Hold Me Closer, Necromancer - Lish McBride [62]
“None taken.” Things began to click in my head. Little puzzle pieces slipping neatly into place. I’d had conversations like this before, where halfway through you realize that you’re each talking about different things. As we continued talking, an unsavory idea formed: Kevin had led her to believe that Nick was my father. Elaine thought I was the irreconcilable difference. After all, there are few things more irreconcilable than your wife having your brother’s baby. And since my mom never sought child support, that must have just strengthened the lie. It would probably never occur to Elaine that my mom wouldn’t want to take Kevin’s money. Somewhere deep down, Kevin Hatfield had known that I was marked, so he pawned me off on his brother. For a life of sought-after normalcy, it was a small price, I guess. Not one most of us would pay, but whatever.
I would just as happily tell everyone that Nick was my dad, but I didn’t like how the lie made my mom look. Mom takes oaths very seriously, and that’s all marriage really is, a promise. Elaine probably wouldn’t have believed me, though. Why would she? I was a stranger. I chewed on the last bit of cookie mechanically, not really tasting it.
“May I use your bathroom?”
The information I’d gotten was useful and all, but not the real reason I’d come here. I shut the bathroom door carefully and began quickly—and quietly—to search for anything that might have some hair of Kevin’s on it. It appeared to be a guest bathroom, though, and showed little signs of actual usage. I flushed the toilet and ran some water before I left, disappointed. Now what? I didn’t think I could do the nudge thing again, not on purpose, and I couldn’t actually ask for a lock of Kevin’s hair. And without it, my mom wouldn’t have any way of tracking Nick. My hair was too far down the genetic line to be useful.
I thanked Elaine for the cookies and made parting small talk as I started to make my exit.
“I’m sorry that I couldn’t be of more help,” she said. “I can’t believe he just abandoned you. It’s unforgivable. He seemed so nice when I met him.”
“I’m sure he had his reasons,” I said. Sometimes it’s easier to just let people think what they want to. I shook her hand and let her escort me to the door. “Thank you for talking with me.”
Elaine straightened a family photo in the entryway. “You’re welcome. It was nice.” She smiled a little. “I’ve never really gotten to talk to anyone related to my husband before. I guess I didn’t realize how much I’d wanted to until you showed up.”
As we walked toward the foyer, the weight on my shoulders lifted and I relaxed, knowing that I’d soon be back on the ferry and that I wouldn’t have to come back here again.
If only I’d left thirty seconds earlier.
A small girl, probably around five years old, padded down a set of stairs and into the entryway. Her brown hair was braided, as sober as her expression.
“Quiet time isn’t over yet,” Elaine said.
“I know,” the little girl said. “Sara wet her bed.”
“Oh.” Elaine turned to me. “Excuse me.” She ran up the stairs, leaving me with the kid.
The girl was small, with dainty features like Elaine. Unlike her mother, she gave off a natural strength and authority. The look on her face right now reminded me a lot of Haley, when Haley was in a rare completely serious mood.
She stuck out her tiny hand. “I’m Lilly,” she said.
“Sam.” I took her hand to shake it and stopped. Her palm felt cold in my hand, icy, just like