Page 19 of Destiny

“Right. So go get the DNA test.”

“My dad wants to check with your mom first. Run the clinic by her.”

“Oh, of course. She knows all the best places in the city from when she was on the force.”

“She was on the force a long time ago.”

“Oh, I know, but she keeps up with these people. She still does investigative work from time to time, and she’s got a lot of contacts.”

“Good. So do you think it would be okay if we went to your place after dinner? Your parents’ place, I mean?”

“I don’t see why not. Unless they’re out tonight.”

“Would you mind checking?”

“Not at all.” Ava pulls her phone out of her purse.

And I realize I’m still holding her grandfather’s ring. I hand it back to her.

She takes it, and then— “Mom? Hey, are you and Dad home?”

Pause.

“Brendan and I are at dinner in Grand Junction, and he was wondering if we could stop by on our way back to town.”

Pause.

“Why not?”

Pause.

“Mom, you’re acting really strange.”

Pause.

Ava huffs. “Fine. We won’t stop by.” She ends the call.

“Is something the matter?” I ask. “We’re not stopping by tonight?”

She shoves her phone back into her purse. “Oh, we’redefinitelystopping by tonight. My mom was acting so strange on the phone. Just like last night.”

“What do you mean, strange?”

“She’s good, my mom. I mean, she was a detective. She’s good at masking her emotions, but I’m also good at seeing them anyway. Maybe it’s because I’m an old soul.”

“Maybe…”

She lifts her wrist and jingles some gold bracelets at me. “My mom gave me these. They belonged to her mother. Who apparently was also an old soul. Suffice it to say, my mom is not acting like herself. And quite frankly, I can’t think of one other time in my short life when I’ve asked my parents to come to their house and they said no. Whether they’re home or not, I’m always welcome there.”

“And tonight they said you’re not welcome?”

“No, my mom would never say that. She just said tonight wasn’t a good night. My father isn’t feeling very well.”

“Maybe she thinks he’s coming down with something and she doesn’t want you to catch it.”

“That’s crap. Our house is huge. If my father has germs, he can stay far away from me. We’re definitely going over there, Brendan. Definitely.”

“All right, if you say so.” I take a bite of my tuna tartare. It’s delicious, but my appetite has gone on hiatus.

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