Not A Small Town Girl (Danielle and David) novel Chapter 4

Dawn painted the sky when Vivian spotted her daughter on the stairs. Her face softened. "Sweetie, you should sleep in—it's so early."

"I'm used to early hours," Danielle replied. She'd actually been up since five handling business matters, but her mother didn't need to know that.

"This is your home now. You're the Darling heiress—your time is your own," Vivian said gently. She and Howard had spent last night weeping in the study after learning the details of their daughter's hardscrabble life.

"Let's have breakfast," Vivian said, leading Danielle to the dining table.

The table resembled a five-star buffet, groaning under platters of various dishes—enough to feed an army.

"Try whatever catches your eye," Howard urged fondly. "We weren't sure what you'd like."

"I'm not picky," Danielle assured them simply.

Their faces lit up at her easy acceptance. "Everything's official now—you're legally our daughter, Danielle," Howard said. "We'll host a proper homecoming party soon, introduce you to everyone. Your uncles will come too."

"Whatever you think best," Danielle agreed.

"Why don't we go shopping today?" Vivian's eyes sparkled hopefully.

"Sorry, Mom. I have an appointment. Rain check?" Danielle hated dimming her mother's eager smile.

"She called me Mom!" Vivian grabbed her husband's arm while he pretended to pout, jealousy written all over his face.

"Dad," Danielle added smoothly, ever the peacemaker.

Pure joy flooded their faces. Yesterday, Danielle had only acknowledged her brother, Joseph, leaving them afraid she blamed them for failing to protect her as a child.

Their earlier traces of sadness melted away the moment their daughter called them "Mom" and "Dad," replaced now by beaming smiles.

"Sweetheart, let our driver take you there," Vivian insisted as Danielle prepared to leave.

"Okay," Danielle replied.

*****

St. Katherine's Hospital buzzed with barely contained panic as doctors rushed through sterile corridors.

"Mr. Logan Charrington—how did he crash so suddenly?" someone whispered.

Danielle arrived to find the elderly patient more dead than alive.

"Family status?" a doctor asked.