McKenna decided to sit down after all since the bomb they dropped on her caused her legs to fail. She shoved a lock of red hair behind her ear and rubbed her forehead. “What did you say?”

Her father cleared his throat again. “I said, you’re not our daughter.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” she screeched. “I’m not your daughter! Whose daughter, am I?”

“We don’t know,” her mother interjected.

“I don’t believe this.” McKenna rose from the chair and paced about the kitchen. Suddenly, she whirled on them. “How much more?”

“McKenna, please…”

“Shut up, Mother!” she screamed, pointing a finger at her. “How much more are you keeping from me, the two of you, and your little secrets? Always whispering and giving each other looks. Have I ever lived a normal life?” She turned around and grabbed at the hair on her head with both hands. She wanted to rip it out by the roots.

“So, tell me.” She came back to the table but didn’t sit down. “If I’m not your daughter, was I adopted?”

The looks again.

“I swear to God, if you two look at each other like that again, I’m going bash your heads together!”

“McKenna, calm down.” Dr. Olsen said. “We won’t get anywhere like this.”

She turned on him. “And what do you know, and how long have you known it?”

He held up his hands in defense. “I’m just learning all this myself.”

She whirled back to her parents. Her mother was crying, and her father’s eyes were watery. “Am I?” she asked. “Adopted.”

“No.” Her mother’s voice trembled.

“So, what, then, I’m an alien or something. Did I land in your backyard? Speak up.”

Her mother took a deep, ragged breath. "You were kidnapped."

McKenna stared at her mother, her mouth hanging open.

“Kidnapped?” she croaked.

“I wanted a baby so bad,” her mother cried.

“And I’m sterile,” her father interrupted. "So we couldn't have any of our own."

“Sterile,” McKenna repeated. She’d heard that word somewhere before. But her mind whirled so fast she couldn’t remember.

“I was a nurse on the maternity floor. Every day I would see these beautiful babies born, and I knew I could never have one. The day you were born, with your beautiful red hair and blue eyes, you looked so much like your father…”

"Stop! I can't think!" McKenna finally sat down. She crossed her arms on the table and buried her head in them. Her thoughts were a kaleidoscope, every time she thought she might grab one, it slipped through her fingers. Finally, she raised her head and looked at her father.

“Why did you throw me in the lake?”

Her mother gasped. Her father only stared open-mouthed.

“But, Kenna…”

McKenna held up a hand. “Don’t,” she said. “I know you did it. Don’t deny it.”

He lowered his gaze. For a moment, he was silent. Then he started to speak. “I did it because I was drunk. I never wanted a kid, but your mother wouldn’t let it go. When she stole you from the hospital, I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want my wife going to prison. The night on the lake, we got into an argument. That’s when I took you out in the boat. I wanted my wife back. I wanted just the two of us again, the way it used to be.”

“The two of you make me sick,” McKenna said bitterly. She turned to Dr. Olsen. “Please, get me out of here.”

The doctor studied her for a moment. “I think the police need to be called. Something has to be done with them.”

She shook her head in defeat. “I don’t care what happens to them, Dr. Olsen. You can call the police if you want. It’s too late for me. I want to go. Would you please take me to the lake? I need to see Dane.”

She walked out of the house and never looked back.

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