“Yesterday,” Mallory said, frowning. “Why?”
“Oh—no reason.” Callie relaxed a little but still felt like she could use some water. Walking over the cupboard, she took out a glass. “I was just trying to figure out when the two of you would’ve had time to talk privately. Didn’t I ask you not to interrogate her?”
“Interrogate is a very strong word. I was just asking a few simple questions and then she went and turned it around on me. Or on you guys. The whole family, really. But like I said, Idon’t think she was alluding to anything specific. I think she just wanted me to stop asking her questions.”
“I’m sure you’re right.” Callie filled the glass at the sink, ignoring the pit in her stomach. Whatelsehad Sasha noticed? Did she already know more than she was letting on? “She probably just wanted to be out of the hot seat, so she said the first thing that came to mind. As for the birthday stuff, I just really can’t see a reason why she’d lie about that.”
“I can!” Mallory announced like it was obvious.
“Do tell.”
“If we had her full name and birthday, it’d be much easier for us to find information about her. This is the kind of stuff you’d normally find on official documents from the government or women’s shelters, but you don’t have anything like that, right?”
“No, I don’t.” Callie gripped the glass tightly as she brought it to her lips. It was becoming harder to argue against Mallory’s suspicions.
“By keeping her birthday from us,” Mallory went on. “She’s ensuring that we can’t really do a lot of research on her.”
“Or she just doesn’t share her birthday with people.”
Mallory laughed and shook her head. “You’re so determined to believe this girl. I don’t understand it. What does she have on you?”
Callie let out a loud, shocked laugh. “Nothing! She doesn’t have anything on me. What a wild thing to suggest. Why would you even say something like that?”
“I was kidding...” Mallory narrowed her eyes. “But why are you acting so nervous?”
“I’m not nervous,” Callie insisted, turning her back on Mallory as she refilled her glass. “You’re the one who’s acting paranoid. Now I understand what Sasha felt—being put on trial for no good reason.”
“I’m not–”
“But listen, if you’ve got more questions for her, then go ask them,” she continued. “I’m not going to stop you. Your dad might not appreciate it, but that’s between you and him. I’m done trying to tell you what to do in regard to Sasha. Just leave me out of it. I trust her, I’m happy she’s here, and that’s all I have to say, okay?” She glanced back just to make sure Mallory heard her loud and clear.
Her daughter stared at her for a moment, then nodded. “Okay. Fine. I’ll keep you out of it.”
“Thank you.” Callie headed for the doorway.
“Oh, and just so you know, I told Ariel about her,” Mallory added. “She doesn’t seem to have a problem with the arrangement, so you don’t have to worry about her being weird at Thanksgiving.”
“Good to know,” she said without looking back.
Callie headed out of the kitchen and towards the staircase. She was ready for bed.
Two kids down—one to go.
Chapter 6
A week later, Callie had to face her fears.
In less than three days, Ariel, Taylor, and their families were going to be arriving in Ferndale, and she still hadn’t told her son. But when Taylor called her the Friday morning before Thanksgiving to discuss travel plans, she couldn’t put the conversation off anymore.
“Hey, sweetie,” she answered the call from the cafe on campus. Callie had carved out the whole morning to do some grading and had decided to do so at the school. It wasn’t that she wasavoidingher family, she just needed a moment to herself. Mallory and Sasha were always on edge around each other, and David was also stressed ever since his workload had increased before his week-long Thanksgiving break. All this drama left Callie walking on eggshells in her own house, so she’d woken up that morning with a plan to stay out untilat leastthe early afternoon.
“Hey mom,” Taylor said in a cheery voice. Taylor had always been a morning person, and as long as the sun was up, he tended to not only be awake, but chipper. “How’s it going?”
“It’s going alright.” She looked around at the cozy cafe and smiled. “It’s going great, actually. I’m having a lovely morning grading papers with a delicious cup of coffee.”
“That sounds nice. I’m jealous. My Friday is already chalking up to be a total nightmare with work, but I suppose that’s to be expected with the holiday coming up.”
“Don’t work yourself too hard. I’d hate for you or Erica to get sick before coming out to visit! Your father and I are so excited to see you.”
