Chapter 13

“I want to see my mom " Ivy said, the morning after the notice arrived. "Before the hearing. I need to ask Ivy’s mom about Ivy’s grandmother and Ivy would rather do it in person than over the phone."

Kade did not argue this time. "I will come with Ivy. If that is all right."

“It is more than right." Ivy managed a tired smile. "I do not think Ivy wants to do this "

They drove back to the hospital together three days on the clock now of a vague deadline somewhere off in the future and Ivy spent most of the ride rehearsing how Ivy was supposed to ask Ivy’s dying mom about a grandmother nobody in the family had ever wanted to talk about.

In the end Ivy did not need to rehearse anything. Margaret brought it up herself.

“You have that look again " Margaret said, the second Ivy walked in. Margaret was sitting up this time color back in her face sharper than Margaret had been two nights ago. "The look from before. Like Ivy is carrying something and trying not to let it show."

“Mom I need to ask Ivy about Grandma. Your mother."

Margaret went still.

“That is a question to bring to a hospital room."

“I know. I am sorry. It. I would not ask." Ivy sat on the edge of the bed and Kade stood back near the door giving them space without leaving the room. "Please. Whatever Ivy knows. Even if it sounds strange."

Margaret looked at Ivy for a moment then past Ivy at Kade studying Kade the way Margaret had studied Kade through the hospital window two nights before.

“Kade is not just someone from work is he " Margaret said. It was not really a question.

“No " Ivy admitted. "Kade is not."

“Does this have something to do with Grandma?"

“I think it might. I think it might have everything to do with Grandma."

Margaret was quiet for a moment hands folding and unfolding the edge of her blanket an old nervous habit Ivy had not seen in years.

“My mother was different " Margaret said finally. "I did not understand how growing up. She would disappear some nights come back at dawn looking exhausted in a way sleep never seemed to fix. She had a temper that scared people and a strength that did not make sense for a woman her size. My father never talked about where she came from. Whenever I asked my father would just say she left all that behind when she married him and it was not polite to dig up what people had chosen to leave buried."

“Left what behind?"

“I do not know. I was a child. Children do not ask the questions and by the time I was old enough to ask better ones Grandma was gone and my father would not talk about Grandma at all anymore." Margaret reached into the drawer of the bedside table, slow, careful and pulled out a worn photograph Ivy had never seen before. "I kept this. I do not know why. Something told me to."

Ivy took it with hands that were not quite steady. A black-and-white photo, cracked at one corner a young woman standing in front of a stone wall that looked, unmistakably like it belonged to far grander than anywhere Ivy’s family had ever lived. The woman’s eyes in faded black and white held something sharp and golden-looking familiar in a way that made Ivy’s chest go tight.

“That is Grandma " Margaret said. "Your grandmother. Before she married my father before any of us."

Kade stepped closer looking over Ivy’s shoulder at the photograph. Went very still.

“Ivy " Kade said quietly. "That wall behind Grandma. I know that wall."

“What do you mean you know it?"

“It is not any stone wall." Kade’s voice had gone careful controlled the way it always did right before he told Ivy something that was going to change everything. "It is the wall around this pack’s territory. The wall that runs along the side near the old training grounds. That photograph was taken than two miles from where we are standing right now."

Margaret looked between Ivy and Kade confusion and something like fear moving across her face.

“Ivy " Margaret said. "What is going on? What kind of job has Ivy actually gotten herself into?"

Ivy looked at Ivy’s mom at the photograph then at Kade’s face, pale and certain and understood, all, at once that there was no version of the truth small enough to protect Ivy’s mom from anymore.

“Mom " Ivy said slowly. "I need Ivy to trust me for a few minutes. Because I am about to tell Ivy something that is going to sound impossible. I need Ivy to believe it anyway.”