Malinda Ward

Malinda is a young woman who struggles with a past of uncertainty. She was born to parents who abused drugs. Her mother becomes involved with child protection services shortly after Malinda was born. She was adopted relatively fast because her mother abandoned her at the hospital and father was unknown by child protection services. At eighteen her adoptive parents driving home from a holiday party gets hit by a drunk driver and was killed instantly. Her adoptive parents were also orphaned when they were children so there was no one for Malinda to go to after their death. She was aware of being adopted; because adoptions are closed in the state of New Jersey she had no way of finding any family members. This left her with a difficulty forming close relationships. In spite of herself she learns to trust, to be a friend and most of all fall in love.