“Jane! Hey, darlin’,” my dad said as he hugged Jane. He’d always treated her as if she were another daughter. She hugged him back.
“Jane opened her family’s safe deposit box today and there was a package in there for you from Will,” I blurted. Jane went to the foyer to get her purse, and Dad sat on the couch with an expectant look on his face. “What if it has to do with all this weird crap that keeps coming up lately?” I asked.
“Maybe. Hopefully there are clues in here.” He took the large manila envelope from Jane and emptied it onto the coffee table. It contained a bunch of papers and a flash drive. Holy crap, a flash drive! That weird guy had been asking about a flash drive the other day in front of Violet’s. Dad started siftingthrough the papers and shaking his head. He looked frustrated. “I wish he would have left a note or something instead of just my name on the envelope. This is a bunch of nothing—maps and lists of street names. Lily, grab my laptop, and we can check out this flash drive.” I opened the drawer on the coffee table and pulled out the laptop, then snatched the flash drive and booted up the computer. I stared in confusion at what appeared to be rows of numbers, more street names, and even more maps. I scrolled through the information and stopped when I saw a picture. It was a man, good looking, with long blond hair tied back in a ponytail. I had no idea who he was, but at least it was something besides lists of seemingly random information.
“I have no idea who that is,” Jane said from over my shoulder as she stood at the side of the couch.
“I’ll run this picture and find out who this is, then go from there,” Dad said.
“Maybe Trevor knows what this is about.” I looked up as Dylan bounded down the stairs. Jane was standing, so he hugged her, then hopped onto my dad’s lap and hugged him.
“I don’t like that guy. He’s mean,” Dylan said. He was looking at the picture on the laptop. We all glanced at each other at Dylan’s announcement.
“When did you meet this man?” I asked. I was trying to remain calm and not freak Dylan out.
“I was at the park with Daddy.” I knew he meant Will. I had noticed he had started referring to Will as “Daddy” and Luke as “Dad.”
He stopped to think. “We were at the swings. That guy yelled at Daddy to mind his own business. He had another guy with him—a big, tall, mean guy. That other guy didn’t say anything. I was scared for a minute because they were all mad. But then the two guys left, and Daddy said I shouldn’t worry. I remember him because he had a ponytail and a flowery shirt like in thispicture.”
“Did your dad say the man’s name?” Dad asked. Dylan tilted his head and made the scrunchy face he always made when he was thinking hard.
After a moment, he looked at me and said, “The guy called Daddy a bad word. Can I say it?”
“Yes, go ahead and say everything you remember, Dylan,” I answered quickly.
“He called Daddy a nosy asshole.” Dylan’s eyes were big. “And Daddy called him Rick. No, it was Derry Rick, I think. Daddy didn’t say any bad words though.”
“Derrick?” I asked
“Yes, that’s it. Derrick,” Dylan said, smiling.
Dad spoke up. “What about the other guy? Did anyone say his name?” Dylan just shook his head. “Do you remember anything else?” Dad encouraged.
“Not really,” Dylan replied. “I want to go play again.”
I nodded, and he took off back up the stairs.
I shook my head. “I don’t like this at all. This freaks me out.”
Jane sat down and side hugged me, and I leaned into her.
“What’s going on?” Luke asked as he crossed the foyer and entered the living room.
“We’re not exactly sure. But it’s not good.” Dad nodded as he removed the flash drive and shut the laptop. “I’m going to the station. I’ll be back soon.” He gathered all the papers and the envelope and headed out the front door.
“Well, that was clear as mud,” Jane said with a grimace. “I vote for letting your dad handle it. I’m going to go back to drinking wine with your mom. As long as we’re in this house we’re all fine. I’m getting drunk.” She got up, leaving me alone with Luke.
“Calla’s down. I rocked her in the chair, and she went right out,” he said as he sat next to me and pulled me close. “She’s right. We’re fine here, all together.”
“You’re right. We’re okay for now. And you’re anatural when it comes to Calla.” I could tell that he was excited about his nap time success. He smiled at me. The light in his eyes was mesmerizing.
I stared up at him and returned his smile. Even though something weird and possibly dangerous was hanging over me, I was happy. “Kiss me,” I ordered, and he quickly obliged. When his lips touched mine, all thoughts left my head. I wrapped my arms around his neck and scooted onto his lap to sit sideways across his legs. We were so into each other that we didn’t hear the front door open and break apart until I heard gagging sounds. I looked up to see Rose standing there.
“My God, you guys. Did I step into a time machine?” She grinned at us, and I felt the déjà vu as well. “This is like old times. This house. Me walking in on you guys and interrupting your make-out session. I’m sorry I gagged at you. Old habits die hard.” She laughed and flopped down on the chair across from us. I tried to move off Luke’s lap and back onto the couch, but he held me tight. I shrugged and smiled back at Rose.
“I’m happy for you guys. But I smell food, so later.” She stood up as the front door opened and Trevor and my dad walked through.
“Rosalie,” Trevor said.
