I read the sentence three more times.
Then I turned the paper over, hoping there was some explanation on the back.
There wasn’t.
Just a coffee stain near the bottom corner.
My hands were still shaking when my phone buzzed again.
This time it was Sierra.
Did Nolan call you?
I typed back:
Yes.
A second message appeared.
Did he explain?
I looked at the note on my lap.
Not really.
She replied almost immediately.
Claire, I think you need to know something before Sunday.
My stomach tightened.
What?
The typing bubble stayed there for several seconds.
Then:
Mom knew you weren’t coming before Nolan left.
I stared at the screen.
How?
Sierra called instead of texting.
I answered.
“Tell me.”
She lowered her voice.
“I wasn’t supposed to hear this. Mom was talking to Dad Thursday night.”
“About me?”
“About the trip.”
I sat up slowly.
“What did she say?”
Sierra hesitated.
“She said the weekend would be easier if you weren’t there.”
I felt something inside me go completely still.
“Why?”
“She said you’d been sick all week. She thought you’d spend the entire weekend resting instead of participating.”
I almost laughed.
I had organized half the weekend.
“I was going because I wanted to be there.”
“I know.”
“What else did she say?”
Sierra took a breath.
“She said Nolan had to choose between being your husband and being their son.”
