Page 131 of Storm Caller

She leaves the thought hanging. She suspects their lie, but she’s also helpless to do anything about it. Who could she accuse? Pushing back would only lead to more problems and no answers.

She tips her head and scans me up and down, something penetrating in her expression.

“What else would you tell him?” I whisper, hoping she understands what I can’t say.

“That I forgive him. That I’m sorry I failed him and I’m sorry he couldn’t pursue the future he wanted because of me. He didn’t need to stay and take care of me, but after his father died, he made me his responsibility.” She sighs heavily. “I’d tell him that I hope with everything in my heart he finds what he wants, and that even though I will miss him every day of my life, I will be fine. I have my sister to care for me, and I will manage.”

She says it steadily, but with every word out of her mouth, I sense her flaking apart, bit by bit, the pieces of her spirit lost to the wind forever.

“I’m sure he’d be grateful to know that.”

She stretches out a hand toward me. I reach for it, and she squeezes my fingers.

“You take care of yourself, Poet,” she says. “And please come and see me sometimes.”

My throat tightens. I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be here, either, but if I stay in New Manhattan, I vow to keep this promise to her.

“Thank you for your time,” I say. “I should go.”

She releases me, and I exit the apartment, feeling both lighter and heavier than I did when I arrived. It’s probably not the closure Edward or his mom wanted, but maybe I can offer them a small measure of peace.

I ride the elevator down and exit into the lobby.

That’s where I come face-to-face with my father.

47

“Dad?” I ask as his eyes widen. He quickly brushes past me, entering the elevator I just vacated. “Dad!”

He furiously presses the button to close the doors, but I jam my body into the opening. “Dad! Stop it!”

His face hardens, and his shoulders drop. “Hello, Poet.”

“Hello? Hello!? You just tried to ditch me! I’ve been messaging you for weeks! I need to talk to you.”

“This isn’t a good time,” he says as the elevator doors bounce open and then try to close on me again.

“I really don’t care,” I say. “We can do this here in the lobby, or we can go somewhere private, but you’re talking to me this instant.”

He sighs and runs a hand down his face. “Fine. Not here.” The doors slide open again, and he shuffles past me back into the lobby. “Follow me.”

I do as he asks, and he stops at the front desk, handing over his briefcase, phone, and watch to Cyril. “Keep an eye on these for me, will you?” he asks.

“Sure thing,” Cyril says affably.

Then he gestures to me. “You, too.”

It takes me a moment to understand, but I left everything behind at Amery.

“I don’t have my phone,” I say, and my father’s eyes narrow. With good reason. No one ever leaves their devices behind.

“Let’s go,” my father says, clearly deciding it’s not worth commenting on, and then we head outside. I glance past the building to spot Rook, where he’s waiting for me. He pushes himself from the wall, his brow furrowing when he catches sight of my father.

I offer him a quick wave, indicating that I’m fine and he should stay back.

Then I follow Grady Graves.

We make our way down to the central canal and walk along the path for a few minutes. Finally, we stop at a bench, and my father gestures for me to take a seat.