The Vines by Shelley Nolden (ebook and pdf reader .TXT) 📕

Kristian.” She looked at her hands, folded in her lap. “And with Cora, when she begged me to give her son back.”

“That was not your fault,” Rollie said. “We did a thorough medical risk assessment.”

“I should have been stronger. Should have insisted you tell Kristian the truth.” She motored into the room. “Out of everything that’s been done to her, I hurt her the most. Because she believed in me.”

Rollie grunted in frustration. “I failed Cora; not you.”

“Mom,” Finn interjected, “you did come through for her, with what you left for me in the shed.”

She waved her hand, clearly dismissing his point. “Hannah will be here soon.” She tapped her good hand on the arm of her wheelchair. “What do you plan to tell her?”

Rollie pressed the knuckles of his right hand to his lips and began to pace.

Finn settled into the recliner. He knew Rollie had already confessed to Hannah that they’d secretly resumed their research following Sylvia’s diagnosis, which hadn’t surprised her. Then Rollie had informed her that Kristian had been exposed to Cora’s pathogens.

Finn guessed that his dad had been hoping to delay the tougher conversations until he had proof that Kristian could fend off the three viruses he’d contracted. But Hannah had insisted on coming over tonight to speak with Sylvia.

“What do you think we should tell her?” Rollie asked, revealing just how severely his confidence had been shaken.

Irritated that Rollie was expecting Sylvia and Finn to sort out this mess, Finn averted his gaze from his father, and noticed an old family photo on the end table. The photographer had captured Finn looking up at his brother.

Throughout Finn’s entire life, he’d been trying to prove that he should be involved in his family’s secret initiative. So now that he was so desperately needed, why would he even consider backing away? Finn asked himself.

“What do you think?” Sylvia replied, and Finn smiled. His mother was not about to let Rollie off the hook.

“I suppose we should tell Hannah about Kristian’s parentage, so she knows he’s got a shot at pulling through this.”

Sylvia raised her arm in support.

“Doesn’t she have the right to know what Kristian did to Cora?” Finn asked.

No one spoke. Hannah should be told. But what would that do to Milo?

“The lying and secrets have to stop,” Finn stated.

Rollie shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “This truth will destroy their family.”

Kristian had been raised with a false sense of identity, and both brothers had been lied to. Repeatedly. With the sting of Rollie’s revelation still fresh, Finn abhorred the thought of that same deception being repeated with the next generation.

Rollie looked to Sylvia, so Finn did the same.

The functional side of her face had tightened in anger. “Men in this family use family to get their way. I’m sick of it. Milo’s well-being is the priority here, and the truth will crush Hannah. Milo needs her, and his dad.” She turned her scooter toward her bedroom. “But I won’t be part of another lie.”

A knock on the door effectively ended the debate.

Finn looked for confirmation from Rollie, who, white-faced, agreed. Then he went to answer it.

Moments Later

he door opened, and Lily’s stomach dropped at the sight of Finn’s ashen face. Her right shoulder began to twitch, and she willed it to stop.

He beckoned her inside, and she complied while forcing herself to remain calm.

Whatever had just happened between the two could not—should not—deter her from what she had to do later this night, before she lost the courage.

While counting out the exact change at the deli, she’d decided that she had to break up with him. Her doctors, her mother, Finn, and his family: they’d all been telling her that too much anxiety could lead to more health problems. She needed to reduce the stress in her life.

Finn hung up her jacket. By his troubled expression, she surmised the conversation with Rollie hadn’t gone well.

“Hannah will be here any minute.” Finn set the soda in the kitchen.

Lily moved into the living room.

His back to her, Rollie was staring out the window. Never before had he not greeted her. He’s ashamed. Rightly so. Yet a pang of sympathy shot through her. She now understood that his actions—however misguided—had been well intended. And she had to give him credit for his foresight and humility in fostering in Finn the strength to dissent.

Reciprocating his lack of greeting, she asked, “What’s the plan?”

“It’s premature to tell her certain details.” Rollie turned to face her. “Kristian might be dead within two weeks,” he said, his voice cracking.

A knock on the door sounded, and a sour taste filled Lily’s mouth. She pitied Hannah for what she was about to learn, and not learn.

Lily didn’t want to become her; she had to leave Finn. Tonight.

Finn helped Hannah with her coat, her long blond hair catching in the zipper. When Lily had first met her, she’d envied Hannah’s big blue eyes, ample curves, and runway-model height. Now, wearing no makeup and likely having slept little in days, Hannah looked strung out.

Rollie gestured for the two women to sit on the couch.

Lily cleared her throat; she didn’t want to be associated with this conversation. “I’ll order the pizza,” she said, stepping into the kitchen, from where she could still hear Hannah quietly inquire about Kristian.

“His wound is healing well,” Rollie said. “So far there’ve been no symptoms, but we’re not in the clear yet. Hannah,” he said more loudly, and Lily stopped her search for the delivery menu and shuffled to where she could see into the living room, “there’s something I need to tell you.”

Lily braced herself.

Rollie dropped to an ottoman across from Hannah. “Kristian’s not my son, or Petra’s.”

“What?” Hannah asked fiercely as Lily’s hand flew to her mouth.

“His biological parents are Cora and Ulrich.”

Gripping the counter to steady herself, Lily shifted to see Finn. From the chagrined yet composed look on his face, she could tell that Rollie had dropped this bombshell on