Page 101 of Versions Of Us

“Kristen, before you jump to conclusions you need to let me explain.” She speaks surprisingly calmly given the accusation.

“Go ahead and explain then,” I retaliate. “Explain to me how you’ve gone from calling me on the phone to living in my apartment. And while you’re at it, maybe you can shed some light on how you’ve managed to get to know my ex-boyfriend so well.”

“Okay. You’re right,” she admits. “I’ve been keeping something from you. But before I say anything, you need to know that Henley isn’t to blame for any of this. He wanted me to tell you all along, but in case you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly quick to trust people. He told me you were one of the good guys, but I had to see for myself.”

It troubles me further that Henley is already privy to whatever she’s about to tell me. The idea that he is in on this deceptive charade hurts me more than I care to admit. I’m getting the sense that this is a whole lot bigger than anything I could have imagined.

“Okay,” I say, bracing myself for what comes next.

“It’s true. I knew about you before I came to Cliff Haven. I already knew who you were that day I met you in the café.”

“I don’t get it.” A bitter laugh leaves me, echoing off the walls of the tiny apartment.

“I wanted to meet you.” She sighs, then pinches the bridge of her nose, clearly stressed. “I know how this sounds.”

“Do you?” I ask incredulously. “Because it’s sounds like you’re some kind of twisted stalker.”

“Look, I only found out you existed six months ago, and I knew I had to meet you.” She takes a step in my direction. “And yes, it’s me that’s been calling you at the helpline.”

“Why?” I stagger backward, the full force of her words hitting me.

I’m shocked and hurt hearing her confirm what I’d already believed to be true. I think back over the many conversations we’d had on the phone.

Forget the fact that this situation is extremely unethical. That I could lose my position at the helpline over this. I liked this girl. I was sympathetic of her situation. I’d offered her a place to live. I’d allowed her into my life, and she has been deceiving me this whole time.

Mackenzie, seeing my reaction does her best to derail my obviously escalating thoughts. “You can still trust me, Kristen.”

“I don’t know what to believe anymore. I did trust you and now I find out you’ve been lying to me.”

Not only am I struggling with the notion that this girl knew who I was even before she came to town, I’m desperately trying to put the pieces together in my head, to figure out what Henley has to do with all of this.

“Why should I trust another word out of your mouth?”

“Because I’m not your enemy, Kristen.” Mackenzie takes a step closer to me and it’s then I notice her eyes are wet with tears. Her chest heaves with the long breath she draws in. “I’m your sister.”

I blink at her, dumbfounded, the words registering in my brain one syllable at a time. “What?”

“Our phone calls… The father I mentioned…” she trails off. “His name is Greg Riley.”

“Greg Riley?” I echo. The world tips on its axis. “Greg Riley is your dad?”

She nods as more tears stream from her eyes. “I’m sorry. I should have told you sooner. I was scared.”

“You’re my sister?”

“Technically, your half-sister,” she whispers. “I’m so sorry, Kristen. I didn’t know how to tell you.”

I stand frozen in place, not knowing whether to believe her. I do the sums in my head. Mackenzie is nineteen, which means she was born when I was five. My parents didn’t separate until I was eight, but my mother had found out after their separation that my father had cheated on her many times before that.

Still, how could he have had a child we didn’t know about?

A wholelifewe didn’t know about.

But as I gaze into those hazel irises, swirls of chestnut and green, I’m struck with the memory of her in the Cliff Haven café. The attitude she exuded, the distrust of absolutely everything. And I know.

I know she is my sister.

“When did he start drinking?” I ask her.

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