And then suddenly, I couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t be there in the same room as them. I couldn’t breathe in the air, polluted with their lies and regrets. I couldn’t listen to their excuses.
There was no apology they could give that would make this right.
Tears burned behind my eyes, and I gulped for air. “You wanted to protect me from something that might have been a threat, but instead, you destroyed any trust between us. You’ve lied to me my entire life about who I really am. I can’t forgive you for that.”
My voice broke, and the tears streamed down my face as I fled down the hall to my bedroom.
4
Mom rapped softly on the door two hours later. “I need to leave, sweetie. Please come out and say goodbye.”
I lifted my head from the pillow. My tears had made everything blurry, and I rubbed at my eyes for a moment before answering. “Where are you going?”
“Please come out and talk to us.”
I sighed and swung my feet over the edge of the bed. I was going to have to face them some time. I’d just hoped it would be when I was sixty. I smoothed my hair back, tugged it into a ponytail, and yanked open the door. “Fine. What is it?”
Mom had her purse slung over one shoulder and her sunglasses on her head. Well. Evidently she wasn’t wasting any time getting rid of me. My stomach twisted, and I swallowed back bile. Had that been the plan all along?
“Sweetie, I have to leave, but I need for us to be all right first. Can we talk? Please?”
I folded my arms over my chest. “Where are you going?”
Mom reached out and tucked an escaping strand of my hair behind my ear. Her hand trembled as she pulled away. “I have…some things I need to do. I wouldn’t go if it wasn’t absolutely necessary.”
“That’s not an answer. And there’s no way I’m staying here. With him.”
She frowned. “You father loves you very much, honey. He left because it was safest for you. Please try to understand that.”
“Only if you please try not to talk to me like I’m a six-year-old. According to you, I’m smart enough to figure out advanced quantum equations. Might as well start acting like it.”
Her lips tightened, but she nodded. “I know you’re mad. You have every right to be. But it’s going to be all right. I promise.”
I pushed past her into the living room. “I don’t believe your promises anymore.”
Dad stood at the front window, staring out, his shoulders tense. He turned as Mom followed me into the room. “I’m sorry, Lexie.”
I shrugged. “I’m done talking about it. I want to know why Mom’s leaving.”
She shifted her weight and looked away. “I need to take care of some business. I’ll only be gone a few weeks, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Where are you going?”
Mom shook her head. “I can’t tell you that. But please, trust me. Everything will get back to normal soon.”
I gaped at her. “Maybe for you, but what about me? I don’t even know who I am any more. Maybe I never did.” My voice broke on the last word, but instead of crying, I got angry again. “There must be other kids out there like me. What did they do? Did their parents drug them, too?”
The sharp sarcasm in my voice echoed around the room, and Dad shoved his hands into his pockets and hunched his shoulders before answering. “Some of them are at Quantum Technologies. My company has created a special school system for the most gifted children in the country. You’ll be welcomed there.”
“But Mom has to leave?”
He nodded. “Just for a few weeks. A month at the most.” He swallowed, and I could see his next words were difficult for him. “I’m sorry for not being around more. I wish things had been different. But I’d like to try to make up for it now. Think of this as our chance to start over, to get to know each other again. Please?”
I hated the hope shining in his eyes. Hated him for lying to me. Hated myself for wanting to believe him.
I crossed my arms. “I don’t exactly have much choice, do I?”
The silence in the room stretched until it felt like a sticky web against my skin. Finally, Mom shifted on her feet again. “I really need to get going. I have another few hours ahead of me before I can stop for the night.”
I rocked back and forth on my heels at the thought of her out there alone, even if she was still carrying her gun. I still hated her for what she’d done, but she was my mom…
My parents made their way to the door. I shuffled along behind them, arms still crossed. On the porch, the heat made my skin instantly sweat, and I could feel my hair starting to frizz.
Mom stared at me for a moment before pulling me into a tight hug. I stiffened at the feel of her arms around me.
“I’ll miss you, sweetie,” she whispered in my ear. She smelled of laundry soap and the lotion she always wore. My eyes burned, and I pulled away from her. I couldn’t do this right now.
“Try not to be too hard on your dad,” she said with a half-hearted smile. “I’ll try to check in as much as I can. Once things are settled at QT, you should be safe.”
“Safe from what? What aren’t you guys telling me?”
She turned to Dad and glanced up at him like she wanted to say something else.
He nodded. “You need to get on the road. I’ll talk to Lexie after you’re gone.” Dad cupped her cheek, running a finger along her jaw. “We’ll be fine. You need to take care of yourself.” He lowered his head, and I thought for a moment he was going to kiss her, but he cleared his throat and stepped away with a sideways glance at me.
Mom smiled at both of us. “Be good to each other. Please?”
I tried not to roll my eyes.
Dad raised a hand as Mom pulled away and then moved to stand beside me. My eyes burned with the tears I held back. As furious as I was with her, I didn’t want her to go. I didn’t want her to leave me here with this stranger who was supposed to be my dad.
“I know this hasn’t been the best day, but I’m really happy you’re here with me. I’ve missed you.” He raised an arm, and I knew he was going to drape it over my shoulder.
I slid away from his grasp and shrugged. “Wish I could say the same thing.”
I tried to ignore the way Dad’s tentative smile slid off his face, the way the words felt sour in my mouth.
He sighed and shook his head, staring down the street as Mom’s car turned the corner. As the one person I’d always trusted and relied on disappeared, I clenched my fists and tried not to scream with hurt and betrayal and rage.