“I was supposed to make some sort of decision,” he said. “But something got in the way, and I went in search of Brigid. I remember being angry and storming out of here. I didn’t ever want to return.”
“Do you remember why you stormed out?” Clare asked. “I’m sure they were only trying to help.”
“They had a treatmentplan I didn’t agree to.” Griffin scratched his head and shrugged. “Maybe they’ll tell me.”
“Maybe it’ll help you retain your memory,” Clare said.
Together, they stepped into the reception area.
She took a giant step backward when she spotted the same receptionist who was there the last time she visited. Now she was going to get caught out on her lie about being his sister.
“Why, Mr. Gallagher,” the receptionist said. “How good to see you this morning. You missed your last appointment, but I’m sure Dr. Murray will see you. Would you like a cup of tea while you wait?”
“Sure,” Griffin replied. “Please let Dr. Murray know that I’ve had another one of my forgetting episodes.”
Clare hid behind Griffin, trying to look like she wasn’t with him, but thereceptionist craned her neck and said, “I’m sure Dr. Murray understands. Looks like your sister finally caught up with you. She came by with a notebook you lost.”
“My sister?” Griffin blinked at the receptionist. “I have a sister I’ve forgotten?”
Behind him, Clare made lip zipping motions at the receptionist who nodded and said, “Why don’t you have a seat, and I’ll let you know whenDr. Murray is available.”
Griffin put his hand on the base of Clare’s back and steered her toward a pair of plastic chairs in the corner of the room.
“Why would Enya think I have a sister?” he asked. “Grandfather said I’m an only child.”
“Maybe she got you confused with someone else,” Clare said. “Do you remember anything else about the last life you had? The one where youmet me on the airplane?”
“I was into some dangerous stuff,” Griffin said. “Now, how did that come to me? I wasn’t even thinking.”
“Maybe your subconscious remembers more than you think.”
“I would remember a sister. I wouldn’t have been so lonely growing up. Memory is a strange thing, isn’t it? If I don’t remember something, it’s as if it never existed or happened—unless someoneelse can corroborate it.”
“Someone else might also remember things wrong,” Clare countered. “This is why written notes, text messages, audio comments, video, and pictures are so important for you.”
“True, but without the context, all of it could be interpreted many different ways.”
“Resulting in you being many different versions of yourself.”
“Are you saying I’m a differentperson each time I come back from one of these trips to the Otherworld or wherever I’ve been?” His glare was sharp and not a little unfriendly. “What do you have to compare me with except for the flight from San Francisco to Dublin?”
“It was a long flight.” She slid him a sidelong glance, still trying to avoid his direct gaze because of all the guilt that had to be written on her face.“I like you better now. You seem kinder and less arrogant.”
“Was I arrogant? Describe me,” he said, looking earnest like he truly wanted to know.
“You might have been tired,” she hedged. “But you gave me the impression you got one over on everyone, like a cat who’d swallowed a canary.”
“Because I had the Heart of Brigid,” he stated. “I must have done something to obtain it.”
“You would have done anything, wouldn’t you?”
She left unstated her suspicion he’d killed his own father for the stone. The writing in the notebook wasn’t clear if it was a journal or a set of plans.
But the fact he had the stone meant he had to have gotten it from someone who had it before—that would be the father who’d whispered instructions into his ear—right before he’dsnuffed the life from him.
“You’re right,” Griffin said. “I would have done anything.”
“Great, then you should agree to whatever treatment the doctor is recommending.”
“What does that have to do with finding the Heart of Brigid?”
“It’s not the finding, but the keeping.” She tilted her head toward the receptionist when Griffin’s name was called. “Dr. Murray is readyto see you. Will you let me pose as your sister so I can take notes?”
He gave her arm a squeeze and nodded, smiling slightly. “Sure, you’re a woman of many faces. Let’s go.”
