Page 75 of You Know Why

“You’ve already told me all of this, haven’t you?”

“Yes. Don’t worry about it. I’ll tell it again and again as you need. She was on the flight with you from Nashville. She lives in Atlanta and was helping you after Trey walked out. They went to high school together.”

Trey leaving. My heart hurts. I recall something, black and white—a video of my husband. Shoulders set, backpack over one shoulder, escalator.

“Trey left us at the airport. He really is gone? It wasn’t just a bad dream?”

“I’m sorry, sis. He really is. I filed a missing persons report, but because he left the airport under his own steam, they weren’t taking it very seriously. Then his parents ended up dead, and now Uncle Bob and Aunt Pat are involved—”

“Uncle. Bob’s our uncle. Pat’s our aunt. Got it. God, Margot, this is so weird. My brain is all jumbled up.”

“It will get better. So yes, Uncle Bob thinks Trey has been stealing money from TGG, so he reported that to the FBI, and they’re all looking for him now.”

Something inside me shifts, flares to life. Anger. “Bob turned Trey over to the FBI? Are you joking?”

“I’m not. I won’t lie, Brook. This is serious. But there’s nothing you can do right now except heal. We’ll figure it all out.”

“And I’m in Nashville?”

“Yes. The accident happened in Georgia, but I had you transferred here from Grady Memorial after . . . Well, I knew you’d want me to make things as normal as possible for the kids. I’ve been staying at the house with them and Bohdi, who misses you both so much. Eden has been a godsend. I don’t know what I would have done without her, honestly.”

An urge as deep and unfathomable as this crazy situation moves through me. “I want to see the kids. I need to see that they’re okay.”

“They’re doing great. They are playing and eating and sleeping, and they are going to be over the moon when I tell them you’re awake. Bohdi, too, he misses you like crazy. I’ve kept them home from school since winter break starts in a few days anyway. You’ll get out of here in a couple of days, and we’ll get through this together.”

Bohdi. An image of all of us in bed. The kids, laughing. Trey, so happy. The dog barking . . .

Their faces float up like they’re rising from submerged water. First Four—a mini Trey. Then Neve—a mini me. My heart settles into a more comfortable rhythm. My babies. They are real.

“Do the kids know about Trey disappearing?”

Margot shifts uncomfortably. “I wasn’t sure what to tell them, so I told them the truth. That he left, and we don’t know why yet. They’re pretty crushed.”

“Poor babies. I bet they’re a mess. Oh, no. Christmas. The presents . . . We decided to wait to open the bulk of them when we got home, but I had a few for each of them in my luggage. Did we miss it? Did we miss Christmas?”

“Look at you, remembering all that! No. It’s December sixteenth. You left for Italy on the twelfth.”

“Four days gone. Wow.” But she’s right. Without my pushing, without my trying to think, plenty seems to be reappearing in my brain. “Margot. I am so sorry. This must have been horrible for you.”

“It’s all good, honey, don’t worry.”

This crushes me, and I have no idea why. It occurs to me . . . “Did I know why Trey left before the accident? Did I know he was stealing money? Did I tell you anything?”

“You didn’t confide anything to me, and on that day, you seemed very confused by the situation. Do you think you knew what was happening?” Margot asks.

Blackness, again, with the purposeful thinking, the elusiveness of wanting something specific. I shake my head, which is a huge mistake. The answering throb comes with a blinding light that feels like a needle has been shoved through my eye. “Ouch. Bridge too far.” It takes a few minutes for the pain to subside.

“Do you think you knew he was having money troubles? Maybe that’s why he surprised you with the trip? He was trying to cover up something?”

“I don’t know. It would be helpful to remember if I know anything about what he’s up to, though, don’t you think?”

“I mean . . . yes and no. If you know something that makes you an accomplice, I think I’d prefer you to continue blanking.”

Accomplice. Trey stole money. I knew. I . . . helped?

That really doesn’t feel right. But something about this is knocking in the back of my brain. I do know something. I just don’t know how what I’m remembering ties in.

Margot smooths back my hair. “Listen, don’t freak out if you don’t remember everything. It’s going to be a journey. You’ll have good days and bad days. But you will get better. And I’ll be here to remind you. Ask whatever you want.”