Page 174 of Where Broken Wings Fly

Lola and Katie interrupt his filthy whispers by taking a seat at the table. I automatically reach for my glass of wine and take a gulp for courage. Her eyes are locked on me, scanning over my hair and face, like she can’t quite place me.

“You’ve finished settling in?” Katie asks.

I take another gulp of wine. “I think so. We’re happy to be here. Arianna loves being in the countryside more than anything.”

“Where did you live before?”

“We were living in Mexico.”

Katie whistles under her breath. “This is a big change for you both then.”

“That was the plan.” I smile tightly.

“Who exactly are you related to?” Katie’s smile begins to wane. “I didn’t think you had more family hiding in the woodwork, Lola. You sure kept that quiet.”

Lola opens her mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. The awkward silence stretches on, and Zach tightens his arms around me, silently urging me to remain calm. My heart feels like it’s going to tear itself free from my chest.

“Well.” I clear my throat. “Uh…”

Arianna chooses that exact moment to plonk herself in Lola’s lap, demanding attention. Katie looks from her bright blonde hair and back to me. We don’t look much alike. I spent years hearing Mr Sanchez’s acquaintances tell me as much.

“This is Arianna, my daughter,” I squeak.

Arianna smiles shyly. “Hello.”

Katie gives her a wave. “Hey there, little one. Are you enjoying the party?”

“Yes… but Johan ate my cupcake.”

“I’ll get you another one,” Lola hushes her.

“Yay! Thanks, Grandma.”

Ah, fuck.

I’d forgotten about the shortened nickname. Arianna is completely oblivious. I stare at Katie as her smile drops away, her expression splintering into shards of shock. She looks straight at me and then to Lola.

“Grandma?” Katie repeats incredulously.

I clear my throat. “Zach… can you take Arianna to get a cupcake?”

“Are you sure, babe?”

Nodding, I climb out of his lap. “Yeah.”

Zach reluctantly leaves, taking Arianna’s outstretched hand. He mouths at me to shout if I need him to come back. I’m left in the fallout zone of a destructive nuclear bomb. Katie’s drawn face is filtered in shades of disbelief.

“Everyone calls me Grams,” Lola tries to reason.

I hold a hand up to halt her. “It’s okay, Lola. I owe Katie the truth.”

Eyes meeting mine, a deadly combination of hope and agony floods her irises. Katie looks ready to run straight at me, or perhaps straight for the exit. The feeling’s mutual.

“Katie…” I begin, my voice cracking with nerves.

She hangs on the edge of her seat, gripping the checked tablecloth tight. The voices and clinking glasses of everyone else drops away, until it’s just the two of us, caught on a derailed train hurtling towards the unknown.

“My name isn’t Melody. I’m Willow.”

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