still 
living. If not, the remaining money would go a charity to help give 
guidance to troubled youth. 

They were able to visit grandma a few more times before they had to get
back home. After a tearful goodbye, the two young people promised the 
elderly lady they would keep in touch and be back for regular visits. 

When they arrived in San Antonio, they talked with Mr. Mason. He said he
would contact the executor and arrange to have Janelle's portion of the 
insurance money transferred to her bank account in San Antonio. 

Although the young woman could certainly use the money to help with
college and other things... she would, gladly, relinquish every cent of 
it if she could make amends to her parents. 

It had been over a year since Janelle came to live with the Mason
family. She had received her GED and was in her first year at St. 
Mary's University. 

Jonathan had proposed marriage a couple times but she just couldn't make
the big commitment. She had never told him the parents that died in the 
accident were “adoptive” parents. She couldn't explain the need to, one 
day, find her birth mother. The older she got, the more it was on her 
mind. 

Jon was in his last year of law school and was getting ready to
challenge the Texas Bar exam. Much of his time was devoted to the study 
of law nowadays. 

Scott was his usual jovial self. Even when he was involved with a tough,
complicated defense case, he still liked to tease her and Jon. One 
night during the evening meal he said, “Jonathan, I can't believe you 
ain't talked that girl into marrying you!” “I've tried dad, but she is 
as stubborn as mom was with you,” replied Jon smiling at Janelle. 
“Humph, probably waiting to see if you pass the bar, too. I think our 
women are spending too much time in the kitchen puttering and talking,” 
the father said with a big grin. 

One night when Jon and Janelle were having dinner at one their favorite
restaurants, Janelle was unusually quiet... Jonathan had come to know 
her moods fairly well by now. “Ok, what is on your mind that you aren't 
telling me, Honey,” he asked.  “How can I tell him how much I love him, 
how much I want to spend the rest of my life with him... but before I 
make that commitment I have to figure a way to tell him about being put 
up for adoption at birth... how do I tell him that I have a mother I 
have never seen,” Janelle ask herself. 

From the day she learned she was adopted, she had felt a fear of
rejection. If my own mother didn't want me, there must be something 
wrong with me. Although her parents had tried to make her feel special, 
she thought they were just saying that to make her feel better. Maybe 
that is why she ran with the kind of, (what was it her dad called 
them... riff-raff?) kids. Most of them were rejected, or thought they 
were, by their parents. 

In her heart, she knew Jon wasn't like that. But that was her heart
talking not her logic. “His family is so altogether... so perfect... 
how can I be sure that they will not reject me?” argued Janelle's brain 
with her heart. 

“Earth to Janelle...” Jonathan broke the silence. She smiled and said,
“Come in Earth...”  They both laughed then he pressed on, “Well, what 
is it you want to say and feel you cannot? Janelle, I need you to be 
able to trust me.” 

She took two deep breaths and summoned up the courage, (or was it pure
faith?), and told him everything that had been told to her as a child 
about the adoption. She spoke of the restlessness she felt when she 
wondered about her birth mother and her “other” family.  Michele, her 
adoptive mom, had said that all the adoption agency would tell them was 
the mother was healthy and came from a good family living somewhere in 
Virginia. She knew that she was born in Lynchburg. 

“Okay! Now the secret is out. It wasn't any secret that she was
adopted... several people knew that... the secret was that she truly 
wanted to locate and speak with her mother. She had been careful to 
avoid admitting that fact to anyone!” 

Jonathan sat and listened intently to all that Janelle had to say. He
didn't say anything for a minute or two. He just sat there. Janelle 
waited... “Okay, here it comes...the rejection,” she thought. But 
Jonathan was thinking, “How do I tell this woman that I love her more 
than life, and what her mother did twenty-some years ago was not her 
fault. How could I reject her since the first time I met her I have 
been trying to get her to trust and accept me?” Finally, he just put 
audible words to his inner thoughts.  He knew he did the right thing as 
Janelle began to laugh and cry at the same time. He felt her love for 
him and how hard it was to share “the secret”. 

He leaned across the table and kissed her and they both said, “I love
you” in unison. 

Then he smiled, picked up the check, and said, “Let's go talk to the Ol'
Man... I haven't passed the bar...yet!”  The happy couple joined hands 
and strolled to the parking lot. As they approached his car, Janelle 
said, “Oh, by the way Jonathan Scott Mason, the third, soon to be 
counselor, attorney at law... the answer is yes I will marry you.” 

(Conclusion) 

Scott Mason, the attorney, father, and soon to be father-in-law,
listened as Janelle and Jonathan related all the information they had 
(which was very little) of the adoption that took place nearly 
twenty-five years ago. After he had deliberated for what seemed a very 
long time, Scott spoke solemnly, “My expertise is in defense cases; 
adoption laws are another thing altogether. It will be a long shot, but 
we must try. And I think there is a slight possibility of success if we 
proceed in the right direction.” 

He pulled a worn, brown, leather binder from the massive oak desk. “If I
recall correctly, there was a lawyer in my graduating class that was 
moving his practice to Lynchburg.  Let's see... yes, here it is Jared 
Jefferson... I haven't heard from him for thirty years.  He may be 
retired, if he is still living.” He dialed the phone, and while waiting 
for it to ring, said “This is a start.” 

Jared Jefferson was, indeed, still in Lynchburg, albeit semi-retired.
“Yes, things are going well. I reduced my caseload a few years back. It 
was cutting into my golfing schedule,” chuckled the lawyer.  After a 
few pleasantries, Mr. Mason got to the request he had for his former 
classmate.  He shared what information was available, and sought the 
attorney's advice on how to proceed. 

“As you are well aware, Scott, most adoptions of this kind are sealed.
The files are usually preserved, barring a disaster of some sort. Let 
me do some research on it. I have the baby's name, the adoptive 
parents' name, and date of birth. If we can locate the file, there 
should be a copy of the birth certificate there too. Then we will 
proceed from there. I will keep you posted on the progress. In the 
meantime, have Janelle write a letter stating her desire to contact the 
birth mother. Have it notarized... hey, but you know all that. Just 
send it to me and we will go from there. If you ever get to Lynchburg, 
please stop by. It's good to hear from you again.” And he hung up the 
phone. “Probably late for tee off,” mused Scott. 

Janelle composed the letter, made sure her address and phone numbers
were listed, had it notarized, and sent the original overnight express 
to the Jefferson and McCullough Law office the next day. 

After Jonathan passed the bar, he went to work as a junior partner for
the Mason and Mason Law Firm. 

Janelle was getting ready to enter her second year at the university. 
And, with the help of Naomi and Debbie, was planning for a wedding! The 
young woman couldn't have been happier. “If I could just hear from my 
mother, everything would be perfect” 

Ben had been out of rehab for over a year; he was clean and sober, and
was enrolled at ITT tech school. He was studying computer programming, 
although, Janelle could not imagine Ben as a “computer geek”.  He 
visited Jonathan and Janelle on occasion. He loved to remind Jon that 
he was the “matchmaker” that got him and Janelle together. 

One evening during supper, Ben asked Janelle what studies was she
pursuing at the university. Before she could reply, Mr. Mason spoke up, 
“Why, Ben, she is going to attend law school... We will just have 
another sign painted to read “Mason, Mason and Mason Law Offices” 
“Can't have too many lawyers in the family!” 

“Is he serious? You could never tell about Mr. M!”  thought Janelle. 
Later, she told Jonathan that she didn't want to disappoint the old 
lawyer, but she was kind of thinking of becoming a pediatrician. 

It was still a few months until the wedding. Jonathan was taking on more
and more trial cases. It was nearing spring break, and Janelle was 
certainly ready for it. 

The phone rang at the Mason home early Saturday morning. Scott was at
the desk in his home office pouring over some briefs that needed to be 
filed Monday. “Scott Mason” he said into the telephone receiver. “Yes, 
yes, just a moment let me take down that information, please. Hmmm, 
uh-huh, yes, sure I have it and thank you very much.” He sounded 
excited as he repeated back a number to the caller. 

“Naomi! You will never guess who that was. It was a clerk at Jared
Jefferson's office in Lynchburg. Call the guest house and have Janelle 
come over immediately; get Jon on his cell, he should be on his way, 
tell him to be careful... but hurry!  I think you both need to be here 
when we give Janelle the news.” 

Naomi felt a mix of emotions as she listened to her husband. “Was it
news that Janelle would want to hear or would it just lend another 
heartbreak to her young life?” wondered the woman. She knew better than 
to press her husband for the answer. Scott, in his usual well-organized 
manner, would get the family assembled and then break the news to them 
as a group. 

It was just a few minutes and the four of them sat down at the large
dining room table where so many fond memories had been shared. 

Scott cleared his throat and said, “Janelle honey, I just received a
call from a clerk for the lawyer we contacted in Lynchburg. The 
adoption agency located the files we discussed, the letter you sent was 
presented to a judge, and the order was given to open the file and 
enter the letter.  Much to his surprise a letter was found dated over 
eight years ago from your birth mother, Adrienne Nicholson. It stated 
that if you ever wanted to contact her that this letter should remain 
on file giving you permission to call her anytime.” Scott handed the 
telephone numbers to Janelle. 

Janelle's hands were shaking as she reached for the piece of paper. Her
body felt numb as she processed the news. There were two phone numbers 
listed. One for her mother, Adrienne, she had never known her name. The 
other one for a Dr. Michael Barnett. She wondered if he was a relative. 
The young woman was trying to read the numbers through the tears in her 
eyes. The letter from her mother was dated eight years ago. She was 
only sixteen then. “If only I could have known. She wanted to hear from 
me. I was a runaway teenager, a rebellious one at that. She probably 
would have changed her mind. I didn't want to admit that in my heart I 
wanted to see her, too.” There was too many thoughts running through 
her mind. 

“Janelle, when do you want to call her?” asked Jon.  She wished she knew
the answer. For so many years she wanted to make contact with this 
woman that she never knew, yet was so curious about --  now it was 
possible and she wasn't sure she could do it. “Oh, Jon I don't know. I 
need time to think,” answered Janelle with uncertainty. 

Several times in the next couple days, she reached for the phone. “What
will I say to her? She doesn't even know my name. Will she even believe 
me? Of course she will, who else would call and say, ‘Hey, this is your 
daughter you have never met'? I wonder how old she is... is she 
married... does she have other kids... I might have a little brother or 
sister that I always wanted.” But she replaced the phone in the cradle 
before her fingers could punch in the numbers. 

She talked to Jonathan about her fear and anxiety concerning the phone
call. He reasoned that neither of them knew why Adrienne had done what 
she did.  She was a young girl at the time and, eight years later, she 
made the best effort she could to locate the daughter she had given up 
for adoption. Janelle tried to understand the feelings of a girl 
younger than herself now and, she thought of the mistakes she had made 
when she was seventeen or eighteen. 

The phone rang twice. “Hello, Barnett residence. This is Adrienne.” “Uh,
uh... I am trying to reach Adrienne Nicholson...” There was a pause, 
then the voice said, “I am Adrienne Nicholson Barnett. May I ask who is 
calling?” My name is Janelle Armstrong... I am your daughter... I found 
the letter that you wrote eight years ago saying that you wanted me to 
contact you. I hope you still feel the same.” 

Adrienne felt her legs grow weak. She held onto the kitchen counter and
found a chair. “Could this be true? Is this a joke? No! It is the phone 
call that I have prayed to receive for over 24 years!” She broke down 
and started sobbing. “Are you still there?” the voice on the other end 
asked. “Oh... y-y-e-ss.” Adrienne tried to respond through the sobs 
that made it difficult to get the words out. 

The mother and daughter talked for several hours. Janelle learned that
Adrienne was married and had two children. Janelle told her mother she 
was enrolled at the university and wanted to become a pediatrician. 
They found they had many things in common.  They promised to call each 
other at least once or twice a week. During the course of the many 
phone conversations that followed, plans were made for Janelle and 
Jonathan to visit Adrienne and Michael in Richmond, Virginia during 
spring break. 

As the passengers streamed through the gates at the Richmond
International Airport,  Adrienne, Michael, and their children --  
Phillip, age 6 and Amanda 3, waited anxiously. Would she recognize 
Janelle and Jonathan? 

Her doubts were unfounded. She saw the beautiful dark haired girl
accompanied by a handsome young man looking around at the crowd of 
people waiting for the passengers. She felt her heart leap. “I would 
recognize her anywhere...she looks just like me when I was her age!” 
thought Adrienne as she ran to embrace her daughter for the first time. 
Introductions were made. Little Amanda ran to Janelle, offered her 
little hand and said proudly, “My name is Mandy Vette, I am your 
sister!”  Adrienne and Michael smiled as Adrienne said, “Her name is 
Amanda Yvette, named after my childhood friend, Amanda, and your 
grandmother, Yvette. Janelle reached down and picked the little girl up 
and hugged her. She said, “Well, Mandy Vette, you are the prettiest 
little girl I have ever seen. I sure am glad you are my little sister.” 
“This is the little sister I always dreamed of and a brother to boot!”  
Janelle knew for sure, then, that she was going to try to be the best 
pediatrician she could possibly be. 

Janelle felt good about being with her family. She asked Adrienne
hundreds of questions which her mother answered honestly and 
straightforward. “Janelle has talked of her childhood, the horrible, 
tragic, accident and the past few years... but she mentions nothing 
about the years in between... I wish I knew what happened... what was 
she forced to endure during that time?” Adrienne thought to herself. 

Janelle wanted her mother to think well of her. She had her life in
order now; the goals were almost accomplished, and she just wanted to 
forget the “lost” years. 

As Jon and Janelle spoke of their wedding plans, they told Michael and
Adrienne it would not be complete if they were not in attendance. Of 
course, the Barnetts would be present, they both assured the engaged 
couple. 

“Just think Jonathan, we can have two ring bearers Aaron, and Phillip.
And, two flower girls, Jeannie, and Mandy Vette!” announced Janelle. 
Jon flashed that “killer smile” put his arm around her waist and said, 
“That will work, Honey!” 

On the flight back to San Antonio, Jon sensed Janelle's silence.  He
wondered how much she had shared with her mother. Strange how people in 
love often share the same thoughts without either verbalizing them.  
Finally, Janelle broke the silence saying, “Honey, I wanted to be 
completely honest with Mom, but I couldn't bring myself to tell her 
about the things that I did in the years just before I went into rehab. 
“Janelle, you know your mother loves you very much. She told you how 
long it took to find someone she could share the “family secret” with. 
She told us about the mistakes she made as a teenager, and how 
decisions made affected her life. I think she is giving you time to 
learn to trust her enough to fill in the gaps of your life with her. 
“He always knows the right thing to say... how lucky I am to have a man 
like this to love,” thought Janelle as she leaned over and kissed him. 

She made the phone call the day after they arrived home. “Mom, we
need... uh, I mean I need to talk. There is some things about my life 
that I couldn't tell you. I am so ashamed of it,” said Janelle, weeping 
softly. “I know, honey, I know. But that is what mothers are for. 
Janelle, I thank you for letting me be your mother. It takes away all 
the hurt, guilt, and anger I have had for the past twenty-five years.” 

Adrienne, Michael, and the children arrived a few days earlier than
originally planned. This extra time gave mother and daughter time to 
really share what had happened over the years and the emotions that 
each had experienced. Janelle told her mother all that had happened to 
her during those runaway years. Adrienne listened quietly, as her 
daughter shared the painful memories. As the young woman finished the 
story, both mother and daughter was weeping, but it was for joy now. As 
they embraced both spoke at once, “I am sorry, and I love you so much!” 
As they realized they had both said it at the same time, they began to 
laugh. And, for good reason... there were no more “Family Secrets.” 

The End 

The following day Ben caught up with Janelle right after the group
session. “Hey, Janelle, my friend Jonathan, you know the guy that came 
over and spoke to you yesterday? He seems to like you a lot!” “How 
could he like me? He doesn't even know me,” Janelle snapped. “Janelle, 
you are always so defensive. You need to lighten up some.” “Jonathan is 
a good buddy, he has tried to help me in so many ways. Even when I was 
doing drugs, and my family didn't want anything to do with me, Jon was 
always there. He and his father talked me into coming here. He is just 
a good guy that is a friend to anyone that will let him be,” responded 
Ben. 

Secretly she admitted to herself that she had given Jonathan a second
thought too. “Ben said he liked me... if he knew what kind of a girl I 
am and all the things I have done the past five years he wouldn't have 
said that.” thought Janelle. “But, I have heard Ben talk in group 
sessions about all the things that he did when he was using, and they 
aren't all that different than my story. And yet his friend drives out 
here every Sunday afternoon to visit. Maybe Jonathan is a real friend.” 
pondered the young woman. 

It had been four months since she was sentenced to the rehabilitation
center. She had never had a visitor, received letters, or phone calls 
like many of the other residents. But she realized it was her own 
fault... she never let anyone know where she was. 

When she went in to see her counselor that week they discussed setting
goals. Suzanne, her counselor, suggested she think about short range 
goals, and then have some long range goals also. She further advised 
Janelle to put them on paper, and get busy accomplishing them. 

After thinking on it for a few days, Janelle started her list: 

Short term goals 1.	Finish up rehab and take a certificate of completion
back to court. 2.	Make contact with my adoptive parents. 3.	Find a job, 
and a place to live. 4.	Find a place to go attend 12 step meetings, AND 
STAY CLEAN AND SOBER! 

Long term goals 

1.	Earn a GED. 2.	Try to enroll in college. 3.	Try to find my birth
parents. 

“It will be a daunting task to fulfill all the goals on my list,”
thought Janelle as she handed the list to Suzanne the following week. 
The counselor agreed the goals would be difficult, but not impossible, 
if Janelle really wanted them. 

It was cool, but, sunny the next Sunday afternoon. Janelle had wondered
if the funny guy with the cute smile would visit Ben. She had almost 
decided not to go down to the pond, but at the last minute changed her 
mind. “After all, the ducks will miss me if I don't go and feed them” 
she reasoned.  She took her journal and some feed for the ducks and 
headed for her favorite bench. When she got down to the pond there were 
several residents with visitors already there.  She looked for Ben and 
Jonathan but they were not there. She felt a little disappointed, but 
then reasoned that it was just as well... she didn't want to talk to 
Jonathan anyway! 

She was writing in her journal, contemplating the goals she had set, and
wondering how she was ever going to achieve them...at this point she 
didn't have a clue, when a voice behind her said, “Good afternoon Miss 
Janelle LeAnn Armstrong, the fourth!” She turned, startled, to face 
Jonathan and Ben. Jonathan had that dazzling smile while Ben looked on 
with apprehension. “Hi, Ben. Hello Jonathan, I didn't see you come up. 
Nice to see you again Jonathan Scott Mason, the third!” Ben looked 
relieved and the too young men laughed at her remark. Jonathan and Ben 
invited her to go to the canteen and get a soft drink with them. When 
they returned to the pond, after a few minutes of small talk, Ben said, 
“Jon, I have some work to do on my journal this afternoon, I was going 
to put it off after your visit... but if you don't mind I will go take 
care of it while you visit with Janelle... that is if you don't mind 
Janelle.” “I wonder whose idea that was?” thought the girl. But 
inwardly she was glad that Ben had left them alone for awhile. 

Jonathan sat down on the opposite end of the bench. There were a few
minutes of awkward silence between them. Then they both started to 
speak at the same time. Janelle hesitated as did Jonathan... and after 
a couple of “you go ahead” they both started laughing.  She had not 
really laughed in a long time. “I don't think he is married... he 
doesn't have a ring on... I wonder if he has a girlfriend. What kind of 
job...he drives a nice car and has stylish clothes... must be a rich 
kid!” thought Janelle to herself. She found herself curious about the 
man at the end of the bench. But, she just said, “It is nice of you to 
come and see Ben each Sunday afternoon. I know he appreciates that. We 
usually don't get many visitors.” “Ben and I have known each other 
since grade school. I wish I had time to visit more often than I do.” 

“What keeps you so busy? Your job?” 

“No, it is my studies... the professors have no pity!” 

“Oh, you are in college then. What are you studying to be?” asked
Janelle.  He told her he was in his second year of law school at St. 
Mary's University in San Antonio. “Wow, you are going to be a lawyer? 
Most people I know don't like lawyers very much.” She smiled, as she 
said, “But you seem like a likeable guy!”  Jonathan replied quickly, 
“Maybe that's because I haven't passed the bar yet!” 

When she asked him why he decided on law school, he told her it just
seemed the natural thing to do. His grandfather and his father both 
graduated from St. Mary's Law School. 

It was beginning to get dark. The sun was setting over the mountains and
the trees were casting long shadows across the pond when Ben arrived 
back at the bench the couple was sitting on. “Hey, dude, I am sorry for 
leaving you...but I know the extra work I put in on my journal will 
make the counselor happy. After all, they sign the papers to get us out 
of here.” called Ben as he strode up. 

Jonathan said he needed to leave and, as he stood up, turned to Janelle
and said quietly, “Thanks for the conversation and company.  I hope to 
see you next Sunday.”  Janelle nodded, picked up her journal, and 
walked back toward the cottage. 

The thought came to her that her parents would approve of Jonathan. 

Janelle found herself looking forward to Jon's Sunday afternoon visits.
The three would sit on the bench near the pond. When it began to get 
colder and windy, they would spend the time in the recreation room 
sipping hot chocolate. 

After a couple weeks, Janelle spoke with Ben. “Ben, I hope you don't
mind me being there with you and Jonathan. I know he is your friend. I 
don't want to interfere with your visits.”  “Don't be silly! He likes 
you, and besides I have been telling him he ought to get a social 
life!” replied Ben.  “Thanks, but I wouldn't exactly call visiting a 
resident in a drug rehab a social life!” said Janelle, as they both had 
a good laugh. The young woman noticed she was laughing a lot more 
lately. It felt good. 

Often when Jon would come, Ben would visit for a few minutes then excuse
himself. It gave Janelle and Jon some time to be alone... he was easy 
to talk to. Jon never asked her any questions about her past. “It is a 
good thing he doesn't question me about it... I will never tell 
anyone... it is my secret!” she thought to herself. 

But, during her last two months at the facility, they became more
acquainted. She talked about the program, her counselor, and shared her 
goals with Jon. He listened quietly as she talked about her fears of 
leaving the center and trying to find a job, a place to live, and 
locating a meeting place. 

“Janelle, let me help you. I will look for a meeting place, pick you up
from the rehab center, take you to the courthouse, and then we will 
just figure it out from there.” 

She wasn't sure... it was hard to trust anyone... but she had no other
options. 

Janelle had her small bag packed with all her “worldly possessions”, the
certificate of completion in hand, and was waiting outside the 
admissions office as Jonathan pulled up smiling. 

As they drove into San Antonio, listening to soft rock on the car radio,
Janelle felt a freedom she hadn't felt in a long, long, time. And yet 
there was the uncertainty of her future. For the first time she had 
goals, a plan, but didn't know what to do with them. 

After a long period of silence, Jonathan spoke up, “Janelle, just listen
to what I have to say before you start objecting... I know you need to 
rest, eat a good meal, take a shower, and make some phone calls... I 
took the liberty of telling my parents about you. Mom insisted that we 
come straight to our house. She will have dinner waiting on us. 

“He had no right to do that without telling me first.” she thought
angrily.  But, she knew that he was right. It was the only rational 
choice at this point. 

Janelle was nervous about meeting his parents. Ben had told her that
Jonathan Scott Mason, II was one of the wealthiest and most prominent 
defense attorneys in San Antonio. “You should see their house, it looks 
like a mansion. They have a pool, tennis court, and two guest houses. 
They even have a maid that comes in and cleans!” said Ben as they 
talked about Jon one afternoon after group session. 

If his dad starts asking questions, and grilling me with that lawyer
stuff... I am just gonna walk out!” said Janelle to herself. She didn't 
say anything to Jon about the decision he had made but, he could tell 
she wasn't sure of it. “Please, don't worry, Janelle.  I am just trying 
to help... it will be okay.” Jon said trying to reassure this young 
woman that he had begun to care about. 

The house was a magnificent two-story home; the landscape suggested a
full time gardener and the long driveway could accommodate three 
vehicles. A new SUV was parked in front of the three car garage. “Jon, 
just leave my bag in the car for now, okay?” pleaded Janelle. 

Inside the house she could smell the aromas from the dinner that Ms.
Mason was preparing.  They entered through the heavy wooden double 
doors into a large foyer. The carpet was pure white, and about a foot 
deep thought Janelle. To the left was a spiral staircase with dark wood 
banisters that led to the upstairs. To the right was what appeared to 
Janelle an office or study. The door was open and she could see a 
massive desk made out of some kind of dark wood. “I wonder what kind of 
wood... her dad would know!” she thought. 

“Oh, there you are!” she heard the woman's voice from the kitchen. “Come
on in; I  just about have dinner ready... I hope you two are hungry!” 
The woman came out of the kitchen through the huge dining room drying 
her hands on an apron. She was a beautiful woman, she had dark brown 
hair with just a touch of gray. It could have been done by the 
hairdresser, but Janelle suspected it was natural. Her eyes were blue. 
The slight laugh-lines around them suggested that Ms. Mason smiled 
often. Jonathan introduced Janelle to his mother. “It is nice to meet 
you, Ms. Mason” “Please... call me Naomi, all my friends do.” “May I 
call you Janelle?”  “Oh! Goodness, I better go take that roast out of 
the oven!” She turned and scurried back to the kitchen. Jon looked at 
Janelle and was relieved that she didn't look so worried and had a 
little smile on her pretty face. 

“Scott, they are here and dinner is on the table!” called Naomi to
somewhere up the winding staircase. 

He came down the stairs, dressed in old worn Levis and khaki shirt that
looked just as worn. He was a big man with soft brown eyes, and a shock 
of unruly snow white hair. 

“So this is the famous Jonathan Scott Mason, the second! If he had a
light gray suit he would look a lot like Matlock!” Janelle mused. 

“Good afternoon, son.  And this must be Miss Janelle LeAnn Armstrong,
the fourth.” he said, displaying a dazzling smile that reminded her of 
that first meeting with Jonathan.  “Jonathan, you didn't....” she felt 
herself blushing. As she felt the young man fidget at her side, Mr. 
Mason guffawed, and said, “Well he did mention that was the first thing 
he heard from you. He has told us quite a bit of his visits with you, 
in fact that is about the only thing he talks about since meeting you!” 
Now it was Jon's turn to blush. Janelle smiled and shook the extended 
hand of the famous defense attorney.  She liked him immediately, and 
that was unusual for a girl that found it hard to like or trust anyone. 


Janelle felt a little awkward as they sat down at the massive dining
room table. But as the family filled their plates with the southern 
cooked meal of pot roast, mashed potatoes and brown gravy, pinto beans, 
green salad, and honest-to-goodness homemade rolls, she began to relax. 
It had been a long time since she had a meal like that. It reminded her 
of her home in Garland. “I have to try to find my parents soon” she 
thought sadly. 

“This is really a good dinner Ms.. Mason...uh Naomi. Thank you.”  Before
Naomi could say anything Mr. Mason said “she is a great cook. I told 
her that we could hire a cook, but she loves to putter around in the 
kitchen, and I love to eat what she putters up” he smiled, reached over 
and took his wife's hand. “Oh, Scott...” she replied modestly. 

Jonathan told Janelle why they referred to his dad as Scott instead of
Jonathan. “Grandma told me that when daddy was growing up if she 
hollered ‘Jonathan' neither one would answer... so they started calling 
him Scott. My mom took the clue from grandma and started calling me 
Jon. So dad and I have no excuse for ignoring her.” “ I will have to 
remember that”, but where did that thought come from and why wondered 
Janelle. 

After dessert of banana pudding and strawberry shortcake, the family
retired to the sitting room. “Janelle, Jonathan told us you need to go 
see the judge and present the certificate of completion so he can close 
out your case.” “Oh, no here it comes” thought Janelle as she felt her 
palms begin to get sweaty. Before she could reply Scott continued “ I 
am acquainted with all the judges, and I took the liberty to visit with 
old McIntyre, the one who will sign off on the case. I didn't think you 
wanted to wait in the courtroom, so I made an appointment for you to 
meet with him in chambers Monday morning.  I will go with you if it 
will make you more at ease.” She thanked him and said yes, she would 
feel better if he was with her. 

She was on her way to accomplishing her goals... but she had a long way
to go. 

As the sky began to get darker, she realized she hadn't made plans for
getting a room. She had enough money for a couple nights; they gave her 
that much when she was discharged this morning. She mentioned to 
Jonathan that, perhaps, they should leave and try to find an affordable 
room. 

“Why, you will do no such thing! We have two guest houses, right behind
the house here. They are both unoccupied so you can stay right here. I 
wont hear of you going to some room tonight!” argued Naomi forcefully. 
Janelle looked at Jonathan, he shrugged his shoulders and smiled as he 
said, “I learned a long time ago not to argue with mom when she speaks 
in that tone of voice.” As Jon went to the car to retrieve her bag, 
Naomi told her there were clean towels, and a full bath in each of the 
guest houses. Both had two bedrooms, kitchen, dining room and small 
living room... she could choose either one. Janelle picked the one 
closest to the house. It was Saturday night, and she was tired, so she 
said goodnight to the Mason family, and Jonathan walked her to the 
guest house, where she spent some much needed time in a very hot 
shower. 

She awoke around 6:30 the next morning. As she was making up the bed and
selecting her clothes for the day from the meager selection, she 
thought about how nice Jon's parents had been to her yesterday. “They 
are so down to earth for rich people. They really don't know me at all. 
Not even Jon knows about my secret; I must be careful and keep it that 
way” she vowed to herself. 

The telephone on the nightstand by the bed rang... should I answer it...
why would anyone be calling? “Hello?”  “Good morning, was you awake? I 
didn't want to wake you.” It was Jonathan. “Yes, I was already up and 
dressed. Where are you calling from?” Jon chuckled and said I am in the 
main house. Mom is fixing breakfast... how do you like your eggs?” 

After they had finished breakfast, Jonathan gave her a tour of the
estate. It seemed like the property stretched for miles. They strolled 
past the Olympic size heated pool to the tennis courts just beyond 
Naomi's garden. Past the courts was a neatly mowed lawn that looked 
like a meadow. They didn't venture into the densely wooded area that 
made up the rest of the Mason's property.  “It is lovely, Jon!” 
breathed Janelle. 

“Yes, it is... but not as lovely as you are!” She blushed, and felt her
heart skip a beat as she said, “Why, thank you Jonathan Scott Mason, 
the third.” “You are welcome” Jon replied as she slipped her hand into 
his. 

On their way back to the main house, he told her that his sister, her
husband, and two children were coming for Sunday dinner today.  “I 
wasn't aware you had a sister.” John told her that his sister, Deborah, 
was six years old when he was born. She and her husband, Harold, have 
two children. Aaron six years, and Jeannie, age four. “They are cute 
kids, but can be a handful at times. They wont be as much trouble 
today, it is a little to cool for them to get in the pool even though 
it is heated. Dad had a playground built for them. Those two have that 
old man wrapped around their fingers” said Jonathan with a smile. 

“I always wanted a little brother or sister... I wonder if my
birthmother had any more kids... probably not... if she had wanted 
kids, she would not have given me away” she thought to herself. 

It was an enjoyable afternoon. She and Debbie got along well. She
thought the children were adorable. Jon and her took turns pushing the 
kids in the swings most of the afternoon.  It had been a busy day and 
she decided to get a shower and go to bed early. They had an 
appointment at 9:00 in the morning with the judge. 

She set the alarm on the clock by the bed for 6:00 am. As she sleepily
reached out and pushed the alarm button, she remembered today was the 
day she had been waiting for, although somewhat nervously. Judges 
always made her nervous, not that she had been before more than two or 
three. They always looked so stern and powerful sitting up there above 
everyone else. She was glad Mr. Mason would be with her even, if it was 
just in the judge's chambers. 

On the way to the courthouse, Mr. Mason was all business. He didn't look
anything like he did when she first saw him in his old Levis. The dark 
blue suit he was wearing must have cost at least 300.00 dollars, 
thought Janelle. She didn't know anything about prices of men's 
clothing but she recognized “expensive” when she saw it. He had on a 
freshly ironed white shirt and a red “power” tie. Except for the neatly 
groomed, snow white, hair he looked like that other TV lawyer. His name 
was Mason too... what was it...Oh, yeah Perry Mason! 

“Janelle, I have been meaning to talk to you about something...” “Now
here it  comes” she thought. Yet, she listened as Mr. Mason continued, 
“My office is looking for some part-time help. It will just be 
answering the phone and doing some light filing. There will be no 
client confidentiality to deal with. It is only part time for now since 
our receptionist has been so overworked and needing to be relieved a 
few days a week. Do you think you would be interested in giving it a 
try? Actually it would benefit both of us. I know that Judge McIntyre 
will ask you if you are employed, or at least looking for a job. You 
may use our address since you are living in the guest house until you 
can find an apartment and be on your own. What do you think? If you 
accept, you can start Friday morning.” Of course she agreed. She 
couldn't wait to tell Jonathan when he came home from classes tonight. 
But, somehow she felt he probably already knew what his dad was going 
to propose on the way to the courthouse. 

“Good Morning, Miss Armstrong. I see you have completed the six months
of rehabilitation. I have before me a letter from your counselor 
stating that you did  excellent work with the program. You are to be 
commended. I hope you will put into practice all that you learned 
there. I also note that you have a local address. Is that correct?” 
“Yes sir” “May I ask if you are employed, or actively seeking 
employment?”  Before she could speak, Mr. Mason said, “She is, Your 
Honor, I have hired her as a receptionist in my law office.” The Judge 
looked at Janelle and then the attorney, then asked, “Counselor, are 
you here in an official capacity?” “No, Your Honor, just as a personal 
friend.”  “Very well, Miss Armstrong, I am closing your case. You are 
aware that you will be on 12 months unsupervised probation?” “Yes, 
thank you, Your Honor.” “Case closed!” ordered the Judge. 

As she was leaving, she heard the Judge say, “Nice to see you again
Scott. Say hello to Naomi for me.” “Good to see you, Thomas. Give 
Beverly our regards.” “Oh, by the way Scott, I thought I recognized 
that address. How is Jon doing with law school?” She thought she saw 
the old Judge wink! 

Mr. Mason took her back to the house before he went to the office. He
said he had to be in court all afternoon.  Jon was still in class until 
4:00 that day. She noticed Naomi's car was gone, so she went to the 
guest house, took out her journal and began to write... it had been a 
couple days and she had much to add. 

“So much has happened since I left the center Saturday morning. I can't
believe how fast things have progressed. Jon's family is so nice. I 
find myself wanting to stay here... but I know I can't. I need to 
pursue the rest of my goals. I have a place to live for now, my court 
commitment is behind me and I even have a part-time job. But, there is 
so much left to do,” thought Janelle as she reviewed the goals she had 
put on paper. 

Janelle knew she had to get her driver's license, and from her first pay
check would get some new clothes. She wanted to look presentable in the 
prestigious law office. “I will check on the adult classes and start to 
work on my GED; college would have to come later. I really need to find 
out about my parents...” Janelle felt a concern, maybe even dread, when 
she thought about them. She had not been able to talk to them by phone. 
Had they moved? “No, daddy would never sell the house”. She had tried 
to call her grandma Armstrong, and received the same message. “The 
number you have dialed is not a working number.” “What has happened to 
my family?  It is all my fault... I should have called them and let 
them know where I was all those years,” she thought sadly. “I have been 
so selfish!” Janelle cried for the first time in a long time. 

She lay across the bed and drifted off into a fretful sleep. The ringing
of the phone startled her awake. It was Naomi. She had gone to the 
grocery store, and was telling Janelle that she had some lunch ready. 
Janelle went to the bathroom and could see the puffiness around her 
eyes from crying. She washed her face, brushed her hair, and hoped 
Naomi would not notice. 

As the two women sat down to eat, the older woman asked, “Honey, what is
wrong? You have been crying. Did everything go okay with the judge this 
morning?” “Yes, everything went fine,” answered Janelle. Naomi knew 
there was something wrong, but she hesitated to inquire further. “This 
girl has been through so much, I wish she would talk to me,” thought 
Naomi. But, she just said, “Anytime you feel the need to talk I want 
you to know that I am here for you.” 

“Oh, yes, Jonathan called this morning while you were out and said he
had to make a couple stops after class and would be a little later than 
usual,” said Naomi. “Why would he do that? He doesn't have to check in 
with me... it's not like we are married, we aren't even engaged, or 
dating for that matter,” thought Janelle somewhat defensively. She 
immediately felt guilty for the thought. It was just Jon's nature; he 
is so dependable and thoughtful. It is his way of being courteous. 
“Yes, mom and dad would definitely approve.” 

She wondered how much Jon had told his parents about her. Couldn't have
been very much... she had not revealed much of the past to him. It was 
still her secret. 

Jonathan arrived home about 6:00. Janelle had returned to the guest
house when the phone rang. “Hi, it's me” he announced cheerfully when 
she answered the ring. “Are you busy? May I come over? I have a 
surprise for you.” She paused before answering. “What could the 
surprise be?” pondered Janelle. Then she said “uh... sure I am not 
doing anything now.” 

She watched from the door of the guest house as he made his way from the
main house. He was carrying several boxes and wearing that “killer 
smile”. 

“Jonathan, I can't accept these clothes,” protested Janelle as she
looked at the skirts, blouses, pants, and even shoes that he had bought 
for her. They were beautiful; you could mix and match everything he had 
purchased. But she knew that she could not keep them. “Janelle, 
please... when will you ever let me do anything for you? You even 
insisted on paying for your own hot chocolate at the canteen!” “But Jon 
you don't understand...” He cut her off in mid sentence saying, “Okay, 
but this is your graduation gift from me.” “If you can't accept a gift 
just consider it a loan.” He looked so sad, and was so darn cute, too. 
“Oh, Jon you have done so much for me already. As has the rest of your 
family and the clothes are great, I will have something suitable to 
wear to work Friday. Your dad offered me a job this morning. And, hey, 
how did you know my size?”  He flashed her the smile and said, “That is 
what sales clerks are for... and if something doesn't fit we will 
exchange it.” “When I came home awhile ago mom told me that dad had 
offered you the job...he can be a pretty persuasive man.” 

Janelle couldn't resist... she got off the sofa put her arms around his
neck and kissed him. He looked a little surprised, and then held her 
close and they kissed again; this one lasted much longer. 

She rode to work with Jonathan the next Friday morning. Mr. Mason had to
be in court early. Mitzi, the regular receptionist was there and happy 
to see her. She set out showing Janelle all the duties that she would 
perform. Most of it was answering the phone, taking messages, and some 
light filing... pretty much what Mr. M had told her. After the first 
few days she felt more comfortable and really loved her job. “This is 
the first real job I have ever had... not counting babysitting 
occasionally,” mused Janelle. It felt really good. 

The next few months brought Janelle and Jonathan even closer. She had
enrolled in the adult class and was working on her GED in the evenings. 
She studied and passed the driving test for her Texas driver's license. 
Janelle was still living in the guest house, but she was making a 
decent salary and was able to pay the modest rent that she insisted. 
Naomi and she spent a good deal of time together in the kitchen. 
Janelle learned that she loved to cook and Jonathan's mother was a 
great cook and teacher. 

One evening she mentioned to Jon that she wanted to go back to Garland
and try to find her parents. She had discussed the fact that she had 
run away from home when she was sixteen, and that was over six years 
now.  He readily agreed that they needed to take some time and see if 
they could locate them. 

The four bedroom brick house could use some paint on the siding in the
gables and fascia board. The lawn was brown and needed mowing. Janelle 
noticed the hedges, also, needed trimming.  This was the home she had 
lived in all her life, well, at least the first sixteen years of it.  
Surely, there was something wrong. Her dad had spent most weekends 
working around the house. It was his pride and joy, next to Janelle of 
course. He would never allow it to get so run down! 

It was with trepidation that the young woman proceeded slowly up the
walk and rang the doorbell. “Can I help you,” asked the lady as she 
opened the door and stared inquisitively at Janelle. “I hope so. I am 
looking for Michael and Michelle Armstrong. Do you know them?” “They 
own ...uh, owned this house, at least until about five or six years 
ago.” 

“Nope, we have just been renting here for two years now. Mr. Whittaker
owns the house. He lives over in Plano.” “Thank you for your time,” 
said Janelle as she turned and walked back to the car. “Ok, honey, now 
what should we do”, asked Jonathan. They drove across town to the 
little house that her grandmother Armstrong had lived in for forty 
years. As they were approaching the house a neighbor waved at them and 
asked who they were looking for. The house was vacant at present. He 
told them that Ms. Armstrong was living in a nursing home now. Yes, he 
knew the one. “She has been at the Garland Nursing and Rehabilitation 
over on N. Shiloh for the past four years. He gave them directions. 

She took notice that the lawns were well manicured, and the landscape
was very pretty. As the young couple entered the well lit, immaculately 
clean foyer they could see men and women in wheelchairs, some with 
walkers, others sitting around watching TV or playing cards and 
dominos. They walked through the open double doors to the nurse's 
station. A pretty young nurse looked up from the chart she was working 
on and with a pleasant smile asked if she could help them. “Do you have 
a Ms. LeAnn Armstrong here? I am her granddaughter,” asked Janelle. 
“Yes, of course, she is in room 137 right down that hall. I am sure she 
is in her room now.” “Would your name be Janelle? She speaks of you 
often. Ms. LeAnn is a wonderful lady”. Janelle's eyes misted with tears 
as the nurse led them to her grandmother's room. It had been a long 
time since she had seen her. Would she recognize her now? 

The frail woman with silver white hair, perfectly combed, and pulled
tightly in a bun at the back of her neck sat in the wheelchair with a 
light hand sewn quilt over her legs. Janelle looked at her for a 
moment. She recognized her dad's mother... her grandmother, but the 
past few years had taken their toll on her. She remembered her as being 
stronger, although she had always been very slim. LeAnn looked up from 
the quilt she was fidgeting with and saw her granddaughter standing in 
the doorway.  She let out a cry, and just keep repeating, “Janelle, 
Janelle, Janelle, my baby has come home!” She started to make an effort 
to rise from the chair as Janelle ran across the distance and embraced 
her. The older woman held the younger for what seemed like a long time 
both sobbing quietly.  As they pulled apart her grandmother, now in her 
eighties, said, “Let me look at you! I never thought I would see you 
again, although I asked God each night if it be His will that I would 
see you again before I die.” “He answered my prayers today.” 

Janelle told her grandmother that she had tried to contact her mom and
dad but, the number was not working. “Oh, my then, you don't know? Oh, 
honey I am so sorry... we tried to locate you... we searched 
everywhere... even on the internet...” “Grandma! Know about what... 
what are you talking about?” 

Janelle felt her knees buckle; her mind could not accept what her
grandmother was telling her. A blackness covered her eyes and thoughts 
trying to drown out the words her grandmother was saying. Jonathan 
caught her just before she collapsed on the floor. 

As she was regaining consciousness, she could hear her grandmother
relating the night of the accident that claimed the lives of Michael 
and Michele Armstrong. Through her sobs, the old woman told of the 
night four years ago. Her son and daughter-in-law were on their way 
home from her mother's house after visiting for Thanksgiving. Michael 
couldn't see the car passing another vehicle on a curve that rainy 
night. It was a head-on collision that claimed the lives of Janelle's 
parents and the two teenagers in the car that caused the accident. All 
occupants were killed instantly. 

As she began to grasp and comprehend the reality of what she had heard,
she began to weep with an agony she had never felt before. Jon knelt 
with Janelle at her grandmother's wheelchair and the three cried and 
tried to comfort one another. 

Janelle realized she would never be able to tell her mom and dad how
selfish she had been and how sorry she was for her actions. 

They spent the afternoon with Grandma Armstrong, promising to come back
the next morning. 

The next day, Ms. Armstrong told Janelle of the insurance policy. Her
parents had taken out $50,000.00 on each of them. That policy would 
double if it was an accidental death. Initially their will stated that 
if they died at the same time, the money would be divided between 
Janelle's two grandmothers and her. Michele's mother died of a heart 
attack eighteen months before the tragic accident. The will was changed 
to read the money would be divided between LeAnn Armstrong and her 
granddaughter. If Janelle could not be located before her 29th 
birthday, then her share would go to the grandmother if she was still 
living. If not, the remaining money would go a charity to help give 
guidance to troubled youth. 

They were able to visit grandma a few more times before they had to get
back home. After a tearful goodbye, the two young people promised the 
elderly lady they would keep in touch and be back for regular visits. 

When they arrived in San Antonio, they talked with Mr. Mason. He said he
would contact the executor and arrange to have Janelle's portion of the 
insurance money transferred to her bank account in San Antonio. 

Although the young woman could certainly use the money to help with
college and other things... she would, gladly, relinquish every cent of 
it if she could make amends to her parents. 

It had been over a year since Janelle came to live with the Mason
family. She had received her GED and was in her first year at St. 
Mary's University. 

Jonathan had proposed marriage a couple times but she just couldn't make
the big commitment. She had never told him the parents that died in the 
accident were “adoptive” parents. She couldn't explain the need to, one 
day, find her birth mother. The older she got, the more it was on her 
mind. 

Jon was in his last year of law school and was getting ready to
challenge the Texas Bar exam. Much of his time was devoted to the study 
of law nowadays. 

Scott was his usual jovial self. Even when he was involved with a tough,
complicated defense case, he still liked to tease her and Jon. One 
night during the evening meal he said, “Jonathan, I can't believe you 
ain't talked that girl into marrying you!” “I've tried dad, but she is 
as stubborn as mom was with you,” replied Jon smiling at Janelle. 
“Humph, probably waiting to see if you pass the bar, too. I think our 
women are spending too much time in the kitchen puttering and talking,” 
the father said with a big grin. 

One night when Jon and Janelle were having dinner at one their favorite
restaurants, Janelle was unusually quiet... Jonathan had come to know 
her moods fairly well by now. “Ok, what is on your mind that you aren't 
telling me, Honey,” he asked.  “How can I tell him how much I love him, 
how much I want to spend the rest of my life with him... but before I 
make that commitment I have to figure a way to tell him about being put 
up for adoption at birth... how do I tell him that I have a mother I 
have never seen,” Janelle ask herself. 

From the day she learned she was adopted, she had felt a fear of
rejection. If my own mother didn't want me, there must be something 
wrong with me. Although her parents had tried to make her feel special, 
she thought they were just saying that to make her feel better. Maybe 
that is why she ran with the kind of, (what was it her dad called 
them... riff-raff?) kids. Most of them were rejected, or thought they 
were, by their parents. 

In her heart, she knew Jon wasn't like that. But that was her heart
talking not her logic. “His family is so altogether... so perfect... 
how can I be sure that they will not reject me?” argued Janelle's brain 
with her heart. 

“Earth to Janelle...” Jonathan broke the silence. She smiled and said,
“Come in Earth...”  They both laughed then he pressed on, “Well, what 
is it you want to say and feel you cannot? Janelle, I need you to be 
able to trust me.” 

She took two deep breaths and summoned up the courage, (or was it pure
faith?), and told him everything that had been told to her as a child 
about the adoption. She spoke of the restlessness she felt when she 
wondered about her birth mother and her “other” family.  Michele, her 
adoptive mom, had said that all the adoption agency would tell them was 
the mother was healthy and came from a good family living somewhere in 
Virginia. She knew that she was born in Lynchburg. 

“Okay! Now the secret is out. It wasn't any secret that she was
adopted... several people knew that... the secret was that she truly 
wanted to locate and speak with her mother. She had been careful to 
avoid admitting that fact to anyone!” 

Jonathan sat and listened intently to all that Janelle had to say. He
didn't say anything for a minute or two. He just sat there. Janelle 
waited... “Okay, here it comes...the rejection,” she thought. But 
Jonathan was thinking, “How do I tell this woman that I love her more 
than life, and what her mother did twenty-some years ago was not her 
fault. How could I reject her since the first time I met her I have 
been trying to get her to trust and accept me?” Finally, he just put 
audible words to his inner thoughts.  He knew he did the right thing as 
Janelle began to laugh and cry at the same time. He felt her love for 
him and how hard it was to share “the secret”. 

He leaned across the table and kissed her and they both said, “I love
you” in unison. 

Then he smiled, picked up the check, and said, “Let's go talk to the Ol'
Man... I haven't passed the bar...yet!”  The happy couple joined hands 
and strolled to the parking lot. As they approached his car, Janelle 
said, “Oh, by the way Jonathan Scott Mason, the third, soon to be 
counselor, attorney at law... the answer is yes I will marry you.” 

(Conclusion) 

Scott Mason, the attorney, father, and soon to be father-in-law,
listened as Janelle and Jonathan related all the information they had 
(which was very little) of the adoption that took place nearly 
twenty-five years ago. After he had deliberated for what seemed a very 
long time, Scott spoke solemnly, “My expertise is in defense cases; 
adoption laws are another thing altogether. It will be a long shot, but 
we must try. And I think there is a slight possibility of success if we 
proceed in the right direction.” 

He pulled a worn, brown, leather binder from the massive oak desk. “If I
recall correctly, there was a lawyer in my graduating class that was 
moving his practice to Lynchburg.  Let's see... yes, here it is Jared 
Jefferson... I haven't heard from him for thirty years.  He may be 
retired, if he is still living.” He dialed the phone, and while waiting 
for it to ring, said “This is a start.” 

Jared Jefferson was, indeed, still in Lynchburg, albeit semi-retired.
“Yes, things are going well. I reduced my caseload a few years back. It 
was cutting into my golfing schedule,” chuckled the lawyer.  After a 
few pleasantries, Mr. Mason got to the request he had for his former 
classmate.  He shared what information was available, and sought the 
attorney's advice on how to proceed. 

“As you are well aware, Scott, most adoptions of this kind are sealed.
The files are usually preserved, barring a disaster of some sort. Let 
me do some research on it. I have the baby's name, the adoptive 
parents' name, and date of birth. If we can locate the file, there 
should be a copy of the birth certificate there too. Then we will 
proceed from there. I will keep you posted on the progress. In the 
meantime, have Janelle write a letter stating her desire to contact the 
birth mother. Have it notarized... hey, but you know all that. Just 
send it to me and we will go from there. If you ever get to Lynchburg, 
please stop by. It's good to hear from you again.” And he hung up the 
phone. “Probably late for tee off,” mused Scott. 

Janelle composed the letter, made sure her address and phone numbers
were listed, had it notarized, and sent the original overnight express 
to the Jefferson and McCullough Law office the next day. 

After Jonathan passed the bar, he went to work as a junior partner for
the Mason and Mason Law Firm. 

Janelle was getting ready to enter her second year at the university. 
And, with the help of Naomi and Debbie, was planning for a wedding! The 
young woman couldn't have been happier. “If I could just hear from my 
mother, everything would be perfect” 

Ben had been out of rehab for over a year; he was clean and sober, and
was enrolled at ITT tech school. He was studying computer programming, 
although, Janelle could not imagine Ben as a “computer geek”.  He 
visited Jonathan and Janelle on occasion. He loved to remind Jon that 
he was the “matchmaker” that got him and Janelle together. 

One evening during supper, Ben asked Janelle what studies was she
pursuing at the university. Before she could reply, Mr. Mason spoke up, 
“Why, Ben, she is going to attend law school... We will just have 
another sign painted to read “Mason, Mason and Mason Law Offices” 
“Can't have too many lawyers in the family!” 

“Is he serious? You could never tell about Mr. M!”  thought Janelle. 
Later, she told Jonathan that she didn't want to disappoint the old 
lawyer, but she was kind of thinking of becoming a pediatrician. 

It was still a few months until the wedding. Jonathan was taking on more
and more trial cases. It was nearing spring break, and Janelle was 
certainly ready for it. 

The phone rang at the Mason home early Saturday morning. Scott was at
the desk in his home office pouring over some briefs that needed to be 
filed Monday. “Scott Mason” he said into the telephone receiver. “Yes, 
yes, just a moment let me take down that information, please. Hmmm, 
uh-huh, yes, sure I have it and thank you very much.” He sounded 
excited as he repeated back a number to the caller. 

“Naomi! You will never guess who that was. It was a clerk at Jared
Jefferson's office in Lynchburg. Call the guest house and have Janelle 
come over immediately; get Jon on his cell, he should be on his way, 
tell him to be careful... but hurry!  I think you both need to be here 
when we give Janelle the news.” 

Naomi felt a mix of emotions as she listened to her husband. “Was it
news that Janelle would want to hear or would it just lend another 
heartbreak to her young life?” wondered the woman. She knew better than 
to press her husband for the answer. Scott, in his usual well-organized 
manner, would get the family assembled and then break the news to them 
as a group. 

It was just a few minutes and the four of them sat down at the large
dining room table where so many fond memories had been shared. 

Scott cleared his throat and said, “Janelle honey, I just received a
call from a clerk for the lawyer we contacted in Lynchburg. The 
adoption agency located the files we discussed, the letter you sent was 
presented to a judge, and the order was given to open the file and 
enter the letter.  Much to his surprise a letter was found dated over 
eight years ago from your birth mother, Adrienne Nicholson. It stated 
that if you ever wanted to contact her that this letter should remain 
on file giving you permission to call her anytime.” Scott handed the 
telephone numbers to Janelle. 

Janelle's hands were shaking as she reached for the piece of paper. Her
body felt numb as she processed the news. There were two phone numbers 
listed. One for her mother, Adrienne, she had never known her name. The 
other one for a Dr. Michael Barnett. She wondered if he was a relative. 
The young woman was trying to read the numbers through the tears in her 
eyes. The letter from her mother was dated eight years ago. She was 
only sixteen then. “If only I could have known. She wanted to hear from 
me. I was a runaway teenager, a rebellious one at that. She probably 
would have changed her mind. I didn't want to admit that in my heart I 
wanted to see her, too.” There was too many thoughts running through 
her mind. 

“Janelle, when do you want to call her?” asked Jon.  She wished she knew
the answer. For so many years she wanted to make contact with this 
woman that she never knew, yet was so curious about --  now it was 
possible and she wasn't sure she could do it. “Oh, Jon I don't know. I 
need time to think,” answered Janelle with uncertainty. 

Several times in the next couple days, she reached for the phone. “What
will I say to her? She doesn't even know my name. Will she even believe 
me? Of course she will, who else would call and say, ‘Hey, this is your 
daughter you have never met'? I wonder how old she is... is she 
married... does she have other kids... I might have a little brother or 
sister that I always wanted.” But she replaced the phone in the cradle 
before her fingers could punch in the numbers. 

She talked to Jonathan about her fear and anxiety concerning the phone
call. He reasoned that neither of them knew why Adrienne had done what 
she did.  She was a young girl at the time and, eight years later, she 
made the best effort she could to locate the daughter she had given up 
for adoption. Janelle tried to understand the feelings of a girl 
younger than herself now and, she thought of the mistakes she had made 
when she was seventeen or eighteen. 

The phone rang twice. “Hello, Barnett residence. This is Adrienne.” “Uh,
uh... I am trying to reach Adrienne Nicholson...” There was a pause, 
then the voice said, “I am Adrienne Nicholson Barnett. May I ask who is 
calling?” My name is Janelle Armstrong... I am your daughter... I found 
the letter that you wrote eight years ago saying that you wanted me to 
contact you. I hope you still feel the same.” 

Adrienne felt her legs grow weak. She held onto the kitchen counter and
found a chair. “Could this be true? Is this a joke? No! It is the phone 
call that I have prayed to receive for over 24 years!” She broke down 
and started sobbing. “Are you still there?” the voice on the other end 
asked. “Oh... y-y-e-ss.” Adrienne tried to respond through the sobs 
that made it difficult to get the words out. 

The mother and daughter talked for several hours. Janelle learned that
Adrienne was married and had two children. Janelle told her mother she 
was enrolled at the university and wanted to become a pediatrician. 
They found they had many things in common.  They promised to call each 
other at least once or twice a week. During the course of the many 
phone conversations that followed, plans were made for Janelle and 
Jonathan to visit Adrienne and Michael in Richmond, Virginia during 
spring break. 

As the passengers streamed through the gates at the Richmond
International Airport,  Adrienne, Michael, and their children --  
Phillip, age 6 and Amanda 3, waited anxiously. Would she recognize 
Janelle and Jonathan? 

Her doubts were unfounded. She saw the beautiful dark haired girl
accompanied by a handsome young man looking around at the crowd of 
people waiting for the passengers. She felt her heart leap. “I would 
recognize her anywhere...she looks just like me when I was her age!” 
thought Adrienne as she ran to embrace her daughter for the first time. 
Introductions were made. Little Amanda ran to Janelle, offered her 
little hand and said proudly, “My name is Mandy Vette, I am your 
sister!”  Adrienne and Michael smiled as Adrienne said, “Her name is 
Amanda Yvette, named after my childhood friend, Amanda, and your 
grandmother, Yvette. Janelle reached down and picked the little girl up 
and hugged her. She said, “Well, Mandy Vette, you are the prettiest 
little girl I have ever seen. I sure am glad you are my little sister.” 
“This is the little sister I always dreamed of and a brother to boot!”  
Janelle knew for sure, then, that she was going to try to be the best 
pediatrician she could possibly be. 

Janelle felt good about being with her family. She asked Adrienne
hundreds of questions which her mother answered honestly and 
straightforward. “Janelle has talked of her childhood, the horrible, 
tragic, accident and the past few years... but she mentions nothing 
about the years in between... I wish I knew what happened... what was 
she forced to endure during that time?” Adrienne thought to herself. 

Janelle wanted her mother to think well of her. She had her life in
order now; the goals were almost accomplished, and she just wanted to 
forget the “lost” years. 

As Jon and Janelle spoke of their wedding plans, they told Michael and
Adrienne it would not be complete if they were not in attendance. Of 
course, the Barnetts would be present, they both assured the engaged 
couple. 

“Just think Jonathan, we can have two ring bearers Aaron, and Phillip.
And, two flower girls, Jeannie, and Mandy Vette!” announced Janelle. 
Jon flashed that “killer smile” put his arm around her waist and said, 
“That will work, Honey!” 

On the flight back to San Antonio, Jon sensed Janelle's silence.  He
wondered how much she had shared with her mother. Strange how people in 
love often share the same thoughts without either verbalizing them.  
Finally, Janelle broke the silence saying, “Honey, I wanted to be 
completely honest with Mom, but I couldn't bring myself to tell her 
about the things that I did in the years just before I went into rehab. 
“Janelle, you know your mother loves you very much. She told you how 
long it took to find someone she could share the “family secret” with. 
She told us about the mistakes she made as a teenager, and how 
decisions made affected her life. I think she is giving you time to 
learn to trust her enough to fill in the gaps of your life with her. 
“He always knows the right thing to say... how lucky I am to have a man 
like this to love,” thought Janelle as she leaned over and kissed him. 

She made the phone call the day after they arrived home. “Mom, we
need... uh, I mean I need to talk. There is some things about my life 
that I couldn't tell you. I am so ashamed of it,” said Janelle, weeping 
softly. “I know, honey, I know. But that is what mothers are for. 
Janelle, I thank you for letting me be your mother. It takes away all 
the hurt, guilt, and anger I have had for the past twenty-five years.” 

Adrienne, Michael, and the children arrived a few days earlier than
originally planned. This extra time gave mother and daughter time to 
really share what had happened over the years and the emotions that 
each had experienced. Janelle told her mother all that had happened to 
her during those runaway years. Adrienne listened quietly, as her 
daughter shared the painful memories. As the young woman finished the 
story, both mother and daughter was weeping, but it was for joy now. As 
they embraced both spoke at once, “I am sorry, and I love you so much!” 
As they realized they had both said it at the same time, they began to 
laugh. And, for good reason... there were no more “Family Secrets.” 

The End 


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