“I was panicking.”
“That keeps being your excuse.”
“I know.”
“No, Tyler. I don’t think you do.”
“Claire, the message included a photograph.”
I stopped.
“What photograph?”
“Of Mason going through security.”
Priya’s expression hardened.
“Send it,” she mouthed.
“Send me the message.”
“I deleted it.”
you did.”
“I panicked.”
“Recover it.”
“I’m trying.”
“You have five minutes.”
“Claire—”
“Five.”
I hung up.
Vanessa looked over.
“What happened?”
I walked to their table and crouched beside Mason.
“We’re leaving the airport.”
He looked worried.
“Did something happen?”
“We’re just changing plans.”
“Are we still going home?”
“Yes.”
That was the only thing I knew for certain.
We were going home.
But not to the house Tyler and I shared.
Priya arranged for us to spend the night in a hotel registered under her assistant’s name until my sister could fly in the following morning.
Vanessa hesitated near the terminal doors.
“I should go.”
Mason looked at her.
“You’re not coming?”
She seemed surprised by the question.
“I don’t want to make anything harder for you.”
Mason considered that.
Then he held out the train book.
“For Elliot.”
Vanessa took it carefully.
Her eyes filled again.
“Thank
you.”
“Tell him it’s from Mason.”
“I will.”
He paused.
“Don’t tell him I’m his brother yet.”
Vanessa swallowed.
“I won’t.”
“I think somebody should know if they have a brother before everybody else does.”
I looked away before he could see my face.
Vanessa crouched.
“You’re very smart.”
Mason shrugged.
“My mom says I ask too many questions.”
“I think questions might be important in this family.”
That got the smallest smile from him.
Then Vanessa stood and looked at me.
“Claire.”
I waited.
“I am sorry.”
I believed her.
“I know.”
“I didn’t know.”
“I know that too.”
“And if you want me to stay away from Mason, I will.”
I looked at my son.
Then at the hospital photograph still tucked under her arm.
“I don’t know what I want yet.”
She nodded.
“That’s fair.”
