Sins of Innocence Read Online Free PDF Page A

everything. Maybe it’s time. Life is different today.”
    The woman sighed. “Different. Oh my, yes. That it is.”
    They sat for a moment in silence. Jess thought about Maura. Was it better that the world was different? Perhaps. Perhaps not. But the truth was that it
was
different, and just as 1968 had its own set of what seemed today to be archaic values, society still ruled. Only now society said it was okay for an unwed girl to keep her baby.
    “Will you help me?” Jess asked.
    “Does it matter that I don’t think this is a good idea?”
    “Why not?”
    The woman leaned forward. “Jess, you and the others, well, you’ve already been hurt once. I don’t want you to be hurt again.”
    “Life is full of hurts, Miss Taylor.” For some reason a picture of her mother came into Jess’s mind: fragile, quiet, gentle.
    “So why encourage more? And what about the children? Have you given any thought to how this could upset their lives? They have rights, you know. So do their adoptive parents.”
    Jess rubbed the back of her neck, trying to relieve an aching stiffness. “I would give them a choice. They wouldn’t have to come.”
    The old woman reached out and patted Jess’s knee. “Please, dear, try to understand, these things don’t usually work out the way you see them on
Oprah
.”
    Jess stood up abruptly. “I didn’t come here to be patronized, Miss Taylor. I came here because I need your help.” She walked to the window. The gull had been joined by others—he must have found good pickings. “I want to find my baby for many, many reasons. Maybe she wants to find her mother too. There is that possibility, you know. And maybe the others want to find their children too.” She turned on her heel and faced the woman. “And don’t talk to me about ‘rights.’ What about
my
rights? And what about Susan’s, P.J.’s, and Ginny’s rights? Did we give them all away when we were forced to sign those papers?”
    The woman shook her head. “No one forced you to do anything.”
    Jess laughed. “I can’t believe you of all people are saying that. You know none of us had any choice!”
    Miss Taylor rubbed her eyes. “I don’t want to see anyone hurt.”
    “Neither do I. I want to see some of us happy. Some of us, some of our children.” She walked back to the chair and sat down. “Oh, Miss Taylor, I know this probably won’t have a happily-ever-after ending for all of us, but won’t it be worth it if even just one of us is reunited withher child? If just one of us can finally come to terms with the past?”
    “Assuming the others feel the same way.”
    Jess stiffened her spine. “I think they will.”
    “Even Ginny?”
    Jess shrugged. “Maybe we never gave Ginny enough credit for having feelings. I think it’s worth a try. To give everyone the
choice
.” She emphasized the word by closing her eyes, then added, “The choice they never had.”
    Miss Taylor clicked her fingernails together. “It seems to me as though you’re taking away their choice once again.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “If you feel you want to find your child, fine. That’s your decision. But forcing it on the others …”
    “They don’t have to come.”
    “What if they don’t want to, but what if their children do? Is that fair?”
    Jess stared at the African violet, limp and dying. “I only want to make the option available to everyone. Who knows?” she said with a shrug she didn’t really mean. “Maybe no one will show up. Not the girls, not the babies.”
    “How do you plan to do this?” Miss Taylor asked.
    Jess felt a wave of relief pass through her. Maybe there was hope. Maybe Miss Taylor would go along with her after all. She sat back down in the wood-slatted chair and leaned forward. “I thought I’d start by picking a date. Then I’ll contact each of the girls and tell them when.”
    Miss Taylor nodded. “I can probably help you out with their addresses.”
    God, Jess thought, she is going to help.