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I raise my head to peer into her eyes. “What are you thinking?”
“Just wondering. Trying to fit some puzzle pieces together to make a complete picture, but I think I’m missing a big section and something that never clicked is starting to make a noise.”
“Huh?”
“Your strict rules about dealing with people who lied to you started after your momma and papa died.”
I pull away from her, keeping my face downcast. “Is that so?”
“Don’t play in my face. I know you’re hiding something from me, and I’m guessing you’re being wrong-headed about the whole situation to the point that it’s affected your relationship with Cameron.”
“I’m not wrong! You weren’t there to know what I did.”
“Then tell me what you did.”
I pluck at the blanket that no longer holds comfort for me. “I thought it was a fib, nothing serious, but I was wrong. I was spoiled. And I’m the reason my parents died.” I search G-mama’s face, hoping for forgiveness.
She gives me a patient ear. It’s enough.
“I wanted to swim in the rooftop pool, but Mom and Dad refused to let me. And because no one should ever say no to Kenya Annalise Collins, I made up a story and told my mother. Then I made another one and brought it to Dad. Then I snuck out. No one knew where I was, but I was having a blast in the pool. I was so proud of how smart I was that I never suspected that they would exchange notes and come searching for me. If I had stayed in our hotel room… if I hadn’t lied, Mom and Dad would be here right now.”
“Dear,” G-mama says, her sad eyes glittering with tears. “I’m going to be honest with you. You need therapy. Onyx or I should have connected the dots before now.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that we dropped the ball while we were grieving for your parents. We should have gotten you someone to talk to who would have helped you make a different conclusion. The right conclusion.”
“No.” I shake my head, rejecting G-mama’s claim. “It’s too late for me to change my mind. I’m a fully baked cake.”
“Not quite. Did you know the accident was preventable?”
“No, it was a freak occurrence,” I insist. “No one could have predicted the elevator would snap from its chords.”
“That’s not true, dear. The hotel was negligent. They slacked on the inspection and maintenance. The topping on their irresponsible dessert was the falsified certificates they filed. Everything about the way your parents died was preventable.”
“Where did you get this information and why am I hearing about this now?”
G-mama turns aside and muffles her sniffling. “You were six years old. Onyx and I thought you were too young to know the details or be part of the trial when we sued them.”
“Did you say trial?”
“You act surprised. You know your glamma comes from old money. There’s no hobby more fun for people with generational wealth than suing somebody. And you know I don’t shy away from a good fight.”
This bombshell upends everything I’ve believed about my parents’ death.
“Did you win?”
“Is my name Laila Evans?”
“I’m glad you got compensation, but I don’t know if I can reframe a belief I’ve held for over twenty years.”
G-mama pats my shoulder. “Long-term change does not happen overnight. You have to work on it.”
I curl up into a ball at her side. The news doesn’t change the feelings of hurt and betrayal from having misplaced my trust.
G-mama runs her fingers through my hair. “Are you mad at me or Onyx?”
“Maybe a little.”
