Tim's mother is too young to die, but she dies anyway--in a video that goes viral. Tim scrambles to hold his life together, but the person who keeps him on his feet turns out to be his half-sister, a fiesty girl who has no idea they're related, but...
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It turns out, Vivian is an early riser kind of morning person. I, on the other hand, am I bed-head, leaning over the coffee maker kind of morning person. The churn of boiling water is almost a relaxing sound. It could put me right back to sleep.
"What are you doing awake?" Heather stops at the transition between kitchen and dining room.
"Going to Calgary. Records. Et cetera." I half-turn, leaning against the counter. "I did tell you, right? It's only for the day." That's a thing you're supposed to do, telling adults where you're going, especially when it's out of town.
Heather finishes putting her earrings in. She's a slick woman, Heather. She always looks so put together, even though she hasn't had any coffee yet.
"You didn't mention it," she says, using an adult kind of tone that is a verbal cue for prepare to cancel plans. On the other hand, this is Heather. She's not classic parent material. "I thought you were going to the lake with Billy."
Oh, shit. Billy and the lake. I'm supposed to do that. I fish my phone out of my pocket.
"Oh, yeah. That fell through. He's gotta watch Oli or something."
can't make it out today. something came up. sorry, raincheck?
"So, who's driving? Sari?" Heather puts her hands on her hips. More head shaking. "Not Chaos? There's no way I could let you in a car with that kid driving all the way to Calgary."
She's gone through the list. It's not a very long one, which is probably how I managed to tear through it so quickly, burning all bridges in my path.
"None of them. Her name is Vivian. She is at least as safe as Billy." I can try and spin this, but the truth may be just as good in this case. On the other hand, Heather is quiet, her face all business.
"So, you're going to Calgary with a girl I haven't met, and you didn't give me any heads up." Heather sighs. "Why do you put me in this position?"
This time, for once, I didn't mean to. Somewhere, the warning got lost in the fall out of abandoning Chaos at a stop sign. My train of thought detoured far away from Vivian's mission.
"If it helps, she is definitely just a friend," I offer.
Beside me, the coffee pot finally finishes and I unscrew the lid off my thermos. Caffeine will make this conversation end way smoother.
"Vivian Olbrish?" The last name is an important one and I scan over, waiting for the reaction.
Immediately, her hands cover her face, all nail polished and ring-clad. "Oh my God, Tim."
