I can’t believe that I didn’t know that Mickey was related to Case.
As we near the playground, she tugs her phone out of her bag. With a quick scan of the screen, she sighs. “Sometimes, Mick will send me a message using the sitter’s phone, but they must be busy today.”
This small talk is lovely, but it’s a precursor to what’s to come.
I have dozens of questions.
I know Delaney must have a few too.
“Is Rush your brother’s best friend?”
I didn’t think she’d lead with that question, but I’m happy to answer it. “He is. Drake has been friends with him for years.”
“Drake,” she repeats my brother’s name. “He’s the man in the wedding picture that you showed me?”
“That’s him.”
She stops just as we’re about to enter the playground. When she turns to face me, her eyes lock on mine. “I met your brother, Emma.”
I don’t know why that takes me aback. Nothing should surprise me at this point. I ask a simple question in response to her declaration. “When?”
“Right after Apollo died.” Her words are sharp and to the point. “Drake looked a lot different. He had a beard, and his hair was past his shoulders.”
I look toward a vacant wooden bench. I need to sit. I feel like the universe is closing in on me.
Delaney picks up on my cue and makes her way to the bench. She takes a seat before I do.
“Apollo took me home a couple of times. It was an apartment on the Lower East Side.” Her eyes wander to three children playing on the swings. Their mother stands nearby, watching over them.
“I never met Rush.” Her voice lowers. “I saw him talking to Apollo on the sidewalk one afternoon. When I asked who the guy in the suit was, he said it was his brother Rush.”
“Case,” I say.
“What?” Her brow furrows.
“Rush is his nickname.” I straighten my shoulders, trying to find some inner strength to draw from. “His name is Case Abbott.”
“Case Abbott,” she repeats his name slowly. “It’s no wonder I couldn’t find him. I’ve been looking for Rush Easton for years.”
I raisemy hand to wave at a little girl playing in the sand. I’ve never seen her before, but children only see the good in the world. They want to bring a smile to a face that has a frown, so they’ll grin or wave if they think it will make a difference.
It made a difference for me.
I was on the verge of tears when Delaney told me that she’d been searching for Case but didn’t know his real name.
“Why did Apollo call him Rush?”
I glance at her. “Case’s middle name is Rushton.”
Her chin bobs up and down. “Did they have different fathers?”
The pained expression on her face as she asks the question tells me that she’s embarrassed. She doesn’t know a lot about Apollo’s family. It’s as much as I know about them.
“Yes.” I keep the answer simple.
She takes a breath. “I went to the apartment a few days after Apollo died, and Rush wasn’t around. Your brother was there clearing out the place. There were a couple of other people helping him. I told Drake to tell Rush to call me. My number was in Apollo’s phone, but I never heard from him.”
“You never heard from Case?” I question back.
