Now that I was going, I couldn't seem to make myself stop. "Oh, and here's another thing," I continued. "Is she your daughter? Or your little sister? Because it seems to me, that detail's pretty darn important in the big scheme of things."
Thinking of Brody, I swallowed an unexpected lump in my throat. "I mean, I should've known. Maybe not from you, but I'm just saying…"
I sighed. "I don't know what I'm saying. Not about that. But about the rest of it, I don't appreciate being made the villain here. Willow, she's a great kid. And super smart, too. And I never would've harmed her regardless of whatyoumight think."
By now, I was nearly breathless, whether from talking nonstop or from all of the conflicting emotions swirling around in my head. I was so angry, I could hardly think. And yet, through all of that anger, I still felt the dull ache of loss – the loss of Brody of all people, although for the life of me, I couldn’t imagine why.
As for Mason, he looked way too composed as he stared down at me. After a long moment of silence, he asked, "You done?"
"I guess." I shrugged. "For now."
I half expected him to simply get into his car and drive off without telling me squat. But to my surprise, he didn't. Instead, he said, "You're right about the nanny."
I blinked.I knew I was right.Still, it felt obscenely good to hear him admit it. "Really?'
"And she's gone," he said. "So don't worry about it."
"So she quit?"
"No. Fired and replaced."
"Oh. Well, that's good." I hesitated. "Is the new one any better?"
"Ask me in a month," he said, not looking too hopeful.
"So…" I bit my lip. "Willow…is she your daughter? Or…?"
"I'm her dad," he said. "And that's all you need to know."
"But that's not true," I protested. "Idoneed to know."
"Oh yeah? Why's that?"
It was a good question. But the answer was too complicated for me to put into words, so all I said was, "I just do. It's important."
He studied my face for several beats before saying, "I'm both."
"Sorry, what?"
"I'm her dad. And her brother."
Eauw."Really?"
He gave me a look. "I'm not talking biology."
"Oh. Of course not." I winced. "Sorry. And, uh, you were saying?"
"She's my sister. But yeah, I'm the only 'dad' she's ever known."
"So…Does she know that you'rereallyher brother?"
"She knows."
"But she calls you her dad?"
His expression darkened. "Yeah. Because she wanted one. And a mom, too."
Nowthatmade me pause. "But about a mom, she told me—"
