Page 175 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass
“No.” He turned her to face him. “I didn’t ask her about that.”
She blinked rapidly, refusing to cry. “What about why she didn’t help me when I was four years old? Why did she keep quiet and leave me to wonder for twenty-two years?”
He took her hands and squeezed. “She said she was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“I didn’t ask her that either. I want to wait until I see her tomorrow.”
She swallowed. “You’re meeting with her?”
He nodded. “At her apartment in Roxbury. She seems sort of spooked, so I want to make sure I talk to her before she changes her mind. You can come if you want.”
She stared down at the floor—where the pale beige rug met pretty polished wood. “This is where I’m supposed to jump at the chance to find the answers,” she choked out as she looked at him again. “This is what I asked for—to know her name and mine, so why am I angry and terrified?”
“Because we’re turning your world upside down every single day. I don’t know what to do in this situation.” He gripped her hands tighter. “Every time I find something new, I hurt you.”
“But you free me all at the same time.” She dashed at her cheek when a tear fell. “This is what I asked you to do. I’m sorry I’m not handling it better.”
He hugged her, pressing a long kiss to the top of her head. “You’re doing fine.”
She held on tight. “Right now, it doesn’t feel like it.”
He sighed. “I have another picture of her—of the two of you together. Danielle sent it over in an email. Do you want to see it?”
“Yes.”
He pulled the folded paper out of his pocket.
She took the computer printout, holding it with trembling hands as she studied the beautiful young woman smiling next to the grinning little girl. “She looks so young.”
“She was twenty-three when you guys came to the island.”
She looked at him. “We look happy, Nate.”
He nodded. “Yeah, you do.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “The answers are coming. We’ll have more tomorrow.”
She nodded this time.
“Are you coming with me to Roxbury?”
She glanced at the picture again—at her biological mother whom she looked so much alike. “I have to.”
“We’ll head over on the six a.m. ferry. Our meeting’s at ten.”
She set the piece of paper facedown, having had enough for now. “Thank you, Nate. For all of this.”
He kissed her gently, tenderly. “You’re welcome.”
She stared into his eyes—at the regret she saw there—and could only be sorry for both of them. “Let’s go down and help with dinner. I want to be happy again. Let’s laugh and eat with your sisters and just be us. Come be happy with me.”
He nodded. “That’s the best thing I’ve heard all day.”
~~~~
The plow passed by Mansion Row, flashing its orange lights and scraping the snow off Highway 1 as Callie opened her eyes in the dark. She studied the shadows playing over the furnishings in Nate’s childhood bedroom and rolled to her side, reaching for him as she had a couple of hours ago, but this time he was gone. “Nate,” she called quietly as she sat up and turned on the bedside lamp. Blinking in defense against the brightness, she realized his weapon and radio were missing from the nightstand. It surprised her some that she never heard him leave. For hours, she’d been tossing and turning—since the nightmare frightened her out of her deep sleep.
She pulled back the covers, moved to the chair tucked in the nook by the windows, and picked up the sketch pad she’d abandoned on the cushion after Nate had finally coaxed her back to bed. She scrutinized the image she’d sketched frantically—darkness and shadows surrounding a single glowing window jutting from a roofline. Frowning, she struggled to find the meaning, but nothing about her drawing made any sense. Her gaze stayed fixed on the light shining from the window—something that often symbolized an anchoring of sorts and warmth, but she shivered, finding that it left her cold.
