eating his brain? He seemed sober; though it’s possible he’d been drinking. As the years went on, it took higher intakes to get him to whatever level he sought. It had gotten to the point where some people didn’t notice. Was it possible he was telling the truth? Lee had always said he didn’t see Maria until she showed up around Sarah’s birth – and the way he made it sound, it meant Sarah was hers too. Lee and Mary-Agnes were in their sixties, always claiming Sarah and Noah were change-of-life babies, considering his youngest brother was thirteen when he was born. Did his biological mother drop them off as infants, three and a half years apart?
Did they really lie for so long? No… nothing here is making sense.
“How did you deal with Greg?”
She sighed. “I didn’t. Even yesterday, we were fighting. At the clinic, when he got home that night. He’s crazy – it’s like he thinks my mother was secretly obsessed with him and I’m doing her bidding according to my apparent direct line to the afterlife. Sometimes he forgets she’s dead. And to be frank, he seriously won’t shut up. Everything I do ticks him off. First of all, he still doesn’t believe me – and he’s as convinced of conspiracy as ever. He doesn’t want me anywhere near you, or his job, or him in general. He’s listing so many don’ts, I can’t figure out what he wants.”
He groaned, “That’s just ridiculous.”
Aly nodded, agreeing, “I know. I really think the only person who can change here is me. All I know is, there’s nothing I can do that makes him happy. So I’m going to let him get angry until he either ships me home or gives up.”
Anger clenched in his face, a sudden clarity in his befuddlement.
Why does this guy have to put her through so much crap? She’s got enough to deal with.
“Aly, just so you know, my offer still stands,” he added. “He and I can have a, uh, talk. Or I can kill him.”
“My response still stands.” She laughed, crossing her ankles. “It’s not necessary. I’d rather let him make himself miserable.”
“Yeah,” Noah murmured, staring hard at the surf. Imagining Tony getting just a few inches past the guardrail, he was filled with repugnance. Shaking it off, he found himself talking, unsure of the words coming out of his mouth. “…and he went on saying my mother was dead. When I asked him what he was talking about, because I was totally freaked something happened to Mary-Agnes, he just accused me of lying about knowing something. Then he kind of admitted that I wasn’t his kid and neither was Sarah. He said my aunt Maria is my mother and if I continue on this path I’m taking, I’m going to end up dead like she did.”
Aly listened intently, occasionally gasping or covering her mouth. Frozen with shock, she waited to ensure he was finished speaking before blurting, “That’s… Noah if I can offer… if I can help at all, I promise I… I just…” She paused; face twisting as though she arranged her thoughts. She sat her coffee down at her side and grabbed his hand, continuing, “I know this probably doesn’t mean anything, but I’m here for you. If you need anything…”
“It means everything, Aly,” he corrected, squeezing her hand. He realized his sandwich was still untouched, sitting on the wrapper in his lap. Chewing his cheek, he added, “It’s just… I’m kind of mad about it. It’s like I’m filled with all this rage, but it doesn’t really feel like anything’s changed even though everything has. I keep waiting for someone to say that’s it’s a joke or Lee’s lost it but no one’s denying anything because they can’t even talk to me. I’m trying how to remember how to feel real.” Glancing sideways, “And I’m really sorry.”
She raised an eyebrow. “About what?”
He began, “About my dad-”
Aly blinked. “Wait. He told you what he said?”
“What? Wait, what did he say?”
She shook her head, waving it off. “Never mind. I miss understood you.”
“Aly-”
“It’s not important. What were you talking about?”
“I meant him causing issues with your dad,” he finished, undeterred. “Aly, what did he say?”
“Noah…” she hesitated, biting her lip. Almost inaudibly, she said, “Noah, if it’s going to resolve issues with your father, or well, your uncle, I guess? If it will make things better foryou…”
He frowned. “Aly, what are you talking about?”
“…I’m willing to… if it helps, I can