He looked down, shook his head in regret before refocusing on Mom. “It’s not our secret to tell. Besides, what good would it do her to know the truth? To know that he’s alive?”
Mom bowed her head.
“I think I have this thing figured out.” It sounded like Granddad, but I couldn’t be certain.
Their dispositions changed as they smiled for the camera. After a quick flash, I was back in my room.
“Are you even listening to me?”
“Of course,” I said before diving in again.
I did this over and over, trying to discover something new, a clue, a hint of whom they were talking about. I found that I could manipulate my position. One time I was standing directly in front of them, and the next, I was standing by the window. It took some practice to get there. When I could control my thoughts more, when I could move without being thrown out of the picture, I walked to the window and turned around. Grandma stood pointing at something on the camera as Granddad, younger and leaner, shooed her away.
“We should tell her when she’s older,” Mom said, and my grandparents exchanged glances—so quickly, I almost missed it.
“It’s not our secret to tell. Besides, what good would it do her to know the truth? To know that he’s alive?”
Granddad bit down, clearly bothered by something before saying, “I think I have this thing figured out.” He raised the camera, and a bright light suffused the area. Then once again, I was back in my room.
They knew. Whatever it was, whatever secret my parents were talking about, my grandparents knew as well. And Mom referred to the secret, something they should tell me, right after Dad had mentioned his father. My dad’s parents died before I was born. Is that what they were talking about? Their deaths? Or maybe it was how they’d died. Maybe they didn’t want me to know. But they’d said he was alive. I bolted upright.
“Brooke,” I whispered, not really sure why.
“Lorelei,” she said in the same tone, strolling out of the bathroom in full pajama mode.
I grabbed my pajamas and ducked into the bathroom. “You will not believe what happened.”
“Let me guess: You went into a picture of your parents when you were born?”
Peeking around the doorjamb, I said, “How did you know that?”
She held up the picture.
“Oh, right.” I went back to changing. “And I can do it over and over.”
“The same picture?”
“The same picture.”
She hopped up and came into the bathroom to sit on the closed toilet. “Do you know what this means?” she asked, her voice filled with fascination.
“Of course.” Then I thought about it. “Well, okay, no. Not really.”
After blinking in thought a few times, she said, “Yeah, me neither.”
“They had a secret.” I pulled my top over my head, then continued. “My parents.”
“And you learned this by touching that picture?”
“Yes. They were talking about it. About how someone was alive but they couldn’t tell me who.” I stopped and gazed at her point-blank. “I think my paternal grandfather is alive.”
Brooke’s jaw dropped open. “I thought he was dead.”
“So did I,” I said. “That’s what they told me, but they were talking about my chin and how it looked like my dad’s father’s and then—”
“I love this place.” Glitch walked in, his mouth clearly full.
Brooklyn stepped out of the bathroom. “Glitch, you need to knock.”
“Hurry, close the door,” I said, rushing past him to do that very thing.
He had a slice of pizza in each hand. “Why? What’s going on?”
Brooklyn glanced at me, her eyes pleading. “Can I tell him? Please? I’ll do your algebra homework.”
With a snort, I said, “I would let you kick him in the face for a free homework night. Deal.”
“In the face?” he asked, his words muffled.
“Lor has a new talent,” Brooke said.
He swallowed hard, then eyed me. “Does it involve pole dancing?”
“No.” She rolled her eyes. “Pay attention. Oh, my gosh, that smells so good.”
“Fine,” I said. “Go get a piece. We’ll wait.”
“No way.” She crossed her arms and refused to budge. “You’ll tell him.”
“I won’t tell him.”
“Yes, you will. I’ll just take one of his.”
“Absolutely not,” he said, backing away as though facing a firing squad.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Brooke answered it, and Cameron was standing on the other side.
“Hey,” Brooklyn said, holding the door close to let him know he was not welcome at that moment in time. “So, are you still checking the perimeter?”
He narrowed his eyes and looked past her. “I guess. Just checking in. Is everything okay?”
“Wonderful.”
When she continued to stare at him, smiling for effect, he nodded. “Okay. I’ll be outside. Close those blinds.”
“You got it.” She shut the door, rushed over to close the blinds, then hurried back to the door before turning back to me with an accusing scowl on her face. Like I would risk getting my homework done for free.
“What?” Glitch asked.
“Nothing. Keep her busy until I come back. And don’t let her say anything. Anything!”