Intertwined

“Right.”

“When will they arrive?”

“Today, I think. I paid for expedited delivery. Actually, they might already be waiting on my front porch.”

“That’s good.” If the certificates were there, they’d have his parents’ address. They might be able to head out tomorrow—Saturday—to see of the couple was even still living there. And if not, they might still have time to drive to the hospital where he was born and try to get into their files, find out a little more information about him and his “family.”

“So you’ll never guess what I did. Because I don’t want a conversation lag, I’ll just tell you. I snuck into my dad’s office and read some of his notes about you,” she said as they walked. Blessedly, she sounded calmer, in control. “He remembers you, and really liked you, but what you said about my mother really freaked him out.”

She’d done it. She’d truly done it. For him. “First, thank you. Second, I didn’t say anything about your mom.”

“Yes, you did. The time travel thing.”

He’d only mentioned his own time travel. Dr. Gray had been the one to mention another’s, a woman’s. Could it be? “Did your mom disappear at times?”

“No, never. And I would have known. Most of my childhood I was glued to her side.”

“Then I don’t understand.”

“Me, either. He mentioned both a wife and a current wife, made me think that the woman I thought was my mom wasn’t. But I don’t see how that’s possible.”

He led her back to the car Victoria had stolen—the corvette was gone—and they slid inside. He locked the doors. They sat there for several minutes, panting, waiting to see if anyone—or thing—would turn a corner. Nothing did. He heaved a sigh of relief and started the engine.

“Thank you,” he told her again. “For everything.”

“I plan to talk to him. I just have to do it sometime when he can’t avoid me or order me to my room. Otherwise, we’ll never get answers. Besides, I need a break from this, you know?”

Hopefully, that time would come before Halloween and the ball he was supposed to attend. Knowledge was power and Aden had a feeling he would need all the power he could get to face Victoria’s dad. He loved her, pla

“We’ll learn about you, don’t worry,” Mary A

They drove to her house, and this time Aden obeyed the speed laws. He couldn’t risk being pulled over. To his disappointment, no package was waiting on Mary A

“Your dad’s still at work, right?” he asked before stepping foot in the house.

“Yeah. He won’t be home for hours yet.”

“Then I’ll stay. For a little while, at least.”

“Just…promise me you won’t talk about what’s happening, the past, the future. I just can’t handle it right now.”

She was pale. “I promise,” he said.

They climbed the stairs and turned on the TV, as if this were a normal day and they themselves were normal. For the first time in his life, he was able to enjoy a show without any distractions.

The package never arrived. Neither did Riley nor Victoria. He couldn’t wait it, or them, out. If he didn’t return to school and walk home with Sha

He glanced out Mary A

“Lock your doors when I leave,” he said. “If you hear from Riley or Victoria, call the D and M. I don’t care if it gets me in trouble. I’d rather be punished than worry.”

She nodded, hugged him. “Be careful.”

“You, too.”

CHAPTER 20

Of course, Mary A

She was about to open the package when she realized Pe

“Hey,” Pe

Mary A

They stood facing each other for an eternity, silent, unsure. Mary A

“Hey,” Pe

“Hey.”

Pe

“How are you?” Mary A

“I could be better. Morning sickness has been a bitch.” That flat tone hurt more than it should have, all things considered. “My parents want me to get rid of the baby.”

“Are you?”

“Yes. No. Maybe.” A sigh. “I don’t think so. I hate Tucker, but the baby is also a part of me, you know? I want it. I think.”

Tucker was a demon. Would that mean the child Pe

Silence met her words, heavy, oppressive.

“I miss us,” Pe

Mary A

“I believe you,” she said. “I don’t think we can go back to the way we were, not yet, but I do believe you.”

Pe

As Riley had said, everyone made mistakes. This was Pe

“I’m so sorry. I swear I am. I’ll never do anything like that again. You can trust me. I learned my lesson. I swear to God I did.”

“Shh, shh. It’s okay. I’m not mad at you anymore.”

Pe

“You’re an important part of my life. I don’t know how long it’ll take for me to trust you again, but it no longer seems impossible.”

“I don’t deserve you.” Pe

“You’re not going to lose me. I need you, too.” She saw that now. The tension that had settled on her shoulders since seeing all those creatures in town had just kind of melted away with Pe