Apparently, Angus wasn’t lying when he said he knew my father. I suppose that should offer me some comfort. It didn’t. Because my mother wasn’t always crazy.
She was a normal girl, with hopes and dreams that didn’t involve paranoia. Angus had to know what changed. Or, at the very least, have some idea. And he didn’t say anything. I was her daughter. There wasn’t anyone else in the world more equipped to help her.
Where was he for the past seventeen years? I don’t remember him helping pull her out from under the bed or forcing her to eat when all she wanted to do was hide. Where was Mr. Angus Adair when child services ripped us apart?
This man claimed to be friends with my father. Some friend.
Unless…
My eyes narrowed on the stern lines in Angus’s face. Maybe he didn’t want her to get better? Why else would he come back after all this time?. Charmaine was in that state-run hospital for ten years. She wouldn’t have been hard to find.
“Angus, Angus,” I tsked. “What are you hiding?”
“That’s a loaded question.”
“Jesus Christ!” I shrieked and sprang back.
A woman with deep red hair leaned against a small table down the hall, fighting back a smirk threatening to curl her lips.
“You don’t have enough time to find out what Angus Adair is hiding.” She leaned forward and added in an ominous whisper, “The man’s soul feeds on secrets.”
Does it now?Wait a minute…
I shook my head. “Where did you come from?”
“How impolite of me.” She stepped forward with her hand held out. “I’m Fiona.”
Why did people keep popping up? I’d be alone one minute, then bam, someone was there the next. The maid in my room, Devlin in the bathroom, and now this girl. Were there secret passages everywhere or something? This seemed like the kind of house that would have hidden tunnels.
Or she simply walked down a hall, and I was too focused on the picture to notice. That seemed like the more rational explanation.
I told myself to stop overreacting and accepted her handshake. “Sydney. Sorry, it’s been a long day.”
And by long, I meant horrible and annoying with way too many assholes and smartass birds.
“Don’t worry about it.” She waved her hand dismissively. “I’m sure the boys haven’t made this any easier on you.”
There was the understatement of the year.
“Oh, they’ve been a great welcoming party.”
“I bet they have.” Fiona snorted out a snicker. “Have they plastic wrapped your toilet yet?”
“No.” Mental note, check all the toilets. “Are you their sister?”
“Oh god no. Can you imagine me related to them?”
Was I supposed to answer that?
“My father is friends with Angus, so he sent me here for school.”
How come she gets to go to school?
“Listen, the twins are easy. Wyatt can be a little much to handle sometimes, but just compliment his hair, and you’ll be fine. Their older brother, on the other hand… Have you met Devlin yet?”
Apparently, the look I gave her was the only response she needed, because the next thing I knew Fiona was hunched over, clutching her side in laughter.
“Oh, Sydney.” She threw her arm around my shoulder. “I have so much to teach you.”
