Page 89 of Broken Secrets
After the crowning ceremony and the traditional king and queen dance, the DJ returns to the regular playlist. Derek and I claim a small table near the edge of the dance floor, taking a break to hydrate and people-watch.
“Can I tell you something?” Derek says, leaning closer so I can hear him over the music.
“Always.”
“Six months ago, if someone had told me I’d be at winter formal with you, having this much fun, I would have thought they were crazy.”
“Why?”
“Because six months ago, you were dealing with family secrets and heart conditions and all kinds of stress. You seemed…untouchable, I guess. Like you had so much going on that there wasn’t room for anything else.”
“And now?”
“Now you seem like yourself. Happy, settled, confident. Like you know who you are and what you want.”
His observation touches something deep in my chest. He’s right; I do feel more like myself than I have in years. Not just the version of myself that exists in response to other people’s needs or expectations, but the person I am when I’m not worried about managing other people’s emotions or filling in missing pieces of my identity.
“I think meeting Jeremy and Emma helped with that,” I say. “Finally having answers to questions I’d been carrying around my whole life.”
“And your mom stopping her pattern of keeping secrets.”
“That too. But also just…growing up, I guess. Learning that I can handle complicated situations without falling apart.”
Derek reaches across the small table and takes my hand. “I love watching you figure yourself out. It’s like seeing someone become who they were always meant to be.”
Before I can respond to that incredibly sweet observation, my phone buzzes in my small purse. I almost ignore it; this is formal, after all, and I should be present for the experience. But something makes me check the screen.
Jeremy’s name appears with an incoming call.
“I should take this,” I tell Derek. “Jeremy doesn’t usually call unless it’s important.”
I step outside into the cool December air, grateful for the relative quiet of the parking lot compared to the music inside.
“Hi, Jeremy. Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s great,” he says, and I can hear excitement in his voice. “I’m calling with good news. Emma’s early admission went through even faster than we expected. She can start at your school in January instead of February.”
“January? As in, three weeks from now?”
“Three weeks from now. If she wants to make the move, if your family is still okay with the arrangement, she can be there for the start of the spring semester.”
I lean against Derek’s car, processing this information. Emma will be here in three weeks. Not February, not spring break, but January. She’ll be living in our house, going to my school, building a life in California while I’m finishing my senior year.
“How does Emma feel about the timeline moving up?”
“She’s thrilled. A little nervous about the logistics, but excited to get started. She’s already talking about which classes she wants to take, what clubs she might join.”
“And the legal stuff? Custody arrangements?”
“All worked out. Lilly’s not happy about the timeline, but she’s not fighting it legally. Emma will live with you and your family during the school year, spend summers in Michigan with me and extended visits with her mother.”
“This is really happening.”
“This is really happening. Emma’s going to call you tomorrow to talk about the details, but I wanted to give you a heads up tonight.”
After we hang up, I stand in the parking lot for a moment, letting the news settle. Emma will be here in three weeks. My sister, my actual, biological half sister, will be living in my house, sharing my daily life, becoming part of the family Mom and Robert and I have built together.
Derek appears beside me, his jacket draped over his arm. “Everything okay? You’ve been out here for a while.”
