Page 145 of The Otherworld

Now I understand that gutted look on Orca’s face. It’s one thing to be hit with the bulldozer that someone you love has died—I know what that feels like. It’s the worst kind of pain. The kind you can’t put into words.

But how does it feel when you learn someone you spent your whole life believing to be dead is actually alive? And that person is your mom?

“Did you go see her, too?” I ask.

Adam shakes his head. “Orca’s aunt gave her an address where she could find her mom if she wants to look her up.”

“Don’t.”

My brother frowns, like What’s gotten into you? “It’s Orca’s decision, Jack. I’m not going to stop her from seeing her mom if that’s what she wants.”

I set the hammer down before I smash something with it, and close the distance between us. “Her mom left her, Adam. Abandoned her. Never even contacted her all these years. What kind of person does that? What kind of mother does that?”

Adam looks away, sighing heavily through his nose.

“You seriously think it’s gonna help Orca to go see this woman?” I challenge, keeping my voice low. “If you ask me, both her parents suck, and she shouldn’t have anything to do with them—”

“Well, I didn’t ask you,” Adam snaps, a hostility in his eyes I’m not used to seeing. “Her mother obviously has some… issues. I understand that. But there are two sides to every story, and without all the facts, you can never know the truth. Would you rather keep Orca in the dark? Dominate her life as you accuse her father of doing?”

“Don’t compare me to that guy,” I growl. “I’m the one who rescued Orca from him. And if it was up to me, I’d never bring her back.”

“Turning her against her father won’t do her any good, Jack.”

“And taking her to see her screwed-up mom won’t do her any good either,” I fire back. “You think I’m the one trying to ‘dominate’ her life?” I mutter a disgusted laugh. “It’s time you take a look in the mirror.”

“I’m only trying to help her because—”

“Because she saved your life,” I finish for him, my voice seething with mockery. “Yeah, that’s what you keep telling me. But I don’t think that’s the only reason.”

Adam stiffens. “What are you saying?”

“I think you see how things are between Orca and me. You saw it yesterday at the marina. She loves being with me. I’m the one who’s been giving her what she always wanted. So what do you think you’re doing? Swooping in to be the hero who reunites her with her family? Are you trying to make her not like me or something?”

Adam scoffs, shaking his head. “Believe it or not, the world doesn’t revolve around you, Jack.”

“Don’t give me that crap. I’ve done nothing but think about Orca since day one. All I’ve been trying to do is make her happy—”

“Then we both want the same thing. So why are you fighting with me?”

“Because I’m sick of you going off with her alone,” I burst out, a blaze of anger flaring through my chest. “I’m sick of sharing her with you.”

Adam narrows his eyes, a muscle twitching in his jaw. “You talk about Orca like she’s something you own. What about what’s best for her? What about letting her decide for herself what she really wants? You don’t want me to compare you to Orca’s father, but you’re starting to sound just like him.”

With that, Adam turns and climbs back into his truck. He starts the engine, and before I can think of a good reply, he jams the gearshift down and drives off. I stand in the middle of the driveway and watch his truck vanish down the road, a fire of jealous anger still burning in my core.

* * *

“Orca?” I whisper through the crack in the guest room door, knocking softly in case she’s asleep. “Can I come in?”

Her murmured response sounds affirmative. I open the door and step inside to find her curled up on the bed, staring at a wrinkled scrap of paper in her hands.

“What’s that?” I ask, taking a seat on the edge of the mattress.

“My mother’s address. And phone number.” She folds it up and places it on the nightstand. “I assume Adam told you what happened.”

“Yeah… He did.” I glance at the paper, wishing I could rip it up and throw it away, make her forget it ever happened. “You thinking about calling her?”

Orca shrugs. “I don’t know. I sort of want to. But at the same time, I don’t want to. I’m not sure what to do.” She rubs her fingertips over her closed eyelids. “This morning, I thought she was dead. And now, to learn that she’s alive, that she’s never attempted to visit me or even contact me… It’s hard to know what to feel.”

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