Page 155 of Dream On, Liar

“He won’t.”

“You sound very sure.”

“I need you to make sure.” Another silence.

Then he said, “What do I get?”

I almost smiled. After all these years, he’d still been the same.

“Do me this favour and we’re squared—about all of it. Even the journals.”

He paused for a beat.

“You mean that?”

“I swear.”

“Okay.”

I let out a breath, the relief taking over me. “Thank you.”

“I’ll keep you updated.”

“Cool.”

“Promise me one thing, little brother.”

“Yeah?”

“You won’t do anything stupid.”

I looked towards the hallway.

“I won't. I promise.”

Saying our goodbyes, I hung up and texted Oliver and Raina once about my arrival before I slipped my phone into my pocket and stood in the quiet.

The rain had gotten heavier, and I knew that Ma was here with me in that moment.

And for just a few seconds, I let myself relish in that feeling.

WHEN I FINALLY MOVED around the cabin, it was then that I realised, how much of Ma was still trapped in the walls.

Dev hadn’t touched a single thing.

A photograph sat on the far end of the kitchen counter of the four of us at kids, the memory so faded, it felt like made up.

Moving closer, I noticed the frame hidden behind and picked it up.

My breath left me.

A baby stared back from the photograph. Round cheeks. Barely any hair. A ridiculous knitted hat pulled too low over my forehead.

Me.

Mum was holding me against her chest, her face turned towards mine. She wasn’t looking at the camera.

She was looking at me. There was a softness in her expression that I hadn’t known existed in my memories.