Just Like Romeo and Juliet - Brooke St. James Page 0,1

on the table, and I'll be right back with your apple pie."

She walked away, and the lady across from me, Helen, began shaking her head. "I don't know why she brought the coffee before the pie," she mumbled, looking dissatisfied.

She focused on me again as she added sugar to her coffee. I began adding cream and sugar to my own coffee, but I glanced at her frequently enough that I saw her staring at me. She gazed at me like she was thinking about something.

"Those green eyes," she said. She took a deep breath, staring without blinking. It took me a second to realize that her eyes were the same as mine.

"Yes, ma'am. You too, I see. I'm the only one in my family with them," I added, smiling and doing my best to keep the conversation light. I took a sip of my coffee, trying to be casual since she seemed to be a little on the intense side.

I saw the waitress approaching from the corner of my eye, and I glanced that way. "Oh, that was fast," I said, hoping the lady wouldn't give the waitress a hard time about the pie.

The waitress set the pies down, one in front of each of us. "Looks great, thank you," I said to her. The woman seemed to be a little socially awkward, and I didn't want her to be rude.

"This'll do, thank you," Helen said in a no-nonsense tone.

"Okay, I'll give you ladies a minute. Let me know if you need anything."

"Thank you," Helen said, rushing her along.

"I picked up a copy of the school newspaper after you called," I said. "You guys do a good job. I was surprised you didn't want to just meet on campus, though. I looked it up, and the newspaper office is in a building I pass every day on my way to class."

She cut into her pie with the side of her fork. I thought she was going to take a bite, but she didn't even lift it to her mouth. She looked up and stared at me, taking a deep breath. She was serious and thoughtful, like she was contemplating the meaning of life. I took a bite of my pie, chewing and thinking this was about the most awkward meeting I could ever imagine.

"I'm not sure what Gary Ryder told you," she said.

"Who's Gary Ryder?" I asked, confused.

"The man who called you and set up this meeting." Helen said.

She was serious and straight-faced.

My heart started beating faster because the guy who set up the meeting had told me his name was Rob Robertson. I realized, as I thought about it, that it was probably a made-up name. I looked around, wondering what was going on. I got a weird feeling from this lady.

"Did you not want to meet me to discuss writing an article?" I asked, poised to get up and walk out.

"No. I didn't even know that was what Gary told you. An article?"

I pushed my chair back and started to stand up.

"No, please, I beg you," she said in an urgent tone as she started to stand with me.

I stayed on the edge of my seat as I looked at her with a confused, defensive expression. "I think you have the wrong person," I said.

"No, I don't. Gary Ryder is a private investigator. He found you for me, and I know you're the right person. I see it."

I shook my head in confusion. "Listen, I don't know who you—"

"You're my granddaughter," she blurted out.

For a second, I wondered if there could possibly be any truth to what she was saying, but I quickly figured out there couldn't. She must have me confused with someone else. I shook my head regretfully at her. "I know all of my grandparents," I said. "I'm sorry, but you must have the wrong person." I used a tone of regret because she looked serious and desperate, like she was really hoping to find her granddaughter.

"Anne Kennedy," she said. She opened her eyes wide, staring at me, blinking at me in all seriousness with her eyes bulging out of her head. She leaned in closer with that intense expression.

"What are you doing?" I asked, leaning away.

"Look at my eyes," she said. "They're unmistakable. I passed them to my son, Michael, who passed them to you."

"I'm so sorry, ma'am, but my dad's name isn't Michael."

"It's Kyle Kennedy. And Janet is your mother. Your name is Anne, and you were born at Houston Methodist. You went