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My father tipped his head at my pointed comment. "It's been a difficult time for all of us."
"I can't believe she had a sister," Vicky murmured, shock apparent in her eyes. "I guess I really didn't know her at all."
"Probably not," I said. "So, what now?"
"Vicky and I are going back to LA," my father replied.
"I don't understand how you can just leave. Don't you want to see Mom? Don't you want to talk to her?"
Before my dad could answer, Vicky cut in. "Why should he see her? Why should any of us see her? She betrayed all of us, me included. I was her best friend. She left me, too."
"Don't you want to know why?" I challenged.
"If she won't tell you, she's not going to tell us," Vicky said.
"She might tell you, Dad. You were her husband."
"I gave her a chance to explain; she didn't take it." He shook his head. "Vicky is right. We are not a part of her life anymore. She made sure of that. I'm glad she has survived the shooting, and I hope she can stay alive, but it's not our problem. You have your own life, Brynn. Focus on that. I'm certain that's what your mother would want." He paused, giving me a sharp look. "She told you to leave, too, didn't she?"
"Yes," I admitted. "She said she didn’t want it to all be for nothing. She wanted me to be safe, and she was sorry she ever told the nurse to call me."
"I can't believe she had your number."
"She was watching over us." I paused. "Didn't you wonder if she might be alive when Dani told you she saw her at our high school graduation?"
"Wait, what?" Vicky asked in surprise.
"I thought Dani imagined it," he said. "I told her that her mom was always watching over her. I had no idea she was alive, although maybe deep down it did give me pause. Your mother's body was never found, and that part always haunted me. But I couldn't imagine how she could be alive and not with me or her children." He let out a breath. "I've spent the last week in complete turmoil since I learned she was alive, but I realize now that there's no going back. She isn't the woman I fell in love with, and I'm no longer that man. She moved on and so did we. I hate that she's pulling you back into the past. Don't let her do that, Brynn. Go home, live your life, and forget about her."
It wasn't the worst advice. But the thought of never knowing… "I can't," I said. "I have to know why it all happened, how we ended up here. And I have to try to save her."
"Why?" Vicky asked. "She left you, Brynn."
"You don't have to keep saying that. I know what she did. But I loved her, and I think she loved us. If this was about protecting us, then don't we owe her some protection, too?"
"There's nothing we can do," my father said. "She won't give us enough information to help her. And the police are looking into it. They'll find who did this to her."
"They haven't found them yet."
"Well, the longer you stay here, the more you'll be in danger," my father said. "If you still love her even a little, then you should do what she wants you to do—go home."
Silence fell between us, then Vicky cleared her throat. "I don't want to rush this, but we need to leave now to make our flight," she said.
"Why did you come here, Vicky?" I asked.
"Your father called me this morning, and he was very upset. I couldn't leave him here alone." Vicky paused. "I respect the fact that your mother loved your dad, and your dad loved your mother, but their marriage ended a long time ago. I love my husband. I love you and Dani, too. We're the family now."
"We've never been the family," I said cynically. "You pushed us to the side as soon as you got Dad to marry you. It's not all your fault. He let you. He let Dani and me be our own unit."
"That's not true," my father said.
"It's not true," Vicky added. "I loved you as if you were my own."
"You know what? It doesn't matter. I'm not mad at either of you. I just want us to be honest. You should go. You should catch that flight. But the police will catch up to you. You know that, don't you?"
"I'll talk to them," my father said. "But not without my attorney."
I shook my head. "I don't see why either of you need a lawyer, but obviously I can't change your mind. I'm surprised the police didn't catch up to you before now. I thought they were watching your hotel."
