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“Are you talking about the fire? The one that killed my parents?”
She doesn’t answer.
“Mom, tell me.”
“Let’s go sit down.” When they’re both at the table, she continues. “There was evidence that it might’ve been started intentionally, but they weren’t able to confirm it.”
“That house was brand new. Who would purposely set it on fire?”
“Some of the neighbors heard your parents fighting in the bedroom. Then they saw the curtains go up in flames.”
“My dad always had a lighter on him,” Easton says. “Are you saying my dad started the fire?”
“I don’t know that for sure. Like I said, it could’ve just been an accident.”
“But why would he do that? He had to have known it could kill them. Are you saying that’s why he did it?”
“I don’t know. Nobody does, but the stories on the news made it seem like that, and, well, we didn’t want people hearing your name and asking if you were the son of the man who killed his wife and himself in a fire. We thought it would be better if we changed your name and gave you a fresh start.”
“But how many people would even know?”
“At the time, a lot of people knew. It was a big story. The investigation went on for a couple years. People kept seeing it on the news. Easton, I don’t want you believing that this is true. None of us knows what really happened that day.”
I reach over for Easton’s hand. “Are you okay?”
He gazes down at the table. “I don’t know. I don’t know why we have all these secrets. We’re supposed to be a family.”
“Easton, your father and I did what we thought was best. I’m not saying we always made the right decisions.”
He looks up at her. “Is there more? Any other secrets you’re hiding?”
“No. I’ve told you everything.”
The doorbell rings and Easton’s mom checks her watch. “Oh, shoot, I forgot.”
“Forgot what?” Easton asks.
“That’s Sara at the door. I forgot we were going for coffee this morning.”
“Go ahead and go.”
“Are you sure? I can stay if you’d like to talk some more.”
“No, go out with your friend.”
“I won’t be gone long.” She races to the door as the bell rings again.
“I wasn’t expecting that,” Easton says. “A murder-suicide?”
“You don’t know if it’s true.”
“The investigators didn’t rule it out, which means it might be true.”
“Would your dad really do that?”
“I don’t think so. He and my mom would fight, but he never tried to hurt her.”
“Then maybe it was an accident but the news went with the other story to keep people interested.”
