“No!” I grabbed his arm, pulling him to a stop. “They can’t ever find out. If they do, not only will my dad probably go to jail and die there, but he’ll tell the police about what Felicity did too. Technically she took a baby and never reported it. He just wants to spend his last days with his daughter. Please, Cody. However angry you are at me, don’t punish my dying father or Felicity. Because they are the ones who will pay for the lies. They’re the ones whose lives will be ruined.”

“I don’t know, Marin. I feel like all this time you’ve had a secret identity, and not telling anyone you were the last person to see Vera alive…or that you’re her sister… I don’t know the real you from the person you pretend to be anymore.”

I couldn’t believe he was pinning everything that had desecrated our life all on me.

“What about your lies, Cody? You owe me this! You cheated with your brother’s wife, my best friend. You betrayed both me and Ollie. My past may have hurt you, but your present hurt me. I can’t change what I did before I met you, but you hurt me while you were married to me. Don’t forget that.”

I had him there, and he knew it. He ran a hand through his tar-black hair, slick and stringy with sweat. The tract of bare scalp stretched further back. He pinned me with a watery gaze.

“How long do you think Vera will be gone? Felicity’s crumbling, Marin. Every time the police show up at the house, any time a body is found—it’s destroying her.”

“A man is dying—my father! I can’t predict how long until he passes, Cody. But we have to wait as long as it takes. Please, for me.” I choked on the emotions. I couldn’t think of anything other than my dying dad, and me not being by his side right now. “I’m trying my best to find him. Don’t you think I want to be with him right now? I abandoned him during his time of need, and this is the only way I can make amends. I know it’s hard to have faith through this, but Vera will come home soon.” It broke my heart that there was only one home my father was going to…and it wouldn’t be with me.

When Cody fumbled with his car keys, the conversation was over.

“Where are you going?”

“I need a drink.” Except he was already drunk. “And I’m not able to look at you right now, Marin. I need time to think about this. I’m going out tonight and won’t be home. We’ll talk about it later.” Cody tottered into the cool spring night.