I nodded to show him that I did believe him before continuing with a small grin. “Can I ask you another question?”
“Sure,” he said, smiling suspiciously at my tone.
“Why do I get the feeling there is a lot more to this than you’re telling me?”
“Because you are very perceptive,” he chuckled. “It’s not that I’m not telling you. I’m not hiding anything; it’s just that the story – the whole story – will take much longer than we have time for tonight. But I’ll make you a deal. I’ll tell you everything – anything you want to know – before we take Ryland. That is of course, if you give us permission to take him.”
“Pretty sure my Mom has already given you that.”
“But you haven’t.”
“Does that matter?”
“I’m sure it matters to your brother. And it matters to me.”
In that moment I knew, deep down, that this was right. This was what Ryland needed. I might not have known what was going on, or even who these people were, but something inside me knew they could help my brother. And knowing that, there was only one thing I could do.
“When are you supposed to leave?”
“Don’t worry about that, I can take care of it. You can take your time; no one is going to pressure you.”
“When?” I asked again.
“We have flights scheduled for Friday, but that’s not import–”
“How about I make you a deal?” I said, cutting him off. Alex raised his eyebrows, interested. “He can go with you on Friday.”
“Really? Are you sure?”
“Yes… as long as I can go too.” It was already clear that Mom was going to let them take Ryland with or without my approval, but no way in hell was I going to let him go alone.
“You mean transfer to St Brigid’s?”
“What? Oh, no, I graduated high school two years ago.”
“I thought you were only seventeen?”
“I am. I graduated just after I turned fifteen, but Mom didn’t want me going off to college so young.”
“So, you’re advanced,” he said thoughtfully, “that’s… interesting.”
“Why?”
“No reason,” he said, though I didn’t believe him. “So you will just be coming to observe?”
“That, and for Ryland. He is way too young and scared to make a trip like that alone, and there’s no way my Mom can go.” Or, that is to say, no way was I letting my mother anywhere near Jocelyn, but I kept that part to myself. “And anyway,” I continued, “I’d like to see this school with my own eyes. It’s not that I don’t trust you, I just think it will make everyone feel better if I can see this place first hand. If we get there, and I am OK with what I see, and I’m positive Ryland is happy, then I’ll come home. Deal?” I asked, holding out my hand for him to shake.
“And your Mom will be OK with this?”
“You leave that to me.”
“That sounds like a plan,” he said with a smile and reached for my hand. But right before he grabbed it, I pulled it back. “One more thing,” I added, “I don’t want Jocelyn to know I’m coming.”
“What?”
“I don’t want him to know I’ll be there.”
“That… may be difficult,” he said, confused. “Is there any particular reason?”
Because if he knows I’m there I’ll have to see him. “Does it matter?” I asked more defensively than I’d meant to.
Alex thought for a moment before nodding. “I can make sure he doesn’t find out you are with us, but so you know, once we are there it might be hard. He lives in the same building on campus as the rest of us – the same building you’ll have to stay in.”
“That’s fine. I can handle it from there.” I knew how to keep a low profile, that wasn’t a problem. All that mattered was that I would have the advantage. It’s much easier to avoid someone who isn’t looking for you.
“All right, then,” Alex said with a smile.
“And I’m still holding you to your end of the deal, you have to tell me everything.”
“OK…” He hesitated, looking pensive. “But now it’s my turn to ask for a favor.”
“Which is?”
“I promised to tell you everything, and I will, but I am going to have to ask that you keep what I tell you to yourself.”
“What, like not tell my Mom?”
“Or Ryland.” He must have seen the suspicion enter my eyes, because he quickly explained, “Jocelyn was adamant that your mother not find out about all this.