“They were thorough in the documentation of it all,” Naveen answers, his face somber. “They rated us on different scales, based on physical traits. Jack had the highest,” he adds, tilting his head towards me and I scoff.
“Yeah right. They should have waited just a little more, and I would have been worth nothing.”
“The factisthat we were rated. And our parents made their donations according to those… Grades.”
My eyes widen and I’m struggling to hold back the hysterical laugh climbing up my throat.
“So you’re telling me that… They paid more. For me.”
He nods. All three of them do.
I burst out laughing. I probably look like a lunatic for everyone in this damned restaurant, but I don’t even care.
They paid the most money. For me. Their “Golden angel”, as they used to call me before I disappointed them by being sick. Before I disappointed them even more by being gay instead of dead.
“Wow. That’s awesome,” I say through fits of laughter, wiping at my eyes. “Who would have thought that I’d be the most expensive dog in our litter.”
“How long have you known?” Prue asks.
Naveen sighs. “I’ve worked on the two siblings case for a year, where I’ve uncovered most of how it worked, before I took some time off to focus on all of us, so I’d say about six months, give or take.”
“I want to know my story,” Prue says. “My birth certificate says that Iwas born in Aspen.”
“You weren’t. Your parents were part of a group that were helped by the Church to escape Guatemala during a civil war. You were born on the road, in the back of the truck.You,” he says, his face softening, “were stolen from them. The men and women taking care of the illegal business of the church abandoned your parents at the US border after they crossed Mexico, saying they were trying to enter the country illegally. Your birth certificate says Aspen because you were born on the road, and weren’t checked until you reached the church. They did put your real date of birth, though…”
My heart cracks a little when I look at her, at the sorrow on her face. She wasn’t abandoned. She wasn’t sold. She’s beenstolen. From people who were fleeing a conflict in their home country, probably to offer her a better life, the promise of a happy future. Only for them to end up probably deported back in Guatemala or dead, and her miserable in a fucked up family.
I see the tears pooling in her eyes. I’m not sure she realizes it, but she leans on her side until her head meets Nate’s chest. He glances at me quickly before circling her shoulders with his arms.
“As for you, Jack—”
“I don’t want to know,” I say quickly, shaking my head and closing my eyes.
The only sound at our table are Prue’s muffled sobs. Except for hers and Nate’s, all eyes are on me.
“Are you sure?” Naveen asks slowly.
“Yes. I’ve made my peace today with our parents. I don’t want to know if I’ve been abandoned, sold, or stolen. I know that I should never have been with them, and it’s enough.” I pause, glancing back towards Prue, crying against Nate, probably forgetting that she doesn’t want me to know about them or too overwhelmed to even care. “I’ve got everything I need right here with Prue and our friends.”
Naveen nods before they all look at each other with concerned faces.
“I’m a little tired,” I say with a sigh. “I’m going to head back to my room. But, maybe we can catch up tomorrow?”
“Of course,” Tham says. “We’d love to.”
Ikram stands, politely waves them goodbye, and turns my chair around so we can leave. Prue doesn’t follow.
39
I THINK I CHANGED MY MIND
Prudence: Are you okay?
Jack: I should be asking you that.
Prudence: I’m processing.
Prudence: My parents may be somewhere, stillalive.
