She doesn’t know that Nicholas was working as an informer for the FBI and she doesn’t know that he was giving them information on Owen.

She does know that a few bad people are after Owen for what he said in prison and they want him dead.

And she does know that Nicholas and I broke up.

We talk about it for a while as I scramble higher and higher and then suddenly the reception starts to go out. We are forced to cut our conversation short and I promise to call her back as soon as I get home.

An hour later, I walk into my room, drenched in sweat and find Owen sitting on the edge of my bed reading the file about my mother.

8

Olive

When he discovers my secret…

“What are you doing here?” I ask, holding onto the door handle for support.

“What is this?” he asks, turning his body toward me.

“What are you doing in my room? Why are you going through my stuff?” I demand to know.

He shrugs innocently and licks his lips.

Buying time, perhaps?

Or just trying to figure out what to say?

“I was just trying to find out a little bit more about your mom. You were so…secretive with this thing.”

“I wasn’t secretive—” I start to say defensively.

“Then why didn’t you tell me the truth?”

Owen narrows his eyes.

I can’t tell how many beers he has had today but I’m certain that he isn’t completely sober.

“About what?” I ask.

“About this!” He rises to his feet, shoving the folder in the air.

I finally unclasp my hand away from the doorknob, take a few steps closer to him, and grab the folder out of his hand.

“I want you to leave,” I say quietly but with certainty.

“I’m not going to leave until we talk about this.” He sits back down, crossing his arms. “I’m not going to leave until you tell me why you wanted to come here.”

“You already know,” I whisper.

“I want to hear it from your lips.”

“What? What do you want to know?”

“The truth!” he roars.

I wait until silence falls between us again before saying another word.

“Fine,” I give in.

He already knows so why fight him on this?

“I wanted to come to Palm Springs because this is where my real mother lives,” I say quietly.

He doesn’t reply.

“You happy now?” I challenge him.

“Why didn’t you tell me? You didn’t think I would understand?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“So, why?”

“I wasn’t sure how you were going to react and I didn’t want to get into it. I didn’t want you to write this place off because I want to meet her.”

“So, you didn’t meet her yet?”

“No,” I say.

“Why not?”

I don’t say anything.