The Third Message novel · Chapter 14 of 24

Chapter 14: The Door Faced Her Window

On Friday night, Bree was waiting in the lobby of the black box when rehearsal let out.

I had known she would come.

The exchange office had stopped taking her calls, and a person like Bree does not stop. She changes doors.

I told Miles and June to stay up in the booth.

"Rule two," I said. "You can watch. You can't rescue."

June leaned on the glass with a bag of pretzels. Miles said nothing, but he put his palm flat on the window.

I walked down the stairs with my cane and slid my phone into my cardigan pocket with the recorder running.

Bree stood under the lobby lights in a pale pink coat with her hands folded.

"Lana. Please don't have me thrown out. I only came to say I'm sorry."

"Say it."

Her eyes filled right on time.

"I'm sorry I didn't make sure you were with us on the mountain."

"That isn't an apology. That's a note about the hike."

"I'm trying."

"You're not."

The tears stopped.

"Your mother and I talk now," Bree said, in the same small voice. "She was so glad somebody still cares about you."

My stomach turned over.

I had blocked my mother because she had left. Bree had gone and found her.

I kept my face still and took one step closer.

"Burke told me a story about a snow fort," I said.

"Burke tells everybody stories."

"He has told one person in eleven years, and that was me. Then two weeks ago, a girl in his lab said part of the name back to him."

Bree smiled. It was a polite smile, held a beat too long.

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