I had packed my few belongings and was closing the door to my apartment when Tina showed up out of breath and with a bag in her hand.
“Devina, where are you going?”
“Back to my family’s house.”
“I figured you might.” She fell into step with me as I walked down the hallway to the staircase. “You’re mad at Amber and me. I get it. When you hung up, I felt awful and then when you wouldn’t pick up your phone… I was afraid that you’d never speak to me again.”
“I have a lot on my mind.”
Tina followed me outside the building to the self-driving community car that I’d ordered. When I got in, she was quick to get in with me.
“You want me to drop you off on the way?” It was the polite thing to ask even though I felt a little annoyed since Tina lived in the opposite direction.
“No, I’m coming with you.” Her tone was matter-of-fact.
I scrunched up my face. “You can’t come with me.”
“You’re going to do something wild. I know you.”
I sighed. “You think that because I wrote an outrageous book, I only do wild things?”
“Tell me the truth.” Her eyes fell to my belly. “Mark is real, isn’t he?”
I’d told my friends that I had an experimental encounter with a man, but no one had questioned whether he was from the Motherlands.
My hesitation made Tina widen her eyes. “I knew it!”
“No, it’s…”
She cut me off. “I couldn’t tell you while Amber was there, but I read your book in one night. It was amazing. You made me feel like I was right there. Mark was so different, and I want to know how you came up with someone as fascinating as him. You have to tell me everything.”
I turned my head and looked out the window as the community car drove down the street. “There’s nothing to tell, Tina. I’m an author like you and we make up stuff.”
She leaned back in her seat and gave me a scrutinizing look, but I didn’t budge.
Then she leaned against me and whispered into my ear. “You’re afraid our conversation is being recorded, aren’t you? It’s okay. You can tell me later.”
My mind was reeling. I could use a friend, but would Tina try and stop me from executing my plan?
“It’s a four-hour drive to the house. How about I take you home?”
“No thanks. If only we had one of the drones you described in your books… I’ll bet the journey would be much shorter then.”
I ignored her complaint. “You wouldn’t like it at the house. I’ve packed up everything and I’m only going back to hand over keys and say one last goodbye.”
“And then where will you go?”
“I’ve been asked to spend some time in a place of reflection.”
Tina took my hand. “Maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad thing. You’ve suffered a lot with the loss of your family. It would be a place for you to find peace again.”
“Maybe, but…” I couldn’t tell her that what I feared about going to a place of reflection was to be subjected to lectures about how disturbed my book was. My memories of my time with Tyton were precious and beautiful. I couldn’t bear to let anyone poison them by planting doubt in my mind.
Tina was still stroking my hand. “I took a class on grief, you know.”
“You did?”
“Yes. That’s why I’ve never tried to cheer you up. Haven’t you noticed?”
