“Did you go fishing today?” I offered him a hot tea with a sheepish smile, then slid into one of the wooden chairs beside him.
“Aye, she was a beauty.” His eyes crinkled at the corners.
“Granddad...” I toyed with the lacy tablecloth. “I’m going to go away for a while, and I don’t want you to worry about me.”
He studied me over the rim of his steaming cup. “Does this have something to do withher?”
I nodded.
“She wouldn’t have wanted you to put yourself in any danger.”
“I can’t fully explain it,” I said, “but I know she spent her life chasing something. All that traveling—it wasn’t just a pastime. And now, I have the chance to finish what she started.”
“Does this have something to do with that lad who put Barry into a trance? I don’t trust him.”
My pulse stuttered at Granddad’s mention of Finn. This trip had everything to do with him, but I pushed the thought aside.
“Aranare is going to come with me. And my other friend, Edward.”
Granddad sighed. “The Williamson boy is a good lad, and I suppose I can’t stop you.”
I exhaled in relief. “There’s one more thing. I need you to tell Mom I’ve gone to college in Glasgow, because she won’t understand.”
“Aye.” He nodded. “But I’m not going to lie to your mother; you can call her and tell her yourself,” he grumbled, stretching for the home phone and holding it out to me.
I dragged my gaze to the big wooden clock on the wall. In Kansas City, it would be morning.
Anxiety pinched my chest. I knew I had to face my mother, to tell her I had learned the truth about my father. Part of me was angry—she’d kept this from me my whole life—but another part felt guilty. This conversation would drag her into a past she’d done everything she could to bury.
I exhaled and dialed her number.
“Hello,” she answered sharply.
“Hi, Mom.” I toyed with the phone cord, my stomach in knots.
“Morgana, I haven’t heard from you in weeks. Every time I call, you’re not in. I was getting worried, you know, with your condition and everything...” She exhaled.
“I’m going to college, Mom, in Glasgow.”
Silence.
“Mom?”
“I want you to share your doctor’s number so I can see how you’ve been doing,” came her curt reply.
“I’m not a child anymore.” I ground out.
“And what about your grandfather? Who will look after him with you in Glasgow? Because I can’t, Morgana, I just can’t.” Her breathing quickened.
“Louisa will check on him, and he’s doing better now.” I smiled at Granddad.
“Why don’t you come home, then?” Mom shot back without hesitation.
“I want to stay here. After all, this is where myfather’sfrom.” I pursed my lips, waiting.
An excruciating silence, followed by a sniff. She was crying.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Tears spilled silently down my face.
