Ayla halted. “Is it bad news?”
Adam came up behind us. “What’s up?”
My throat was dry. I didn’t know where to begin. I thought about the secret house. And now the Xanax. Lying to me was one thing, but how could Ali put the children in this position? I wanted to punch him.
Ayla watched me carefully. “What’s going on, Mom?”
“It involves Dad.” My voice cracked.
Ayla’s eyes rounded. “Are you about to cry?”
My throat twisted. “Maybe.”
“Why?” Adam cocked his head. “What’s happened?”
I pointed to a nearby bench. “Let’s sit.”
“No, thank you.” Ayla crossed her arms over her stomach. “Just say it.”
I took a deep breath, forcing air into my deflated lungs. “I drove out here as soon as I found out. I wanted you both to hear it from me.”
“What’s up?” Adam asked.Bintiseemed alerted to the change in atmosphere. She stood next to Adam, her tail high and still.
“Two detectives came to visit me today.”
“Detectives?” he repeated.
Ayla was beyond pale. Her skin took on a grayish tint. “Why?”
“Apparently, whenever there is a fatal car accident, they test the person’s blood. It turns out that your dad had a drug in his system.”
Adam’s mouth slackened. “Now you’re saying Dad did drugs?”
“No,” I said. “He—”
Ayla flushed. Two bright-red spots on her cheeks shone against the sickly tone of the rest of her face. “What kind of drugs?”
“Dad had Xanax in his system when he crashed.”
A sound of surprise erupted from Ayla’s lips. “Dad took Xanax? Since when?”
Adam’s brows scrunched together. “What is that? I mean, I’ve heard of it, but what’s it for?”
“It’s an antianxiety medicine.”
“Dad taking medicine?” Ayla looked totally thrown. And almost a little relieved. What had she thought I’d say?
“Why would he take anxiety meds?” Adam asked. “Was he anxious?”
I shook my head. “Not to my knowledge.” But there was a lot I didn’t know.
Adam dug his hands deep into the front pockets of his jeans. “It makes zero sense.”
“For all we know, it could be a mistake.” I looked from one of them to the other. “Maybe someone gave him a Xanax by accident. Maybe they thought they were giving him regular Tylenol or Advil.”
“And Dad was driving,” Ayla said. “Does Xanax make you sleepy?”
I nodded. “It can, yes. I looked it up. You’re not supposed to drive after taking Xanax until you know for sure how it affects you.” My legs didn’t feel like they could hold me up for much longer, so I sank onto the bench. “Most people will feel the effects of the drug within an hour. Dad could have taken it right before he left to come home.”
