There’s a rough knock on the door.
“Beckett got here early,” Langston says, running to the door.
Thank god.
I hear footsteps coming down the stairs, and I creep back. This isn’t how I’ll meet my son, not like this.
I run out back before the kids make it down the stairs. I exhale sharply as the sun beats down on me, making me sweat. My hands are clammy, and my nerves shot. I need to run to get some energy out and make myself feel better, but I can’t.
Instead, I do something that might actually help protect my kids. I call Siren.
“Hello?” Siren answers.
“Hey, it’s Liesel. I need your help.”
“I’m out of the faking my death business. Besides, I don’t think Langston would fall for that one again.”
“No, it’s nothing like that. The kids...” I find I can’t finish before tears fill my eyes.
“Say no more. What do you need us to do?”
“Make people believe that you all are moving precious cargo. Beckett will be the one who has them, but anything to make people believe that you or Kai or someone else might be hiding them, the safer they’ll be.”
I hate asking. They all have kids that this could be putting at risk as well.
“Done.”
I exhale sharply after holding my breath, waiting for her answer.
“We all have kids. We know how terrifying it can be to be worried about your children. Don’t worry about what was said or done before. When it comes to our kids, we will always protect them.”
“He told you then?”
“That Atlas is your son? Yes. He told us, but I’ve always suspected.”
“Thank you,” I say before we hang up.
I hear voices and the opening of a car door. It’s safe to go back into the house now and hide until they are gone. Saying goodbye as my son is driven away is not the way I should meet him. I haven’t earned the right to meet him, not until I know he’s safe from this world forever.
But I can’t fight the pull. Maybe I’m not as strong as I think? Or maybe I just love my son more than I care about Langston?
I walk up the side of the house, following the sound of the sweet little voices. One is thrilled about the new adventure she’s going on. The other concerned and dubious of why the adventure is being sprung on them.
I force my feet to stop when I get to the side of the house, where a row of bushes gives me a spot to hide. I crouch down, blending with the greenery.
And then I look through the branches and leaves.
I see a scrawny fair-haired girl in a pink dinosaur shirt, black shorts, and sparkly shoes. She has a black bandana in her hair, and she’s talking Langston’s head off about how he has to promise he’ll be coming with on the next adventure.
He promises.
I smile. She has him so wrapped around her little finger. He gives her a tight hug, and I see how clearly her hair color matches his. She didn’t get her coloring from her mother unless Phoenix’s darker hair is dyed that way. She moves to hug Phoenix next while Langston moves to Atlas.
His hair is much darker, and he’s more reserved. He doesn’t say much. I find myself afraid that Langston is going to behave differently toward him since he’s not his biological son, but he kneels down in front of him in the same way he did to Rose.
“Keep Rose out of trouble for me, okay?”
“I promise.”