The Hacker

"I'm sorry for your loss," (5)

Brynne was numb the entire way home. She couldn't wrap her head around what she had just heard. Never did she think that's what would come out of that meeting. After Jared dropped that bomb on her, she sat there with her eyes buldged out.

Jordan moved from where he sat to now sitting beside her, holdng her hand. A move she didn't like but was too shocked to politely drag her hand away.

Cancer?? The thought was foreign to her but she still felt sad down to her core. She couldn't dare imagine her father in the same situation.

"I'm so sorry to hear," she could barely get out.

"Thank you, dear," Jared smiled at her while Jordan still held her hand.

"Please talk to Micah, Brynne," Jordan said to her, leaning a little closer, "Jared is like a father to me... you understand what that's like, don't you?"

She had turned to look at him just then. She might have been manipulated in the past but not now. Not by someone she didn't even know.

But, regardless, Jared was still Micah's father and if his dying wish was to see his son... then she would see what she could do.

"Give me a few days," she said while getting up, pulling her hand from Jordan's own.

Now, as she closed her front door, she wanted to cry. This was a lot for her to process. She had this big news on her mind and there was no way she could be around Micah... he would know something was wrong with her. She couldn't hide her feelings anymore from him.

"Brynne, there you are. I need your help with something," Vivian said as she saw Brynne enter the living area.

Vivian sat there with whom Brynne assumed was the wedding planner. Binders of ideas were spread out in front of her along with different types of fabrics.

"What can I do?" She asked but she didn't really mean it. Something about this wedding rubbed her the wrong way. She was definitely happy for her father but it all seemed so rushed... Vivian just barely got out of her divorce. By the time their wedding came around, her divorce would be final.

"You know your father better than I do, what dish would he prefer for the main course; Duck, Lobster or Fish?" Vivian showed her the pictures of what the meal would look like.

"He hates seafood so any meat-type will do,"

"Okay, noted... feel this fabric, do you like it for the napkins?"

Brynne felt the fabric and felt no difference between it and the one she offered her after. So, she told her to go with the first. She saw Vivian exchange glances with the wedding planner.

"We'll go with the second one... don't worry, Brynne, we'll work on your taste,"

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Amira looked over her shoulder for what felt like the 10th time that day. She had developed this weird feeling ever since they left their little cottage. It turns out that Mary lived in the town of Ide Hill, so her house was within walking distance since the town wasn't that big.

Every person that they passed instantly became suspicious in her eyes. The old lady walking by with her cane could easily have been someone in makeup and the young boy sitting by the corner could have easily been a scout. Children made good spies since they were smaller and drew less attention to themselves.

Stop it, Amira. She scolded herself.

"Here we are," Kai announced as they stood outside a slender black front door with three steps leading up to it. It was sandwiched by two other slender doors.