Page 32 of Serenity

“Then let’s go,” she offered, grabbing her purse. “No time like thepresent.”

“Soon,” I promised. “But first I’m going to make you a quick meal while you shower andchange.”

She eyed my clothes and wrinkled her nose. “And then while I’m eating, you should probably hit theshowertoo.”

When we arrived at my parents’ place half an hour later, we’d both eaten, showered, and changed. My food felt heavy in my stomach, and I swallowed down a lump in my throat as I led Faith up their front steps. The door opened before we made it to the top, and my parents stoodthere.

“Dillon! Faith! We were so worried,” my mom cried. She started to move forward, but my dad took one look at my face and pulledherback.

“C’mon, honey. I think Dillon needs a minute. Let’s go inside and make some tea orsomething.”

“Oh,but—”

“Hot chocolate,” I blurted out. “You always made it when we had abadday.”

My mom’s eyes filled with tears as she searched my face and nodded. “I can make hot chocolate. Whipped cream, marshmallows,orboth?”

“Both,” Faith and I answered inunison.

“Both. Okay, I can do both.” She looked even more worried as she turned and went back inside. I knew it was because I only ever asked for both when things were really bad. As in the worst. Like this was goingtobe.

“I hope this doesn’t go sideways until I’ve at least had the chance to finish my hot chocolate. Your mom makes the best; from scratch with whole milk. I can already taste it.” Faith slowly licked her lips before smacking them together, and I realized she was trying to break thetension.

“Remind me to stock up on hot chocolatesupplies.”

Her eyes went wide. “You know how to make your mom’s hotchocolate?”

“Yeah, she taught Declan and I how to make it when we were about ten years old.” It was such a great memory that I couldn’t help but smile as I thought about how we’d both ended up covered in cocoapowder.

She swatted me on the shoulder. “And you’ve never made it for me? You’re slacking on the boyfriendduties.”

“I’ll make some for you tonight. I have a feeling we’re going toneedit.”

“I’ll drink as much hot chocolate as it takes to help you get past all of this,” shepromised.

“Thanks,baby.”

She offered me an encouraging smile. “It’s not like it’s much of asacrifice.”

“I’m sure it isn’t.” I shook my head and held my hand out to her. “Let’s get this over with, and then we’ll hit up the grocery storeagain.”

I led her into the family room, and got us settled on the love seat. It was only big enough for the two of us, and I didn’t want to risk my mom trying to sit down next to me. A few minutes later, my parents joined us, and my mom set a tray with four mugs of hot chocolate on the coffeetable.

“Why do I have the feeling I’m going to wish your mom had let me put a shot of Irish whiskey in mine like I wanted?” my dad asked as he picked his up and tookasip.

“Because you’re probably going toneedit.”

My mom almost dropped her mug at my answer. She set it down before asking, “Is this about Declan and what we talked aboutyesterday?”

I waited until Faith had the chance to take a few sips of her hot chocolate before answering. “No, Mom. It’s about what you left out of thestory.”

“You know?” she gasped, her hand coming up to cover her mouth as her eyes dropped down to mychest.

“That my twin’s heart beats in my chest? Yeah, I know.” Faith set her mug down on the table and reached over to take hold of my hand. “But what I don’t know is how you could apologize to me for lying about when he died and still be keeping something as important as thisfromme.”

“How did you find out?” my dadasked.

“How did I find out?” I echoed, shaking my head. “That’s what you’ve gottosay?”

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