Page 70 of Diluted Truths
Finally, I turned to Sarah. I wasn’t sure what to expect. She had known me for years and never knew about either of my brothers, and also foundout one of them had passed. I was expecting sympathy, pity, or even betrayal at my omission. Instead I only found admiration. “You’re such an incredible woman, Ophelia. I hope you know that.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
She smiled softly and placed her hands on my cheeks. “Do not be sorry. You have every right to keep your life to yourself if you need to. Just know I love you.” She paused for a moment before continuing. “Does Faizal know?”
I shook my head in response.
She hummed in response. “I have to head out, but just like Oliver said, call one of us if you need us. Okay?”
“Okay. And Sarah?” I started. “Thank you for telling me to come here. I owe you one.”
“Anything for true love,” she responded in a sing-songy voice and she headed towards the door. “Bye, William!” she screamed down the hall where Will had just gone before finally making her exit.
I had the most incredible friends. Without question and without a fight they came together to help me. Thinking about that brought on thoughts about Fai. I hated where things were with us right now. He was one of the most important people in my life, but the person who I talked to yesterday was not the same guy who had helped me all those years ago when I was finally getting sober. I made a mental note to be sure that when I came back, I sat him down and talked to him about what happened.
For now, I needed to get ready to head back home for the first time in thirteen years.
Chapter 21Not Strong Enough by. boygenius
Will
Ididn’t often use my connections that came with being a Bly. I spent my entire adulthood trying to distance myself from those connections, but damn, when I did use them they were handy. I was able to charter a plane to take me and Jackie to San Francisco where we picked up Theo and Violet and flew to Utah. Theo and Jackie were silent for almost the entire trip, but they held one another’s hand for the majority of the flight.
I had learned from Jackie more information about her brother Malachi, or Kai as she called him, and her parents. Apparently, when Kai turned eighteen he moved out of their house and joined the army. He had been an Army Ranger for the majority of his time serving. There was a base nearby that he was currently stationed at. He was around my age, only a year younger at thirty-three. Both her and Theo seemed to think highly of Kai, but for some reason didn’t have a strong relationship with him. I wondered why he didn’t get them out of the house when he turned eighteen and instead they had to spend two additional years there until Nate was an adult.
I didn’t voice these thoughts aloud.
They didn’t need to know about my less than positive feelings surrounding their oldest brother.
Hell, they weren’t even positive that he was alive. From the call Theo received, his wife (which neither Jackie or Theo knew about) was frantic explaining how hurt he was and how badly he wanted to see his sisters. Seemed odd to me, since it seemed as though he didn’t try to foster any relationship with them. What changed?
I continued to think about Kai and exactly what situation we were walking into when we finally entered the small town. It felt like we had been driving in the middle of nowhere for the last forty-five minutes, which I honestly think we were. Grantsville was the smallest town I had ever been in. There were mostly fields and not a single stop light in sight.
“Turn up here on Cooley Street,” Theo directed in the passenger seat next to me.
Initially, I had wanted to be next to Jackie but apparently she had the worst sense of direction and didn’t actually know how to get to their childhood home. It made sense as she was only fourteen when she left.
I looked at her in my rearview mirror. Her blonde hair was pulled up into a ponytail and she had the same jeans jacket she wore when we first met. Even with the obvious worry in her eyes, she was beautiful.
I made the turn and continued to pass field after field. “Are we going to Kai’s or your parents’ house?”
“Kai’s. His wife gave me the address.”
I nodded as I continued to follow her directions.
After a few minutes and a few more turns, we pulled into the driveway of a modest farmhouse. It was two stories and seemed to be in great condition besides its obvious age.
A blonde woman came barreling out the front door, with an oddly large grin on her face. Both Theo and Jackie groaned when they saw her.
“No fucking way. Is that Mckinley?” Jackie asked.
Theo sighed, obviously just as upset to see this Mckinley character as Jackie was.
“If she’s Kai’s wife, I am going to have some words with him.”
“Do we not like her?” Violet asked her mom as she sat next to Jackie.
“We do not,” Theo climbed out of the door and cooly greeted this Mckinley woman.
