“Do you want to?”

I shook my head. “I don’t think anything good will come out of it. So I guess not.”

Weston turned south and drove down Thirteenth Street, in the direction of his house. I had spent most of my time the last nine days either at the Dairy Queen or Weston’s. Gina hadn’t even asked any questions or spoken to me at all. Not that I was complaining. Spring Break had been the best week of my life, and the thought had crossed my mind more than once that I wouldn’t mind if things stayed that way forever.

Once the truck was in the garage, Weston turned off the engine and pushed the garage door button. We walked down the hallway to find Peter and Veronica sitting at the table. Peter was in a dark gray suit with a black tie, and Veronica was in a beautiful black dress with a black belt.

She stood and crossed the tile floor, her heels clicking with each step. She hugged her son for several moments, then let him go, dabbing her nose with a tissue. “Where have you been?” She wasn’t angry, but she was clearly emotionally drained. Her eyes scanned me, more curious than before.

“We’ve been driving around mostly, but we just got back from the . . .” Weston glanced back at me, waiting for permission to continue.

“The hospital,” I said. “I was asked to give a blood sample.”

Weston took my hand. “They requested an autopsy for Alder. She isn’t Sam and Julianne’s biological daughter.”

His parents weren’t surprised.

“We heard,” Veronica said.

“Is it true?” Peter asked. “Sam and Jillian just left here.”

“Left here?” I asked.

Veronica sniffed. “They’ve suffered the unimaginable as parents, and now it’s happening again. I’m not sure if I’m just exhausted, or . . . she has Jillian’s eyes, Peter. Don’t you think?”

Peter shook his head. “Veronica. Don’t get the girl’s hopes up.”

I frowned. “Get my hopes up? As if this is a prize that I’m waiting to win? Do you really think this would be a good thing?”

Veronica and Peter looked at each other, then Weston, then at me. “Sam and Julianne are wonderful people, Erin. If it’s true, you’ll have a whole new, amazing family to look forward to,” Peter said.

“If it’s true, that means I’ve missed out on eighteen years with them. I’m not sure I want it to be true. For me or for them.”

Veronica crossed her arms across her stomach, and Peter put his arm around her. It was odd, because they were mirroring Weston and me.

Peter nodded. “You’re right, Erin. It’s a horrible situation for all of you. We’re so sorry.”

I shook my head. “No, I’m sorry. It’s just been a very long day.”

“Of course it has, honey,” she said, leaving her husband’s arms and reaching out for me. She clutched me to her and held me tight.

I glanced over at Weston, who was watching his mother with a look in his eyes that appeared to be a combination of appreciation and relief.