I drew in a breath, then related what had happened when I got to the hospital. Telling Dani that our mother had woken up, that she'd recognized me, that she'd apologized and then had required a sedative because I'd worked her up too much made me feel like I'd done something wrong. Dani didn't exactly reassure me that I hadn't, instead suggesting that I needed to let Mom recover before I asked any more questions. The important thing was that our mother was awake and that I could come home.

A little irritated with her attitude, I said, "There's more, Dani. Mom has a sister—a twin sister named Rachel. I ran into her at the hospital."

"No way. That's impossible."

"Her hair is dyed blonde, but her face and her eyes are the same as Mom's, the same as ours."

"Mom has a sister?" Dani murmured in wonder. "How is that possible?"

"I don't know how or why she kept that fact to herself, but it is true. They are twins. I don't know if Rachel is the name our aunt was born with, but it's the name she gave me."

"What else did she tell you?" Dani asked.

"Very little. She alluded to some trouble that they'd run into in their lives. She said Mom left us to protect us. I thought she was going to tell me more, but she ran out on me, just like Dad did. No one wants to tell me the truth."

"Because it's all bad," Dani said. "Everything you find out just makes it worse. Did our aunt say who our biological father is?"

"Mom didn't tell her his name, only that he's a bad guy, which also isn't great to think about."

"Brynn, come home."

"You need to stop telling me that," I said wearily.

"I want to protect you. I want our lives to be normal again."

"It's not your job to protect me. And I don't want to come back to Carmel. I don't even want to be normal again."

"What does that mean?" Dani asked, annoyance in her voice.

I knew I was making a mistake. This wasn't the right time, but I had to say it. "When I went to LA a few weeks ago, I auditioned with the Pacific Coast Orchestra for second chair violin. The orchestra is going on tour for two months throughout Europe, starting in a month and lasting through the New Year. They offered me the job on Thursday. I have to give them my answer tomorrow."

"I can't believe this," Dani said in shock. "Why would you audition without telling me? We have the store, our business. I need you, Brynn."

"It's not our business; it's your business."

"Our store is called Two Sisters. Of course it's ours."

"It's your vision; it always was. My dream was music. You know that."

"And what happens after this job? I'm just supposed to wait three months for you to come back?"