---

I’m livid. The FBI has been playing us for fools.

I called Agent Walker after I spoke to Addie and Lilly about what Mom had shared. They were as upset as I was. Lilly, in fact, is making her first trip back to Maryland in almost five years. Addie wanted to come, but is in the middle of a major domestic abuse trial.

When I called Agent Walker to ask her to see the footage they had gathered of my dad, the footage which has convinced them that he was in Syria, she at first said she would have to get back to me.

When I didn’t hear from her for almost a week, I called her again only to be told they couldn’t show us the footage because it’s classified.

When I told her that my sisters and I wouldn’t be willing to do the press conference without some sort of proof that he was in Syria, or that they knew where he was at all, she went silent for a full minute. I thought she had hung up.

“Hello,” I said into the phone, to see if she was still there.

“What has brought this on?” she asked me.

“Nothing more than thinking about this a little. We want to make sure we are doing the right thing. We want to see our father, make sure it’s really him. How are you so sure? You said it’s CCTV, how clear is it? We don’t want to expose ourselves to that kind of attention unless we are sure.”

“I see,” she said slowly. “Have you heard from your father? Did he tell you where he is?” she asked suddenly.

My heart immediately started to race.

“What do you mean? I thought you knew where he was!” I asked her sharply.

“We do. But you have been the most cooperative of your sisters. Your sudden reluctance makes me wonder why.” Her tone is combative.

“I told you why. And if you can’t show us what I asked for then you can forget the press conference. We can all go back to what we’ve been doing for the last thirteen years,” I snap.

“I told you, I can’t show anything,” she says in a placating tone.

“Okay, well thank you for your time. I have to go and pick up my son from school. Have a good afternoon.”

I hang up before she can say another word.

My hands are shaking; I'm furious.

I feel like I’ve hit a dead end, but I don’t know what else to do. It’s clear the FBI is trying to find a way to lure dad in, but they don’t have a clue where he is. I believe my mother when she says she saw him in Bethesda.

This whole thing is a mess.

Dean’s office party is in a week, Lilly is arriving today; I need to get my shit together. On top of this, since Kevin’s unwanted visit to my house, he has been unbearable. He’s been calling me, making demands about seeing Anthony on unscheduled days, and in general just being a pain.

I walk out the door to get Anthony from school. After I pick him up, we are heading to the airport to pick up Lilly.

I’m excited to see her and a little nervous. She hasn’t been home in years. I only see her when we travel somewhere together. Her life is a bit of a mystery.

After college, she moved to Miami and has lived there ever since. Five years ago, she came home for Christmas and then without any explanation never came back.

She and I are very close. We talk about everything, but when I asked her about her decision to not come back to Maryland, even for a visit, she refused to answer. And the last time I asked, my little sister, who is so strong, brave, and forthright broke down into tears and begged me not to ask her again. So, I haven’t. I just pray one day she will tell me.

Anthony hops in the car from his place in the carpool lane and my mood lightens right away.

“Hi, Mom!” he shouts.

“Hey, kiddo. How was your day?” I smile at him in the rearview mirror as I pull out into traffic and head to the airport.

“It was great. I’m building a robot!” He grins back at me.

I smile fondly as we get onto the Beltway and head toward the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.

“That’s awesome, kiddo. Can you get it to clean your room?” He doubles over with laughter—I love how easy he is to entertain. “Okay!”

I glance over my shoulder quickly and say, “And guess what? I have a surprise; we are on the way to pick up Auntie Lilly from the airport.”

“She's coming here? Yay!” He squeals and then pauses. He looks thoughtful for a few seconds before he continues. “Do you think she will bring me those cookies I love?”

“Yes, I'm sure she will. She brings them for you every time she knows she's going to see you, right?” I wink at him.

He grins and pulls out the Kindle my mother bought him last Christmas. He's becoming an avid reader. As he turns seven this year, I’m trying to encourage him to push himself to read books that are more difficult than what his teacher sends home.

He sits back and settles in for the car ride to the airport.

---

---

Lilly hops in the car almost as soon as I pull up to the curb. I'm glad she recognized my car because I might not have recognized her. While Addie and I have always worn our hair long and curly, sometimes straight, Lilly has always kept hers shorter—shoulder-length—and always bone straight with lots of caramel highlights. Now though, it’s short, like Halle Berry pixie short, and blond. I stare at her, mouth agape as she gets in the car.

“What?” she asks me with a look of amused annoyance on her face. “You look like I showed up with a baby instead of a new hair style. Close your mouth before flies land in there,” she snaps.

She turns around to grin at Anthony.

“Hey, baby cakes! I missed you. When we get home you better give me lots of hugs and kisses.” She beams at him.

If Anthony notices her hair he doesn’t say anything, he just grins from ear to ear. This kid loves his aunts and they in turn dote on him.

“Hi, Auntie Lilly! Did you bring me cookies?” he asks.

Lilly jumps excitedly, rummages in her purse, and turns around while holding up a huge paper bag triumphantly. “As if I could ever forget.” She hands him the bag, and he opens it immediately.

“Anthony, what do you say?” I admonish.

“Thank you, Auntie Lilly!” he chimes back at her.

“Anything for you, baby,” she sings back at him.

She turns around to face the front as we pull out of the airport and gets her bag settled on the floorboard.

“So, Mil, how are you? And how is Mom holding up? What the actual fu—” She glances at Anthony and winces apologetically. “I mean, what in the world is going on?”

I look back at Anthony, he’s engrossed in his Kindle again but I lower my voice to a whisper before I speak.

“I don’t know, but I think it will do Mom a lot of good to see you. Listen, I want to tell you something, but I don’t want you to freak out. And I don’t want you to tell anyone.”

She leans back and looks at me with feigned shock. “What? Milly is keeping secrets? Don’t let me find out you’ve started dancing for dollars.” She laughs out loud at this.

“Shut up. My son is in the car, and I’m trying to tell you something!” I hiss.

“Okay, sorry.” She sounds anything but. “Go ahead.”

“Kevin and I have split up—”

“Fuck, yes! It’s about Goddamn time.” She pumps her fist as she whispers back to me.

“Gee, thanks, Lil.”

“Sorry, Milly, but you sold yourself short marrying that bozo. Our little guy is the only reason I’m glad you got with him.”

I reach over and slap her leg.

“Ouch, you know I’m right, Milly,” she says.

“I have more to tell if you’ll shut it,” I snap at her.

“Holy shit, I’m shutting up. Tell me!” she begs.

I grin at her and say, as neutrally as I can, “Well, I’m seeing someone. And it’s serious.”

She lunges over the center console of my car and wraps her arms around my neck. “Oh, my God! That’s awesome!” she screeches in my ear.

“Let go. You’re going to get us killed.” I push her off, but her reaction pleases me.

“Who is he? Tell me everything!” she demands.

I glance her at her quickly and smile before I say, “It’s Dean.”

“Dean?” she shouts. “From high school? Holy crap. I'm so happy for you. He was so hot. Is he still hot?” She's bouncing in her seat.

I can’t contain my giggle and blush. “Yes, he is. And it’s amazing. I'm so happy. I’ve never been so happy. I mean, he’s just . . .” I sigh and lean forward on the steering wheel.

She looks at me, her eyes wide, and her mouth open.

“Oh, my God. You’re in love.” She drags out the “o” in love and puts her hand over her heart.

“I am. And it’s amazing. Life in general right now is. Well, except for this craziness with Dad.” I glance in the back seat, Anthony still is absorbed in his Kindle and happily eating his cookies.

“I don’t understand what in the world is going on. I’m glad you came, even though I’m surprised,” I say, carefully. I don’t want to upset her, but I want to be honest.

“It’s okay. It was time. It’s been a long time, and Mom needs me,” she says as if something important and rare hasn’t just happened.

I try to hide my surprise and am about to ask her what she means when my phone rings.

The number displaying on my car’s console shows a UK cell number. I hit the Bluetooth button on my steering wheel to answer it.

“Hello?” I say cheerfully.

“Hello, Milly?” Simon’s baritone, sexy as hell, British accent comes through the speakers on my phone.

“Hi, Simon,” I say cheerfully, genuinely pleased to hear from him. This man has single-handedly pulled Addie out of her self-imposed emotional isolation and has given her back to all of us. I adore him.

“Simon, I’m here, too,” Lilly says in a chirpy tone I don’t hear very often.

“Uncle Simon, hi,” Anthony chimes from the back seat.

Simon’s rich laughter fills the car. “Well, this is a treat. I didn’t expect to catch all of you, but it’s great I did. I want to talk to you all about something, but I had to wait for Ad to go to bed before I could call.” He pauses, maybe for dramatic effect, and Lilly and I look at each other with raised eyebrows.

“Well, don’t be so cryptic! Spit it out!” she says giddily.

“I want to ask Addie to marry me. In Versailles. I want you all to be there. I was aiming for the second weekend in June. If you can make it, I’d love to make all of the arrangements.” This all comes out fast and low. And when he’s done, the car is completely silent.

“Hello?” Simon says tentatively into the silence.

“You’re getting married?” Lilly asks incredulously.

“Well, I’d like to ask her. I mean, do you think it’s too soon? I just thought it felt right, but if you guys think—”

“Hell no, it’s not too soon,” she interjects.

“Simon, this is amazing news! And of course we’ll come. And you don’t have to make all of the arrangements. Just tell us the dates, and we’ll be there,” I say my heart about to burst with happiness.

“Speak for yourself, Milly. I’m happy for Simon to make my arrangement. He’s rich as hell,” Lilly snaps.

“Lilly, shame on you. Simon ignore her,” I say.

“No, don’t ignore me. Buy my ticket,” Lilly quips back.

Simon’s laugher bursts through the speakers. “Well, let me get everything arranged. It’s a surprise. I’ve got to make some arrangements, but I want to at least put you up. I have a special hotel in Paris I want us all to stay in.”

He’s such a gentleman, Addie did so well with this one. I remember something suddenly.

“Simon, have you already talked to my mother?” I ask cautiously.

“Yes, I called her first. To let her know my intentions and to get her blessing. She was very enthusiastic.” I can hear the smile in his voice and can only image how happy this makes my mother.

“Well, this is all wonderful. Let us know what’s happening when and thank you so much for calling.”

“Thank you for being so excited. I think it’s going to be very special. I’ll call you soon. Bye for now.”

The line disconnects and Lilly and I squeal. Our baby is getting married. How amazing. We all already have plans to travel to London in September for Cara and Louis’ wedding, so this just adds to the excitement of it all.

We spend the rest of the ride home talking about Addie and Simon. I forget that I didn’t get a chance to ask Lilly any of the questions I had for her about her life in Miami.