Chapter 2

"Mom, stop worrying," Andrew cut in, sounding impatient. "Before my brother died, all he cared about was his wife and Tommy.

"I promised him I'd look after them. You know how his wife is. If she knew he was gone, she'd remarry in a heartbeat and take Tommy with her.

"Then the Brooks family line would end! Grace is different. She's loyal to a fault. Once she commits, she stays.

"See? Even without me, she's kept things going with Lily for two years now."

I froze.

Grace, that was my mom's name.

Wait... "If she knew my brother was gone"? Didn't my dad die?

"But secrets don't last forever," Grandma sighed. "What if Grace figures it out?"

"Figures out what? She was suspicious when I first came back. As long as I keep saying I'm not Edward, what can she do? Just relax, okay?"

The silhouette behind the paper window looked just like my father in my memories.

Something clicked in my mind.

Could it be... Was that really my dad in there?

I was straining to hear more when a chair scraped inside.

My heart jumped. I tiptoed away, quiet as a mouse.

If they caught me listening, I'd never hear the end of it.

Back in our room, Mom was frowning even in her sleep.

I gently tucked the blanket around her and crawled into my own bed.

But sleep wouldn't come. The words I'd overheard swarmed in my head like insects, tangling my father's faint smile with Andrew's cold stare until nothing made sense.

Was that really my dad?

But if he was alive... why did he leave us?

Why was he pretending to be Andrew... being a father to Tommy?

He looked at me so coldly... didn't even flinch when my hand was bleeding...

My head ached from thinking, but I couldn't find an answer.

My heart felt heavy and muffled, like a wet cloth was stuck inside.

But I knew one thing: this was a secret. A secret Dad and Grandma were keeping from us.

And keeping something like this... it wasn't right.

I had to tell Mom.

Lost in these thoughts, I finally drifted off without realizing.

When I woke, Mom had already left.

I spent the whole day waiting for her to return.

I sat on the doorstep, watching the sun crawl from east to west.

In my mind, I kept rehearsing what I'd say, wondering if she'd be hurt or if she'd even believe me.

It was almost dark when Mom finally came back, carrying her empty baskets, her whole body looking drained.

Her steps were heavier than usual, and her hair was stuck to her forehead with sweat.

She set down the baskets and came over to check out my hand. When she saw the scab, she finally sat down on a stool.

She let out a long, tired sigh, so exhausted she could barely say a word.

I took a deep breath, moved closer to her, and whispered, "Mom, I have a secret to tell you."

Mom forced a tired smile, her voice raspy. "Lily, what kind of secret could you possibly have?"

"I... I overheard Uncle Andrew and Grandma talking last night," I whispered.

Mom didn't really pay much attention, probably just thinking it was some silly kid talk.

She gave my back a gentle pat. "What did you hear? Did they say I'm always busy with the stall and don't care about you?"

As she spoke, her eyes turned a little sad.

I shook my head, clutching her sleeve tighter, my voice dropping to a whisper. "No... that's not it... I overheard Uncle Andrew say... he isn't dead."

Mom froze for a second, then managed a weary smile. "Lily, what are you talking about? Of course, Andrew's alive..."

"No, that's not what I mean!" I burst out, my voice trembling as I looked straight into her eyes. "Uncle Andrew... he's actually Dad!"

Her smile vanished in an instant.

She stared at me, as if my words didn't register at all.

I spilled everything I'd heard last night in a rush, then watched her anxiously for a response.

Mom just sat there for ages, totally spaced out, like her soul had left her body.

The last ember in the stove crackled and went out.

It felt like forever, so long that I almost thought Mom had fallen asleep, when she suddenly shot up from her chair, the legs screeching across the floor.

"Edward Brooks!" she muttered, her voice shaking with an anger and tremor I'd never heard before. She turned and rushed out the door.

I jumped in surprise and hurried after her.

Mom yanked open the door, but just as she was about to step out, she stopped dead in her tracks, like she was rooted to the spot.

In the yard, the moon had just risen, its cold, silvery light spilling over two figures as they stepped in, one after the other.

It was Andrew... No, it was my dad.