“Of course. Anything that’s within my power.”
“There’s a man in prison, upstate at Atticus, who I need to speak to. Anthony DeCarlo. He’s my second cousin, and…”
“And…?”
“He’s the reason I was taken. He and his brother drugged me with something, and the next thing I knew I was in that horrible place, running for my life in a concrete maze.” I clear my throat again. “The place where we met. That first time.”
“Oh… Can you talk to the brother?”
“No. He… He’s dead.”
“All right. I’ll talk to Reid. We can probably get you on this guy’s visitor list.”
“I can go with his mother, my aunt, but she doesn’t know anything about what happened to me and who was behind it. I can’t do that to her. She already lost one son.”
“Sounds like her kids got into some bad stuff.”
“They did, obviously. But Aunt Agnes is the nicest person. How can apples fall so far from the tree?”
“I don’t know, Katelyn, but it happens sometimes.”
“I was only with them a week most summers. I don’t know how they were raised the other fifty-one weeks.” I spill out the whole story. Then, “I guess there was a lot of stuff I didn’t see.”
“Probably.”
“Oh, there’s one other thing,” I say. “They’re Catholic, and their parish is St. Andrew’s.”
Silence.
Silence so thick I can almost see it coming through the phone line in a fog.
Finally, “I think the parents are probably blameless in this situation,” Zee says. “If they sent their kids to St. Andrew’s.”
I gulp audibly. “Oh?”
“The priest. Father Jim. He was the parish priest at St. Andrew’s.”
Another gulp. “He’s the one who— Wait. Was?”
“He’s dead. Didn’t they tell you that at the retreat center?”
I search my mind. Did they? “They may have. The first few weeks at the center are kind of a blur.”
“Totally understandable.”
“Zee?”
“Yes?”
“How’s the baby?”
“She’s wonderful! She’s sleeping in my arms right now.”
“Are you still at the hospital?”
“Yes. They’re springing us tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“I should have asked about her first thing. I’ve just… No. There’s no excuse.”
“Katelyn, it’s okay. You have other things on your mind. You’re totally forgiven. Besides, you named her.”
I smile, even though Zee can’t see me. I can’t help it. “I can’t take credit.”
“Of course you can. Honor was your idea, and it’s perfect. She’s perfect.”
“I can’t wait to see her.”
“She’ll love her Auntie Katelyn.”
Auntie Katelyn. Sweet.
“In fact… I promised Reid we’d talk to you together, but he’ll forgive me. This is the perfect time.”
“The perfect time for what?”
“To ask you to be Honor’s godmother.”
I nearly drop the phone but manage to increase my grip before it tumbles from my grasp. “I’m…honored.” I can’t help a chuckle. “But shouldn’t you ask one of your sisters-in-law? Or a good friend?”
“I consider you a good friend, Katelyn. I… I owe you something.”
“Zee, I owe you everything.”
“No. Let me explain. I never forgave myself for leaving you. I should have helped you up. Gotten you out of there.”
“I couldn’t move, and you couldn’t carry me. I’m just thankful you didn’t do what I originally asked you to do.”
“I couldn’t have ended your life. But I never forgot you. And when I saw you that day on the island, sitting in the great room with I Love Lucy on the television… When you asked if we’d met… Katelyn, I felt like something had shifted in the world. I was so grateful that you were alive. That you are alive. You’re an amazing woman, and just the kind of role model I want for my daughter.”
Tears pool in my eyes. I sniffle. I should say something, but what? I’m totally unworthy of his honor.
Or am I?
I respect Zee so much, and if she feels I’m worthy…then maybe I am worthy.
“Thank you,” I say quietly.
“Thank you,” she says. “For my baby’s name. For your strength. For your friendship.”
I can’t hold back then. I burst into tears.
“Katelyn…” Zee’s voice in my ear, but I can’t respond.
I’m too busy panting out sobs.
“Katelyn, honey, it’s okay. Everything is okay.”
“But you… I…” More racking sobs.
“Let me talk to Reid about this Anthony DeCarlo. Okay? I’m going to let you go, but I’m going to call you back in half an hour to check in. Okay?”
“Okay,” I manage to gasp out.
I sob. I sob and sob and sob.
And for the first time in…forever?
I realize the sobs are not sad, but happy.
24
Luke
My phone buzzes at eight a.m., just as I’m about to leave for a jog.
My heart skips. It’s Katelyn!
“Hi, Katelyn,” I say into the phone.
“Hi, Luke.”
“To what do I owe this pleasure?”
“I was wondering…if you could do something for me.”
“Of course. What do you need?”
“First of all, are you working tonight?”
“Yeah.”
“What time?”
“I go in at five.”
She pauses a moment. “Good. Could you take me somewhere around one o’clock?”
“Sure. Where?”
Another pause. Then, “Atticus Prison.”
The phone slides out of my hand and hits the hardwood with a clatter. I hastily pick it up and glue it back to my ear.