Chapter 5

Right then, my phone lit up with a call from Lucy. I answered it in front of Jonathan.

"Anna, Henry has a fever. He keeps crying for Daddy. Can you ask Jonathan to come to Mom and Dad's?" Lucy said.

I glanced at Jonathan. He was already frowning, looking anxious and worried.

"Okay," I said calmly. "I'll tell him to head over."

The second I hung up, Jonathan pulled me into his arms. "Honey, I've known Henry since he was born. I'll go check on him and come right back."

I heard myself say, "You don't have to explain. We're family. It's no big deal."

He let go almost immediately and walked out.

I stood by the window and watched the headlights disappear into the night. My heart sank, and my eyes burned.

Jonathan, what was I actually to you? Was it love or guilt?

When the clock on the wall struck twelve, the phone beside me began vibrating nonstop.

[Anna, happy birthday!]

[Anna baby, happy 28th! Don't forget your cake.]

An endless stream of birthday wishes flooded in. They were from my friends, my advisor, and my colleagues. But not a single word from my parents and Jonathan.

I opened Threads and saw that Jonathan had just posted right at midnight. The photo was from earlier that day—him, Lucy, and Henry eating together. The caption read: [Happy 28th birthday to you, Honey.]

My stomach twisted violently. I threw my phone aside and ran to the bathroom, retching until only bitter acid came up. I collapsed against the toilet and broke down, crying so hard my eyes swelled and my temples throbbed.

I had told myself I'd made peace with it. So why did it still hurt this much?

I took some medication, and only then did my emotions settle enough for me to fall asleep.

Early the next morning, my parents' phone call jolted me awake. They asked me to come home for a meal.

I glanced at the calendar. This would probably be the last family dinner I'd ever have with them. So I went.

By the time I arrived, the living room was covered in balloons and streamers. They were celebrating Lucy's birthday.

Ethan Summers spotted me, his face darkening. "Why'd you invite an outsider to a family gathering?"

"Watch your mouth. Apologize to your sister!" My father, George, smacked him on the back and barked at him.

"I only have one sister. She's not my sister." With that, Ethan stormed upstairs.

Henry immediately jumped in, pointing at me and yelling, "You're a big meanie. You made Uncle Ethan leave. Go apologize to him."

The moment he saw Jonathan and Lucy walk out, he burst into loud, dramatic sobs.

Lucy scooped him up, soothing him gently while turning to me. "Anna, Henry's just a kid. Don't take what he says too seriously."

Jonathan added, "He just got discharged from the hospital. He's probably still a little emotional."

I looked at them quietly. They really were in perfect sync.

Right then, my mother, Fiona, came out of the kitchen and pulled me inside. "You all stay and play with Henry. Anna, come help me."

She lowered her voice. "You help make Lucy a lasagna. Don't forget to add extra cheese. She loves cheese."

I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat and replied, "Okay."

Laughter and chatter filled the living room, and none of it had anything to do with me.

I was just holding the fresh-out-of-the-microwave lasagna when Lucy suddenly showed up. She said, "Anna, let me carry it out for you."

Before I could react, I heard her scream.