“You know what I mean.”
Grant said:
“Go wait in the car.”
“No.”
“Tyler.”
“No.”
It was the first time Amara had ever heard Tyler flatly refuse his father.
Grant’s face reddened.
Nicole stepped in.
“Everybody stop.”
The foyer went quiet.
Nicole looked at Amara.
“Go upstairs for five minutes.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“Why?”
“I need to talk to Grant.”
“You had days.”
Nicole flinched.
Amara continued:
“You had enough time to cancel me.”
“You had enough time to tell Tyler I wanted to stay.”
“You had enough time to call Grandma.”
Nicole looked confused.
“I didn't call Grandma.”
Amara stopped.
“What?”
Nicole stared.
“You said Grandma said I could stay.”
Grant answered:
“I left her a message.”
“When?”
“Last night.”
“Did she answer?”
“No.”
Amara’s grip loosened on the suitcase.
“So Grandma doesn't know?”
Nicole looked toward Grant.
“No.”
Something inside Amara clicked.
Evelyn Lewis was Daniel’s mother.
She was not the kind of grandmother who received a message saying her granddaughter needed somewhere to stay for five days and simply failed to respond.
If she had heard it, she would have called Amara directly.
Immediately.
Probably three times.
Amara reached into her sweatshirt pocket.
Grant’s expression changed.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling Grandma.”
Nicole stepped forward.
“Amara.”
“What?”
Her mother looked frightened now.
Not sad.
Frightened.
Amara noticed.
“Why don't you want me to call her?”
“I didn't say that.”
“You were about to.”
“No.”
Amara unlocked the phone.
Nicole’s face went pale.
Grant looked toward her.
“Nicole?”
She did not answer.
Amara searched for Grandma Evelyn.
Her finger hovered.
Nicole whispered:
“Wait.”
That single word changed the room.
Amara looked up.
“Why?”
Nicole’s lips parted.
Nothing came out.
Tyler stared at his stepmother.
Grant’s eyes narrowed.
“What is going on?”
Amara pressed call.
Evelyn answered on the first ring.
“There’s my traveler.”
Amara stopped breathing.
Evelyn sounded cheerful.
“Did you leave yet?”
Amara looked at Nicole.
Her mother closed her eyes.
Grant stared.
Tyler slowly sat on the bottom stair.
Evelyn continued:
“Amara?”
“Grandma.”
Her voice cracked.
The cheer disappeared instantly.
“What happened?”
Amara looked at the suitcase.
“They said I’m not going.”
Silence.
Then:
“What do you mean you’re not going?”
Grant stepped toward her.
Nicole caught his arm.
“No.”
He looked at her.
She shook her head.
Evelyn’s voice sharpened.
“Who said that?”
Amara began crying.
“Grant.”
“And Mom.”
Nicole covered her mouth.
“They’re going with Tyler.”
“I’m staying with you.”
The line went silent.