Page 113 of When Sky Breaks
But the truth is, I never wanted to know more about her. Angry and scared, I worried about how I’d take it all in. Forgetting I ever had a mom was much easier. Especially when Foster did such a good job of playing both roles in my life.
Now, there’s a burning desire to find her so I can start living my life for myself.
I deflate against the back of my chair, disappointed at being no closer to any truths, until I pick up the other manilla folder. My breath catches in my throat as I scan the letter inside, printed on stark white paper. Halfway through, I choke on the tears streaming down my face.
Lids pinched tight, I clutch it to my chest and try to slow down my frantic heart. It’s no use as the tears fall faster, soaking into the neck of my T-shirt. There’s no word for how I feel as my ribcage constricts and my mind races.
Legs jolting into motion, I stumble to the door, ripping it open, all but throwing myself into Trek’s room, trying to be quiet so I don’t wake Foster. Trek twists in his chair, takes one look at my frazzled state, and tears the earbuds from his ears.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, jumping to his feet and grabbing me by the shoulders to steady my jerky movements.
I shake my head, words still refusing to leave my mouth, and slam the paper into his chest.
He looks down and crinkles his brows. “What’s this?”
Stepping away from him, I sit on the edge of his bed and wait for him to read. My heart threatens to jump from my body as I watch his eyes quickly move back and forth. They widen and he darts his gaze to mine.
“Is this fucking for real?”
“Yes,” I finally croak out, holding onto my flushed cheeks with my palms.
“Holy fucking shit, Sky. I—I, damn, I don’t know what to say.” Trek falls back onto his chair and runs his hands through his auburn hair, leaving it sticking up on the sides.
“He needs to hear it from you.”
His head whips in my direction. “Are you sure? I mean, shouldn’t you be the one to tell him?”
I hiccup, my tears subsiding, and I rub my pointers under my tender eyes to wipe away the mascara I’m sure is running. “It’s time you and he talked. As much as I want to see his face when he sees this, I think it has to be you.”
Trek blows out a breath and his hands shake as he reads the letter again like it changed in the last few minutes. “I can’t believe it.”
He’s as shellshocked as me. He scrubs at his jaw and finally his eyes as they shed a tear. I can count on my hand the amount of times Trek has cried, and it’s minimal. But now, he lets them free fall on his cheeks a second before swiping them away. “Where did you find this?”
“In Dad’s filing cabinet. I found the file on my mom and then saw this. I sat on it, chickening out on looking at both for a while.”
He bites his cheek, his eyes red. “What did the other thing say? About your mom?”
I groan and lean forward to rest my elbows on my knees. “Nothing important or helpful. Which is irritating, but August’s going to take me to his mom’s soon so I can ask her questions and see if I can get anywhere.”
“I hope you find what you’re looking for, sis. I really do. Even more so now.”
My knee bounces up and down. “Me too. I’m scared but ready. I need to know.”
Clearing his throat, Trek folds the paper and runs his finger over the creased edge. “Do you know his schedule? I don’t even have his number.”
“I do. He’s closing tonight at Snaps.”
A corner of his mouth curls up. “I can’t believe this,” he says again, repeating exactly what’s swirling through my mind.
“Me either,” I say, my heart skipping a beat and my muscles begging me to run out the door and shout to anyone who’d care.
Trek springs to his feet and puts the folded letter into his back pocket. “I’m going to go now. I can’t do any more work knowing this.” He looks around and grabs a sweatshirt, pulling it over his head. “Fuck, I’m nervous.”
I stand and grab him for a hug, his arms swinging around my shoulders, my face smooshed into the vinyl decal on the fabric of his clothes. His breath wavers, and he lays his head on mine, pouring into me every feeling he’s got.
“Go,” I say, ushering him back a step and pushing him through his door.
Trek flings me another incredulous smile before he lumbers out, throwing the hood to his sweatshirt up.