"Is she going to be all right? Does she know who shot her?"

"Mom said she doesn't know who would shoot her, but I don't believe that's true. While we were talking, she got agitated, and the doctor sedated her. I can't talk to her again until tomorrow."

"What kind of danger was she in?" Vicky asked.

"I don't know. I think her whole life was a series of secrets. Mom wasn't who she said she was. She got into trouble when she was young, and it followed her to our family, and then came back around now." I paused. "Did either of you know that she had a sister?"

"What?" my dad asked in surprise. "No way. She was an only child."

"She wasn't. She has a twin sister, an identical twin sister."

"That's unbelievable," my father said. "How did you find out, Brynn?"

"I ran into my aunt at the hospital. She said her name is Rachel. She didn't have much else to say, except alluding to the fact that they were in danger and had been for a long time. I thought we were going to talk it all out, but she ran out on me, too. Seems to be what people do these days."

My father tipped his head at my pointed comment. "It's been a difficult time for all of us."

"I can't believe she had a sister," Vicky murmured, shock apparent in her eyes. "I guess I really didn't know her at all."

"Probably not," I said. "So, what now?"

"Vicky and I are going back to LA," my father replied.

"I don't understand how you can just leave. Don't you want to see Mom? Don't you want to talk to her?"

Before my dad could answer, Vicky cut in. "Why should he see her? Why should any of us see her? She betrayed all of us, me included. I was her best friend. She left me, too."

"Don't you want to know why?" I challenged.

"If she won't tell you, she's not going to tell us," Vicky said.

"She might tell you, Dad. You were her husband."

"I gave her a chance to explain; she didn't take it." He shook his head. "Vicky is right. We are not a part of her life anymore. She made sure of that. I'm glad she has survived the shooting, and I hope she can stay alive, but it's not our problem. You have your own life, Brynn. Focus on that. I'm certain that's what your mother would want." He paused, giving me a sharp look. "She told you to leave, too, didn't she?"

"Yes," I admitted. "She said she didn’t want it to all be for nothing. She wanted me to be safe, and she was sorry she ever told the nurse to call me."

"I can't believe she had your number."