better already— pale but no longer ghostly. Or ghastly, or whatever Brian-just-woken-up-from-a-sixteen-hour-coma was.
Nick’s gut began finally settling from the stress of those long hours. He really looks okay. A deep wash of relief ran through Nick. I’m such an idiot. He rested his hand on Brian’s meaty thigh, taking comfort from his solid size.
Brian pressed Nick’s hand flat against his leg. Then he leaned down into the crowded space beside his feet, closed the cooler, and burped. “Ah. Sorry. Good bread.”
The little everyday sound loosened the tightness in Nick’s chest. He was able to pull his hand away and grin. “Looked like it. So…”
“Are you sure you want me to come to the door with you? She doesn’t know me from Adam…”
“Yeah, but she doesn’t know me either, and you look—” softer, less dangerous, kinder “—more trustworthy.”
“Okay. If I’m in the way, I’m happy to wait in the car and eat more bread.” Brian smiled at him.
“Do you need more time to eat?”
“Nah. I’m good.”
Usually, Nick would do something with that straight line, but his attention was pulled back to the little house. Right there. Any minute now, he might know.
Brian half-opened his door. “Are we doing this?”
“Yeah. Yes.” Nick got out too and led the way along the concrete walk, up the two low steps and onto the front porch. He rang the bell. In his pocket, he clenched the little hair clip until the familiar shape was imprinted in his palm.
After a pause long enough to set his pulse hammering, the inner door swung open, leaving the screen between him and the answerer. He had to track his gaze down to meet the eyes of a small, dark-haired boy.
Nick swallowed and made his voice soft. “Hi, son, is someone else home?”
“Mom?” the boy called over his shoulder. “It’s two guys.”
“What?” A young woman came hurrying up behind him and pulled him back by the hand. “Evan, you know you’re not supposed to open the door!”
“But they rang the bell.”
She sighed loudly. “Go play.” She gave the boy a little push away from the door, then glanced from Nick to Brian and back again. “What do you guys want?”
“Just… a couple of questions,” Nick managed to say.
After a quick up-and-down scan of him, she said, “I paid my parking tickets, every penny. And I don’t know anything about anything.”
“Huh?” Nick couldn’t stop staring at her. Ariana? Not? She had dark hair, all right, and a short, slim build like he remembered, under a bright-red holiday sweater. Something about the tilt of her head seemed familiar. He couldn’t make out her eye color. You don’t remember it anyway, idiot!
“Aren’t you a cop?”
Her question startled him out of his staring. “No! I mean, yeah, I used to be, but…” There didn’t seem to be any slow way to break the news. You’ve stood at the door telling people their loved one died in a wreck. How can this be so hard? “I’m your brother.”
“I don’t have a brother.” She stepped back.
“Wait!” He rushed his words, as she began to swing the door shut. “You’re Ariana, right? I’m Nick.”
“Nick?” That at least made her pause, the door half-open.
“Yeah. Nick Rugo. Your brother. If you’re Ariana Rugo. Or, um, Taylor?”
For a long moment, she stood eyeing him. Her face was a shuttered mask. Not one hint of emotion escaped the lockdown.
Nick clenched his fists and the barrette dug into his palm. Pulling his hand out of his pocket, he extended it toward her and opened his cramped fingers. “Ariana?”
She glanced down and drew a fast breath, but when she met his eyes again, her gaze was still cool. “Who’s he?” She tilted her chin at Brian.
“My… friend. Best friend.” He planned to come out to her but not like this, on her doorstep, in the first thirty seconds. What if she was raised in a fundie church or had found Jesus? He wasn’t going to lose this chance over a risk like that. Not yet.
Brian shot him a quick look but nodded. “I’m along for moral support. Nick’s been really nervous about meeting you after so long.”
She dropped her gaze to the battered green ribbon. “I guess you’d better come in.” Pulling the door wide, she flicked a latch off the screen door and gave it a push.
Nick caught the handle and held the door for Brian before following him inside. Then he was in the hall, face-to-face with Ariana. His breath caught.
She turned away without a word, heading into a sunlit front