Page 76 of Keeping Amanda
“That would be wonderful, but we are also working onsome alternatives,” Desmond said. “There are other orphanages. And we’re working harder to find homes for the children. It won’t be easy, as there are many unwanted children, and too many families who are too poor to take care of the kids they already have, but we won’t let them suffer because of this setback.”
“You’re a good person,” Amanda told Desmond. “What ifyoutake over as director?”
“Me? Oh, I don’t think so.”
“Why not?” The more Amanda thought about it, the better the idea seemed to her. “I’m guessing you answered the phone because you’re in Blair’s office, doing the things she always did. Am I right?”
“It needs to be done.”
“Exactly. And you’re doing it. I’ll be in touch, Desmond. And if you hear anything about Blair or Bibi, will you let me know?”
“Of course. And same applies to you.”
“Right. Stay safe down there.”
“We will.” His voice lowered once more. “She really is out of her mind. Please be careful.”
Amanda shivered at the gravity of his tone. At the worry she heard…forher. Desmond was six-two and in his late thirties. If he sounded scared of a seventy-two-year-old woman, things were serious. She’d be stupid to discount his warnings.
“I’ll call again soon,” she said. They both said their goodbyes and Amanda clicked off the connection.
How long she sat at the table thinking about what she’d just heard, Amanda wasn’t sure. It was the sound of a key in the lock that had her coming back to the here and now. Looking up, she watched Nash enter. Just seeing him made some of the stress she’d been feeling dissipate. She wasn’t alone, and that meant everything to her.
Nash took one look at her sitting at the table and said, “What’s wrong?”
How he could read her so well after such a short amount of time, she had no idea, but it was a comforting thought.
“I talked to Desmond.”
“And?” Nash asked, putting the bags he was carrying on the kitchen counter and walking over to where she was sitting. He crouched down next to her chair and put his hand on her thigh. All his attention was focused on her. It was a heady feeling. To be so…seen.
She told him what Desmond had said. Didn’t leave anything out.
He didn’t interrupt, didn’t say a word, just kept his gaze on her the whole time.
“I want to help them. I don’t know how though. Fundraising, I guess, but I don’t know where to start.”
“We’ll figure it out. How areyoudoing? I know Blair was someone you admired before all of this.”
The fact that he was asking how she was feeling made her feel warm and fuzzy all over again. He was obviously upset, she could see that muscle in his jaw ticking as he ground his teeth together. But he wasn’t losing his shit, he was making sure she was all right before he did anything else.
“I thought we were becoming friends, but I guess I was wrong.”
“Mental illness can change people. I don’t think you were wrong. I think something was triggered in her brain and it’s making her a different person. It’s probably why she called in that tip about you and the drugs. She was desperate to make you look bad just in case you did go through with the adoption request. Having even a hint that you might be involved in drugs would be enough for her to make a case against you adopting.”
“I guess.”
“I’d like to make some calls. Blair being MIA is worrisome. And the fact that she has Bibi with her, and isn’t taking care ofherselforthe child, is not good. Add in that she seems to have a hatred for you that’s unnatural…she needs to be found.”
“I know. What if she comes here?” Amanda asked. “I mean, she knows my address because it was on the paperwork I submitted to volunteer there. And if shedidtype that letter, that confirms she knows where I live.”
“Which is why you’re here with me,” Nash said. “And if she comes here, we’ll find her. Tex is good at what he does. Very good. And he’s bitched more than once about the lack of cameras down in Guyana. But here in the States? There are tons of them. If she entered the country with Bibi, he’ll find out.”
“Nash, there are so many ways she could’ve gotten in…car, bus, boat, plane. And we don’t knowwhereshe might attempt to cross the border. There has to be thousands of cameras. He can’t possibly look at them all to find her.”
“No, but he can narrow things down. Desmond said her passport was gone. That’ll make it easier because the second it’s scanned, it’ll leave a paper trail.”
“But Bibi doesn’t have a passport. What if they crossed over illegally?”
