Sal pulled back. “We’d better stop. Before we do something neither of us is ready for.”
I hid my face in the crook of his neck. I was so ashamed. I’d been not just willing, but eager to go further. That line between love and lust was thin as a whisper. And I’d been ready to cross it without hesitation. Typical sex-teen. If he hadn’t stopped—I didn’t want to think about that. What was going on with me? Where was Ginnie when I needed a mom to talk to? For a millisecond I was furious with her for dying. If I’d let that feeling last longer, I’d have been furious with her for a whole lot more.
XXXIII
When I finally got up the nerve, I lifted my head ever so slightly from Sal’s neck and said, “You must think I’m—”
“Amazing, Nina Oberon—absolutely amazing.”
I slid off his lap onto the step beside him. I was too embarrassed to even look at him.
He reached over, pushing my hair aside, and kissed my cheek. “We should go inside. Aunt Rita will be back any second.”
As if on cue, the dual transport flew into the driveway.
“I love it!” Rita strode up to the porch. “You and John are trannie geniuses. And what are you two still doing outside?”
I looked at the porch floor, sure that she must’ve known exactly what we’d been doing. I kept my head down as we followed her inside.
She ushered us into a sleek spare room. It was modern and airy, with a vaulted ceiling and skylights. The sun poured in, bathing everything in warmth and light. There was a cheery fire in a fireplace that formed part of the wall between that room and another.
“Sal, sweetie, you get some snacks for the two of you to take along on the express.”
When Sal left the room to do as his aunt suggested, Rita sat down on a mammoth sectional that curved around in front of a panoramic view of the valley. She motioned for me to sit down next to her. “We need to talk.”
I sat down, not knowing what to expect.
“There’s not a lot of time for explanations, Nina. I know Ginnie sheltered you from the truth about her life. She was a NonCon. I’m sure you’ve figured that out by now.”
I nodded.
“Do you know much about Ed?”
“He’s a Chooser, Dee’s father, and a horrible person.”
“He’s also an ex-B.O.S.S. agent who’s been trying to prove that your father’s alive ever since that night he allegedly drowned in the Chicago River. Ginnie took up with Ed to keep Alan’s secret safe. And to keep you from any harm.”
Relief flooded through me. “I knew he was alive. I knew Ginnie wouldn’t lie to me about that.” I blinked back the tears that rose up. “And I knew Ed was a government agent, but I didn’t know he was ex-B.O.S.S.”
“It was B.O.S.S. who put your mother on the machine at the hospital. As soon as we found out B.O.S.S. was putting Ginnie in the Infinity machine, our operative at the hospital fixed the audio so that nothing your mother said was recorded. But someone was listening and told Ed what Ginnie said to you. Do you remember anyone there in the room with you?”
“A nurse.” I nodded. “A nurse was in the doorway when Ginnie told me that my father was alive. Even though Ginnie had me sing to her so no one would hear what she was saying.”
“What else did she say?”
“That all the answers are in a book I’m supposed to give to my father.”
“Where’s the book now?”
“In a safe place.” I’d been so eager to hear about my father that I’d let down my guard and was blabbing everything Ginnie’d told me to a woman I’d just met. But there was no turning back. I had no more secrets, not anymore.
“Hmm, Ed must not have told anyone else about this or else you’d have more than just him following you. Probably wants all the glory of catching Alan Oberon for himself. If the GC knew, they’d have picked you up by now. Ed believes you’re a direct ticket to your father.”
“The night Ginnie died she had an envelope with your name on it,” I said. “Had you been in touch with her?”
“Often,” Rita said. “We met the night she was murdered. I never would’ve left her alone if I’d thought she was in danger.”
“You were with her?” And here I’d thought Ginnie didn’t have any friends. There was so much I didn’t know about my mother. “Do you know what happened? Do you know who killed her?”
Rita shook her head. “I have an idea, but without proof—or even with proof…” She sighed. “No one cares about the death of a tier-two woman, do they?”
I told her about B.O.S.S. taking Dee and me home from the hospital after Ginnie’s death, and ransacking our house. “I guess they were looking for anything they could find about my father.”
“Nina, B.O.S.S. believed that Alan died in that accident. Ed did not. They thought he was obsessed, on a wild-goose chase. That’s what got him demoted from agent to Chooser. He’d give anything to prove Alan is alive.”
“And he is, right?” I didn’t even need to wait for the answer. At least some of the puzzle pieces were falling into place. My dad was alive. He and Ginnie were NonCons. “What should I do? Ed knows I have something he wants—and I’m pretty sure he knows it’s the book. I have to get it to my dad.”
“For the time being, stay close to Sal or Wei. She’s a good friend to have. I’ll work out the best way to get that book to Alan.”
“Uh-huh.” I didn’t feel so great. My head was exploding from all the new information I was learning about my life. And my body was still humming from Sal’s touch, about which I was feeling very conflicted. I wanted him and I didn’t. Too confusing.
Rita checked her chronos. “Sal,” she called, “time to leave.”
We both stood up. “I know this has been a lot for you to take in, Nina.”
I may have been confused about everything else, but there was one point I was very clear on. “I’ll give my father the book. No one else but me is going to do that. How do I find him?”
Rita sighed. “I told him you would feel like this.”
“Told him? You’ve spoken to him? About me?”
Sal had returned to the room and was watching us. “I’ll go get Max.” He raised his eyebrows as he walked past me. I didn’t even stop to wonder who Max was.
“When can I meet him? Doesn’t he want to see me?” I couldn’t believe I was so close; my heart was pounding.
“Of course he does,” Rita said. “Knowing he has you is what’s kept him going.”
“Does he know about Ginnie’s death?”
“Yes.”
“When can I see him?” I was about to burst.
“It’s too dangerous right now. Not just for you, but for Gran and Pops and Dee. If Ed, or the GC, gets wind of the fact that Alan really is alive, you will all be in danger. You have to be patient… and careful. Many lives depend on you. I know you can do this. You mustn’t say anything about this to anyone.”
“I’m sure Gran suspects. I’ve told her Ginnie said my father was alive. She dismissed it at first, but I think she knows Ginnie was right.”
“Does she know about the book?” Rita put her arm around me and we walked out onto the porch.
“Sort of…”
“Well, the less she knows, the safer she is. Poor woman has been through so much.” She squeezed my shoulders. “I feel for the families. You have no idea how difficult it’s been for those of us, like your father and me, who disappeared, leaving our families behind grieving for us. I know it’s hard for you. But Ginnie raised you well. You won’t let her down.”
I bit my tongue. No, I wouldn’t let her down. I was okay with not telling Gran about the book, but I was determined to get it to my father, and sooner rather than later. Now that I was positive he was alive, I would find him. With or without Rita’s help.