Page 112 of Everything We Found

Aimee paced the living room, her fingers trailing over the back of the velvet couch. “How’s Thomas?” she finally asked, still not looking directly at Nadia.

“He’s…” She paused, considering how to answer given Aimee’s history with him. “He’s alive. Getting stronger every day.”

Aimee nodded.

An uncomfortable hush fell. Aimee circled the couch, stopping when she reached the side opposite Nadia. “Why did you do it?” she asked, turning to her fully. “Why did you lie to me for so long?”

“Because I was scared,” Nadia admitted. “Thomas told me the Hidalgos would kill James if they discovered he was still alive. They’d kill anyone who knew what they’d done to him. They’d already tried once.” She rubbed at the pinkish scar on her cheek, a permanent reminder of their violence. “I’d walked in on him while he was on the phone with someone in Mexico arranging to place James in witness protection. That and the factthere were sandbags in the casket instead of a body. I saw it. That’s how I found out about him.”

“But you kept lying to me, for years,” Aimee pressed with a catch in her voice. “Even after everything.”

“I know.” Nadia moved closer to the couch, closer to Aimee, who flinched so Nadia stopped. “After you found James and came back, I wanted to tell you so badly. But by then, what good would it have done? You were already home, you’d already seen him. You wanted to move on with Ian.

“I was afraid of losing you.” She willed Aimee to understand. “I kept thinking, what if I tell her now and she never speaks to me again? So I kept quiet. I convinced myself I was protecting you.”

Aimee’s eyes glistened. “I trusted you with everything.”

“I know,” she whispered, her own eyes burning. “And I’m sorry. Not a day has gone by that I haven’t regretted not being honest with you. It tore me apart.”

Aimee’s face twisted. “You watched me grieve for two years?—”

“You never believed he was dead,” she gently countered. “You always felt he was out there.”

“That’s not the point,” Aimee yelled. “I felt crazy, Nadia. I questioned my own sanity because everyone kept telling me to accept reality, to move on. You especially.”

Nadia flinched at the undeniable truth. “Yes, I pushed you toward Ian. But not because I was trying to manipulate you. I genuinely thought you deserved to be happy, and I could see how good he was for you. How much you cared for him before you even realized it yourself.”

“You chose Thomas over me.” Aimee’s finger stabbed the air.

Nadia looked down, her hands gripping the couch back. For once, shame didn’t burn through her. “I did.” She met Aimee’s gaze. “I chose to keep his secret over our friendship, and I’llregret what it’s done to our friendship for the rest of my life. But it kept you alive. That, I don’t regret.”

Aimee held her stare, searching her face for something. Then, to Nadia’s surprise, she sat on the couch. “I was so angry when you told me.” She picked at a loose thread on her sleeve. “But then I remembered all the times you were there for me, like when I was too terrified to open the café. How you convinced me to get out of bed every morning.”

She looked up at Nadia, her tears finally spilling over. “I’ve been thinking about what you said at Kristen’s, about how Thomas changed your mom’s life. About all the ways he’s tried to protect the people he loves.” She twisted her hands in her lap. “Ian and I talked about it a lot, actually.”

Nadia hardly breathed, afraid she’d break this fragile moment if she interrupted.

“What Thomas did was wrong,” she continued. “So wrong. But…” She took a deep breath. “I’m beginning to understand why he felt he had no choice. And why you kept his secret. I’m not sure I would have done anything differently in your position.”

“Really?” Nadia whispered. She came around the couch and sat beside Aimee, leaving a generous distance between them.

Aimee nodded, wiping at her tears. “I also know what it’s like to have faith in something when everyone thinks you’re wrong. I felt foolish for believing he was still alive, that everyone would think me delusional if I told them, but I trusted my instincts even when it was hard. It’s not the same, but I can see how you were caught in an impossible situation.”

This was more from her than Nadia had dared to hope for. “I’ve missed you so much,” she said, her voice cracking.

Aimee’s back bowed like her whole body was softening. “I’ve missed you too. When I saw the news about the gunfight in Arizona, and they mentioned Thomas had been shot…” Sheshook her head. “I knew you must have been there, and that you’d be devastated. I should have called after, but I didn’t know what to say.”

“You’re here now.” Nadia scooted closer and tentatively reached for Aimee’s hand. “That’s what matters.”

A timid smile tugged at Aimee’s lips. “I don’t think I’m ready to completely forgive Thomas, but I know I don’t want to throw away thirty-plus years of friendship with you, not when I almost lost you for good.” Her fingers fluttered over the scar on Nadia’s cheek.

Nadia felt a dam collapsing inside her chest. Emotion spilled over. She pulled Aimee into a fierce hug. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered into Aimee’s hair. “For everything.”

“I know.” Aimee hugged her just as tightly. “Me too.”

The doorbell rang, startling them both. They pulled apart, wiping at their tear-streaked faces.

“You expecting someone?” Aimee asked.