“What promise?”

“That I wouldn’t contact you under any circumstances. And they also promised that they would not tell my grandfather about you. As I’ve said, he had very unbending views about women who gave birth out of wedlock.”

“That sounds so draconian.”

“It was still like that thirty-plus years ago in the rural South.”

“I have already decided I don’t like Edward Carter.”

“Don’t be too hard on him. He was a man of his time. Not perfect. But he tried his best.”

“His best meant that you didn’t feel free to raise me.”

“I wasn’t ready to raise you or any baby. I had been accepted to law school, and I knew the next ten years would mean long hours of work. Olivia saw that. And as I look back on those busy years after you were born, I know I wouldn’t have had time to be a good mother.”

A cyclone of emotions swirled around her, and if she weren’t careful, they could very well sweep her off her feet. “Who was my birth father? Did he know about me?”

“Yes, he knew about you. And believe it or not, he was very kind to me when he found out I was pregnant. He sent me money and all the help he could.”

“But he didn’t want to raise me. Was he young like you?” Anger turned her tone brittle.

Elaine folded her hands in her lap and pulled back her shoulders. “He was much older. And married.”

“Married?”

“I’m not proud of the decisions I’ve made. I could get into the whys, but none of that really matters anymore. But I had to forgive myself a long time ago.”

This was all old ground for Elaine, but Libby was trudging over fresh territory. “Who was he?”

Elaine drew in a slow, steadying breath. “Your biological father was Dr. Allen McKenzie.”

Hearing her father’s name slammed into her like a fist upside the head. “Say that again?”

“Your biological father was your dad.”

She sat back, her spine pressing into the chair’s back. “I don’t understand.”

“I was a senior in college and home for the holidays. I was working in my grandfather’s medical office over the break, and your dad had set up his pediatric practice down the hallway. My grandfather wanted me to be a doctor, so he arranged for me to shadow your dad at his practice. Your father was good humored and terrific with the kids.”

“Everyone always talks about how kind my dad was.”

“He was kind. Please don’t ever lose sight of that.”

“He stepped out on my mother?”

“Once,” she said. “Your mother was on a new round of medications, and she was keeping your father at arm’s distance, and he was upset and frustrated. I had broken up with my boyfriend from college, and we both had a moment where we let our guards down.”

Tears clogged her throat. “Where did it happen?”

“At Woodmont. I had forgotten my wallet, and he brought it back to me. My grandparents were gone, and I had the house to myself. I offered him a beer. One thing led to another pretty quickly. I quit that job the next morning, and we didn’t see each other again for six months.”

“You got pregnant on the first try.”

“Yes. I’ve never had any problem getting pregnant.”

Libby drew in a breath. “Too bad I didn’t inherit that.”

“I’m sorry. Your dad told me about your miscarriages when we had lunch last fall. For the record, Ted knew about that lunch.”

Libby pressed her fingertips to her temples. “When did you tell Dad you were pregnant?”

“I was six months along. Olivia insisted I tell the baby’s father. So I called him.”

“And after you told him about me?”

“He came up to New Jersey immediately. He never once questioned that I might be lying. He asked my intentions, and when I told him I was considering adoption, he said he wanted to adopt you.”

“I didn’t agree right away, but as I got closer to delivery, it made sense. I would always know where you were, and I knew your father would love you.”

“Did my mother know?”

“Your father said he never told her. He didn’t want to hurt her. And he thought by giving her a child, he could make up for our indiscretion.”

“Wow.”

“Don’t think less of him. He did the best he could.”

Her body was numb, as if she had swallowed a gallon of Novocain. “I don’t think you’re right about Mom. She knew.”

Elaine’s brow knotted. “Your father swore to me she didn’t.”

“She was a smart woman.” Libby shook her head. “All the times she took me to Woodmont. She often said the estate was an important part of history.”

“She could have been speaking in general terms.”

“Nope, I don’t think so. She wouldn’t have dressed me up and made such a fuss if she didn’t know something. I think she hoped your grandmother saw us. I think she wanted her to know that someone like Mom could do a good job raising a child.”

Elaine was silent for a moment. “I don’t think your father ever suspected she knew.”

“She was clever. She proved that at the end.”

“Maybe.”

Libby took a sip of the lemon water, grateful for the tartness that cut through the dryness in her mouth. “Thank you for the talk, Elaine.”

“It was a long time coming, Libby.”

“I guess better late than never.” Bitterness soured the taste in her mouth. She hoisted her purse on her shoulder and turned to leave. “I can find my way out.”

“I think we should talk more.”

“Maybe some other time. Not now.”

“Are you all right?”

“Don’t have much choice.”

“Where are you going?” Elaine rushed to ask.

The motherly concern was oddly touching yet annoying at the same time. “No idea.”

“Libby, I’m giving you Woodmont.”

“Funny you should say that. Lofton drunk dialed me last night and said you were going to do that. I told her to sober up.”

“I’ll speak to Lofton about that call. But the bottom line is that I want you to have it. It belongs to you.”

“Your other daughter will not be so thrilled.”

“She’s never shown an interest in Woodmont. Besides, Lofton would either subdivide it for residential zoning or sell it whole in a few years.”

“She might surprise you.”

“I love Lofton and know all her strengths and faults.”

“What if I don’t want it?” Libby challenged.

“Do you want it?”

Libby shrugged. “I have no idea. Maybe.”

“Think about it. You’re perfectly suited for the property. You already have ideas for the place and know how to make it work financially. I want it to stay in the family.”

“We’ll see.” She had always loved that property. “For the record, if I accept it, I would not subdivide it.”

“Good.”

“You aren’t planning on going anywhere soon?” Libby asked.

Elaine raised an amused brow. “I’m staying on this side of the rainbow if I have any say in it. My doctor told me my cancer is in remission.”