Born in Shame Read Online Free PDF

chocolate cake in it for you if you don’t give me a hard time about it.”
    She brushed the fresh tears away. “I want the cake first.”
    â€œYou got it.”
    â€œWhat’s this, feasting already?” Maggie strolled in, a bouquet of daffodils in her arms. Her husband came in behind her, his face hidden behind a stuffed bear.
    â€œHello, Mum.” Rogan Sweeney bent over the bed to kiss his sister-in-law, then winked at Gray. “Da.”
    â€œShe was hungry,” Gray said with a grin.
    â€œAnd I’m too greedy to share my cake.” Brianna forked up a mouthful of chocolate.
    â€œWe’ve just come from having another peek.” Maggie plopped down on a chair. “And I can say, without prejudice, that she’s the prettiest babe in the nursery. She has your hair, Brie, all rosy gold, and Gray’s pretty mouth.”
    â€œMurphy sends his love and best wishes,” Rogan put in, setting the bear beside the dog. “We called him just a bit ago to pass the news. He and Liam are celebrating with the tea cakes you finished making before you went into labor.”
    â€œIt’s sweet of him to mind Liam while you’re here.”
    Maggie waved off Brianna’s gratitude. “Sweet had nothing to do with it. Murphy’d keep the boy from dawn to dusk if I’d let him. They’re having a grand time, and before you ask, things are fine at the inn. Mrs. O’Malley’s seeing to your guests. Though why you’d accept bookings when you knew you’d be having a baby, I can’t say.”
    â€œThe same reason you kept working with your glass until we carted you off to have Liam, I imagine,” Brianna said dryly. “It’s how I make my living. Have Mother and Lottie gone home then?”
    â€œA short time ago.” For Brianna’s sake, Maggie kept her smile in place. Their mother had been complaining, and worrying about what germs she might pick up in the hospital. That was nothing new. “They looked in and saw you were sleeping, so Lottie said she’d drive Mother back and they’d see you and Kayla tomorrow.”
    Maggie paused, glanced at Rogan. His imperceptible nod left the decision to share the rest of the news up to her. Because she understood her sister, and Brianna’s needs, Maggie rose, sat on the side of the bed opposite Gray, and took Brianna’s hand.
    â€œIt’s as well she’s gone. No, don’t give me that look, I mean no harm in it. There’s news to tell you that it isn’t time for her to hear. Rogan’s man, his detective, thinks he’s found Amanda. Now wait, don’t get too hopeful. We’ve been through this before.”
    â€œBut this time it could be real.”
    Brianna closed her eyes a moment. More than a year before she’d found three letters written to her father by Amanda Dougherty. Love letters that had shocked and dismayed. And finding in them that there had been a child had begun a long and frustrating search for the woman her father had loved, and the child he’d never known.
    â€œIt could be.” Not wanting to see his wife disappointed yet again, Gray spoke carefully. “Brie, you know how many dead ends we’ve run into since the birth certificate was found.”
    â€œWe know we have a sister,” Brianna said stubbornly. “We know her name, we know that Amanda married, and that they moved from place to place. It’s the moving that’s been the trouble. But sooner or later we’ll find them.” She gave Maggie’s hand a squeeze. “It could be this time.”
    â€œPerhaps.” Maggie had yet to resign herself to the possibility. Nor was she entirely sure she wanted to find the woman who was her half sister. “He’s on his way to a place called Columbus, Ohio. One way or the other, we’ll know something soon.”
    â€œDa would have wanted us to do this,” Brianna saidquietly.