Page 86 of Undone

Wow. That’s probably Lacey’s kid.

My half niece.

My heart hammers, toe tapping on the tile, knee bouncing up and down like I’m on speed or something.

Finally, more noise, the phone being handed over or picked up.

“Hello?” Her voice is calm but slightly suspicious.

“Yeah, hi. Hello?—”

“I’m not interested in extending my car warranty right now. Or ever, for that matter?—”

“Good to know. But I’m not calling about your car warranty.”

“Oh. Well, I already donated to the police department. And I’m not interested in upgrading my cell phone plan either.”

“Okay.”

“Goodbye.”

“Wait!” I shout into the phone, trying to keep her on the line. She didn’t even give me a chance to say my piece. “I’m not a salesperson. I’m your half brother.”

There’s a long silence, punctuated only by our breathing.

“Excuse me? Who are you?”

“King. King Montgomery. My mom—our mother—was your birth mother, I believe. I got your letter. And I’m sorry to tell you this over the phone, but she passed away. Three years ago. I didn’t want you to think, you know—” My voice hitches, a swell of emotion I’d been pressing down rising up from my chest to my throat. “That she didn’t care or something. I’m sure she would have loved to meet you.”

I wipe my sweaty palm on my boxers, the cotton absorbing my liquefied anxiety. This is so much harder than I thought it would be.

“Oh.” Disappointment seeps through the line, and overwhelming sadness crushes down on my chest. “I guess you live in Seaglass Beach, then?”

“Yeah, I do. I have two brothers and a sister. We all live there.”

“Nice.”

Awkward silence fills the space between us, and I wish Roman were here right now. Or Parker. Or Poppy. They’re all good at talking to people, better than me.

“I’d love to meet you.”

Her statement catches me off guard.

“Um, ah?—”

“But I understand if you don’t want to. It’s fine?—”

“No, no, it’s okay. We can meet. I’m actually here in town.”

“In Peachtree Grove?”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s meet at the Five-to-Niner at eleven then. If you don’t know where that is, just ask around. Everyone in town knows it.”

“I’m good. I know where it is.”

“Okay, I’ll see you then. Bye.”