SIENNA
Sienna stood in the doorway to Parker’s room, the list in her hand. Her son, who was thoroughly engrossed in whatever was happening on his Game Boy, was unaware she was there. She glanced around his messy bedroom—it was a navy cocoon, with fluorescent stars scattered across the ceiling that glowed when the room was dark. It had taken her an entire day to put them up when he was five and wanted a space-themed bedroom. By the time she stuck the last one to the textured ceiling, her neck and shoulders ached horribly, but the look of wonder on his face that night when they actually did light up at bedtime made the job worth doing. Ten years later, the stars were still there, and the walls were still covered with cartoon space decals. The room was too young for him now, but whenever she suggested they change it up, he refused. “It wouldn’t be my bedroom anymore.”
He was snuggled into the oversized burgundy beanbag chair, his head tilted down at the small screen, thumbstwitching, while his feet tapped on the grey carpet under them. Sienna hated to disturb him, not when he was content and she would upset him. But she had no choice.
She glanced at the list again. She’d made one for each of the kids (although Ivy didn’t need it anymore). It was one of the only things she’d followed through with in her original quest to raise independent humans—making them pack for themselves. When they were done, she’d make sure they didn’t miss anything (and Parker most definitely would miss something). Normally, he didn’t mind the chore because it meant they were going somewhere fun. But this time, she was certain he wouldn’t want to go. The job had to be done now because they had to leave for the airport by eight the next morning for the flight to Vegas.
Zane wanted her to pull the kids out of school and go on Thursday evening and spend Friday together as a family. But Sienna declined, citing the fact that it was Ivy’s last year of high school and she shouldn’t miss any class time, not if she wanted to get accepted to her college of choice (Princeton).
The truth was, Sienna knew what would happen if they were all there together. Zane would be incredibly charming and attentive as he’d take them around to see all the best things that children could see in Vegas. He’d get them tickets to David Copperfield (and of course they’d go backstage after to meet him and he’d probably reveal at least one secret for them only). The kids would be thrilled to have their parents together again, and Zane would be that perfect version of himself that she couldn’t resist. And she wouldn’t resist him. And before she knew it, he’d be moved back in even though nothing had been solved. She still wouldn’t be able to trust him. So, she did the smart thing and told him they’d show up in Vegas a few hours before the concert.
“Hey, Parker, can you pause the game?”
Without looking up, he said, “It’s Mortal Kombat. You can’t pause it.”
“All right, well when the match is over, I need to speak with you.”
“Match,” he muttered with a little chuckle.
She set the list on his black dresser and got to work picking up the clothes that were strewn across the floor. “What’s it called then, if it’s not a match?”
“A round.”
“Ah, okay,” she answered, picking up a T-shirt that was damp for reasons she did not want to investigate.
By the time the room looked slightly more orderly, Parker said, “What’s up?”
“You remember we’re going to Las Vegas tomorrow morning, right?”
“Yup. You want me to pack, right?”
She smiled at him. “Your list is on the dresser.”
“Okay,” he said with a shrug. He turned his attention back to the small screen in front of him. “I’ll do it after this game. I want to see if I can top my score.”
Sienna, who had several arguments ready at her disposal (it’s for Uncle Mike, who loved you kids very much, it’ll be fun, it’ll be a once-in-a-lifetime event that people will talk about for decades, and you’ll be able to say you were right backstage), closed her mouth. Then said, “You’re … okay with going?”
Without taking his eyes off the screen, he said, “I want to meet my baby brother.”
Her heart dropped. “Oh, honey, you can’t think of him that way. It’ll only upset you.”
“Why not? It’s the truth. He’s my brother,” he answered, lifting the Game Boy closer to his face. “The girls sawpictures of him and said he looks exactly like me at that age.”
Her stomach tightened. “Well, that may be the case, but it’s best if we all think of him as Uncle Mike’s son. That’s how the world will know him, and it’ll be easier for us all that way.”
“But it’s a lie,” he said, his hands jerking, his thumbs moving at a furious pace. “I can’t lie to myself because I already know the truth.”
“Well, I get that, but?—”
Poppy chose that moment to interrupt. Standing in the doorway, she said, “Mom, I need to talk to you.”
“Get out of my room, pipsqueak.”
“I’m notinyour room, you dumb-dumb.”
“That’s enough, both of you,” Sienna said. “No name calling. She’s not in your room, Parker.”
He glanced up. “Her head is in my room.”
