A little mirthless laugh floats from her. "With good reason. Liam, I don't understand."
"I had to do it. I had to look in his eyes one more time. I had to talk to him."
Her brow furrows. "Why?"
"So that I would know for sure."
"You would know what?"
I offer her a smile I finally feel. "That I'm not a Byers. I'm a McBride."
Lucky’s gaze softens. "What did you say to him?"
Probably not enough.
There were so many things I planned in my head over the past two years, so much I wanted to say and questions I wanted to ask if I were ever face to face with him, but all of that went out the window as soon as he opened his mouth.
I take another sip as I consider our conversation from earlier today at the state mental hospital where he's been locked up for almost a year now. "I'm not even totally sure he knew who I was. They've been medicating him, but ..." I shake my head slightly, my jaw tensing. "I told him Willow was my sister-in-law, and that I was his son. There was a flicker, a second where I thought maybe he understood everything, but—" I release a heavy sigh, the pain of that moment hitting me hard again. "But then, it was gone. I think he's totally gone at this point. But seeing him was good because I don't see myself anymore when I look at him."
She smiles, with nothing but love and affection glowing in her gaze. "Good, you shouldn't."
"I saw a broken man who's been broken for a very long time, who had everything to live for—a wife and a child—and instead became a monster. I won't let that happen to me, to us.”
She leans into me, burying her face in my neck. "I know you won't. I'm glad you went and saw him."
I press my lips into the top of her head, inhaling that eucalyptus scent. "Me, too."
"But I wish you would've told me."
The pain in her voice makes regret sit heavy on my chest.
"I needed to do it on my own."
She pushes up and nods. "I understand that."
"Good, because it's the only thing I want to do alone. For the rest of my life, it's you and me…and Giz."
He pops his head up from the other chair beside us at the sound of his name, scanning to see why I said it, and then instantly slumps back down, returning to his evening nap when he discovers he isn’t getting any snacks or attention.
Lucky runs her hands through my hair. “Good. While you were gone today, I got a call."
"From who?"
"Agent Michaelson."
My back immediately stiffens. "Why didn't you tell me right when you walked out the door?"
She gives me a sly smile. "Because I didn't want you to worry."
"Using my own words against me, huh?"
A grin plays at her lips. "If that's what it takes."
"What did he have to say?"
"A lot."
LUCKY
