Traceyseemed to deflate with her relief. “You’re brothers?” she asked, volleying afinger between Zach and Vinnie.
“Yes,”Zach answered, nodding while Vinnie continued to scowl with skepticism, his jawclenched tight and his eyes narrow.
“There’sa sister, too. She’s showing me a J name.”
Zachlooked at Greyson, wide-eyed and excited, before answering Tracey, “Yeah, oursister, Jenna.”
Traceynodded happily. “Yes. Your mother is nodding. She’s very proud of the three ofyou and who you’ve become. Although …” She pursed her lips, shaking her head.“You’ve been troubled, the two of you. You,” she pointed to Zach, “have come tothe other side, but you,” her finger moved to Vinnie, “you continue tostruggle.”
Allfaces turned to Vinnie, including mine. He swallowed, then lifted his mouth ina forced half-smile. “Nah, I’m all good.”
“Yourmother wants you to know you’re going to be fine, if you can fight temptation.That will be your downfall.”
Hescoffed. “Good thing she doesn’t know anything about me.”
Traceywasn’t perturbed by his snide comment. Instead, she smiled. “You will believe,sooner than you think.” Then, her eyes flicked toward mine, as she said, “Yourmother likes her, by the way.”
Mystomach twisted, hitting me with a relentless barrage of pangs. Not because shehappened to elude to my secret, nearly leaving me uncovered and vulnerable. No,none of that was my reason for excusing myself and running to get some air.
Thiswoman was the real deal, and she saw me.
***
Wewere nearly out of the theater, moving with a sea of new and old believers inthe afterlife. Once we reached the door, I stopped abruptly, and Vinnie turnedaround.
“What’sup?”
“Ijust remembered I forgot something at my seat.”
Henarrowed his eyes. “What?”
Ireleased my lip that I’d been chewing from between my teeth, and was alreadyturning around to head back into the theater, as I said, “I’ll just be a fewminutes.”
Hedidn't have a chance to speak again as I hurried inside. A security guardstopped me, to ask where I was going, and I lied, saying I thought I haddropped a credit card at my seat. He let me go on the promise that I'd bequick. I raced along, moving down the aisle and straight to the stage, where amember of Tracey's crew was working.
“Excuseme?” I called to him.
Helifted his head from unplugging the microphone. “Yeah?”
“IsTracey available to talk?”
Heshook his head. “Sorry, she doesn't do autographs.”
“No,no,” I said hurriedly. “I don't want an autograph. I really just want to talkto her. I have questions and—”
“I'msorry. She isn't available.” He stood up to wrap the cord, pretending I nolonger existed.
“Please,”I begged, gripping my hands to the edge of the stage. “I just—”
“Youthe press?” he interrupted, now looking angry and menacing.
“What?No, I'm—”
“Traceydoesn't deal with the press.”
Mydesperation was slowly getting the better of me and tears began to sting thebacks of my eyes. “I'm not a member of the press. Please. I just ... I justreally need to talk to her. I-I need to—”
“Lady,in two seconds, I'm getting security in here. So, turn around and—”
