more thing. She wants you to know that she loves the daisies, but they make her sneeze; they always did.”
21
We follow Jake to a hotel. He insists on paying, and we don’t argue. While Jake talks to the lady at the front desk, Ty and I sit on the sofa in the lobby, holding hands, our bags and Iris’s violin case at our feet. A few minutes later, Jake walks over, slipping one card key into his pocket and holding two more out to us.
“I’m in three-twelve. You guys are in three-oh-eight and three-oh-nine. Get some sleep, then give me a call and I’ll take you to lunch.” He laughs. “Or dinner. I’m exhausted.”
We reach our rooms and part ways. I miss Ty the minute I close my door.
I draw the curtains to block out the day. Placing Iris’s violin in the corner chair, I carry my bag to the bathroom and take a quick shower. Minutes later, propped up against the pillows on the bed, I text Sylvie: In okc. Mom & Wyatt know I’m w/Ty. Will call w/details soon.
I lower the phone, worried about Wyatt and wondering if he’ll ever forgive me. Knowing I won’t get any rest until I touch base with him, I text him and tell him we made it and that I’m okay. I ask about my mom and Cookie, then wait five minutes for a reply, staring at the phone. When he doesn’t respond, I make up excuses for his silence: It’s early and he’s still sleeping; he’s in the shower; he stayed at the all-night party even after what happened, and he’s having breakfast with friends.
Just when I’m about to give up on him, he texts: Gran is w/ your mom and Cookie. They r ok.
I text back: Thanks.
I stare at the painting on the opposite wall—a vase of red flowers. What am I going to say to Mom? I’m sort of mad at her about everything—especially the cloning, which is totally weird, when you think about it. If she hadn’t gone behind Dad’s back, I wouldn’t be here. I should probably thank her for being a liar.
But what if I had been born with health problems, deformities, or other terrible defects, instead of an amazing ability to play the violin and communicate with my “original”? Would she deserve my thanks then?
Original. The word gives me a sick feeling inside.
To steady my nerves, I picture Ty in the next room and imagine looking into his beautiful dark eyes. They’ve calmed me so many times since we met, and just the thought of them calms me now. Taking a breath, I lift the phone from my lap and call Mom.
“Lily!” Her relief flows through the phone. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Mom. Ty and I are in Oklahoma City.”
“Oklahoma? But why?”
“Is Addie there?” I ask.
“Yes. And Wyatt. What’s going on?”
“We made a short side trip so I could meet Jake Milano.”
“Jake?” Mom’s voice drops. “Oh, no.”
“Iris and I needed to find him and talk to him so we could finally know the truth about what happened. She’d forgotten everything, Mom.” I pause to gather my nerve, then add, “Even what you did to her.”
I hear her quick intake of breath, and then she says, “There are things you need to know.”
“I know what you and Ian Beckett did to Iris against Dad’s wishes. And against Iris’s wishes. I know what I am, Mom.”
“Please come home and we’ll talk about this,” she says in a broken voice.
I take a moment to get control of my emotions, then say, “I think I finally understand why you’ve always been so unhappy. You wanted Iris back, but instead you got me.”
“No! No, Lily. I love you more than anything. I just— losing Iris destroyed something in me.”
I stare at the ring she gave me for my birthday. The one she and Dad made especially for me. I know Mom loves me. But I can’t help feeling bruised.
“I haven’t been fair to you,” Mom continues. “I know that. I didn’t give you what you needed from me. What you deserved. I tried, but I couldn’t let go.”
I suddenly hurt so much for her. For all of us. Mom and Dad. Iris and myself. “I don’t know how to help you,” I whisper. “How to make you happy.”
“It’s not up to you.” I hear the tears in Mom’s voice and Addie in the background, asking if everything’s okay. “What are you going to do now?” Mom asks. “Will you come