Page 6 of Things Left Unsaid

“Maybe.”

My triplet brothers are nightmares on wheels who only obey my grandmother.

The funny thing is, of course, I used to be like them.

Until I wasn’t.

Until that goddamn night when everything changed.

My personality included.

Shuddering at the memory, I jolt when Tee places a hand on my shoulder. “It won’t be too horrific, Zee. It’s been so long since you were home that you’re building it up in your head. They’ll have let the whole arson thing drop by now.”

‘They’ being the folks of Pigeon Creek.

Anxiety coalesces into a big lump that clogs my throat.

There’s no way I’ll be able to stay clueless until this weekend.

Plunking the piping bag on the counter, I snag my phone and type out:

Me: You guys know why Grand-mère wants me to come home?

Calder: Nope

Colby: When are you coming?

Me: This weekend

Carson: Huh. Weird that it lines up with us going to Saskatoon for an open-house event.

Me: At the university?

Carson: Yup

Colby: Sucks we won’t see you

Carson: If you’d come down last weekend, you’d have seen us win the butter tart eating contest.

Me: So proud.

Carson: As you should be ;)

Calder: Let us know what she wants?

Me: Will do

I tip the phone at Tee. “They’re as clueless as we are.”

Because I can’t catch a break today, my cell buzzes. Then, spying Parker’s picture illuminate the screen, I whisper, “Do you think we should start calling Parker ‘Pee?’”

“PeeTeeZee. Sounds like an anti-anxiety medication.”

“I could use some of that.”

“Parker likes her name. It’s us who don’t.”

Hence the abbreviations.

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