Chapter 34

While Bastian andEmilie haul their bags in through the open front door, Chloe thanks Maisy and Jordana for the lift to her sister’s house. Just thinking the word sister feels foreign and ill-fitting. This morning, Chloe woke up without a family or a history. Now she has three sisters, two brothers-in-law, and seven nieces and nephews—although she won’t meet Diana’s daughters until the weekend, as they live out of state and have jobs. She is part of a family. She is Heather Ryan.

This last bit doesn’t feel right at all. She is not Heather Ryan. She is and, at least for as long as she can remember, has always been Chloe. First Chloe Martin, the name bestowed by her social worker, then Chloe Tremblay. The name Heather Ryan is heavy and foreign on her tongue.

Maisy gives her a close look. “Go inside, sugar. Your family is in there.”

The podcaster points toward Emilie and Bastian, who stand in the foyer, waiting for Chloe.

She breathes. “Yes, they are.”

“We’ll be back in the morning,” Jordana tells her.

“Good night.” Chloe smiles at her daughter and husband as she crosses the threshold and enters the house.

She sits quietly beside Bastian as Ava shows Emilie to her bedroom, which she’s graciously offered to share. The older of Amy’s sons—Evan—pokes his head into the family room.

“The guest room’s all made up, Mom.”

“Thanks, honey. Do you want to join us?” She gestured toward the coffee table laden with snacks. “There’s a pitcher of lemonade in the fridge.”

“No, I’m beat. As soon as Owen’s done in the bathroom, I’m gonna get ready for bed and hit the hay.” He glances at Chloe. “I’ll be around all day, though, tomorrow. Mom said we can stay home from school to spend time with you and your family, Aunt He—Chloe.”

Chloe smiles warmly to signal that he shouldn’t worry about his slip of the tongue. Just as she’s unaccustomed to the name Heather, Chloe is unfamiliar to him. “That’ll be lovely.”

“Good night, Evan. Sleep tight.”

He stoops and kisses the top of her head. “‘Night, Mom. Good night, Bastian.” Then he frowns. “Where’s Dad?”

Chloe notes the way the skin around Amy’s mouth tightens as she smiles.

“Oh, he decided to spend the night at Brett’s place,” she says lightly.

The boy gives his mother a puzzled look but doesn’t pursue the subject. “Oh, okay.” Then he shuffles up the stairs, yawning.

Bastian draws his eyebrows together. “I hope we haven’t displaced him?”

“No, no. Not at all.”

Chloe waits, but her sister doesn’t elaborate as to why her husband is sleeping at a friend’s home. A sudden thud sounds upstairs, and the plates rattle on the table. Seconds later, muffled giggles erupt from behind a closed door.

Amy shakes her head. “Excuse me for a moment.”

She heads upstairs to tell the girls to settle down, and Bastian leans toward Chloe.

“They’re fighting,” he whispers.

“Emilie and Ava?” It doesn’t sound like they’re wrestling or rough housing to her. They’re just being silly teenagers.

“No, Amy and Rich.”

Her eyes widen. “Because of us?”

“I don’t think so,” he says, giving his head a vigorous shake that sends his shaggy hair bouncing. “I overheard them at the airport. I think while he was at our house, she found evidence that he cheated on her. She told him she needed some space.”

“This is a bad time to have houseguests,” she frets.

He covers her hand. “Your sisters have waited thirty years to see you, Chloe. They wouldn’t have wanted to wait one day more.”

Amy appears on the upstairs landing. “The girls are ready to turn in, if you want to say good night.”

“I think I won’t be far behind them,” Bastian says. “It’s been a long day.”

Amy covers her mouth with her hand. “I’m so thoughtless. Of course. You’re probably both exhausted. Yes, please, we should all get some sleep. After all, we have all weekend to catch up.”

Chloe smiles up at her. “We have the rest of our lives to catch up.”

Amy smiles back. Chloe thinks tears are glistening in her eyes, but she can’t see clearly in the dim light.

As she trails Bastian up the stairs, Chloe can’t help but think about her sister. Married twenty-five years, according to Maisy. Three children together. And to find out now that her husband isn’t the man she thought he was. She can’t imagine it.