Chapter Twenty-Three Addendum #2
A small, rational voice reminded her that Tommy adored her, that he’d never think those things, but the doubts were louder. By the time the elevator neared the top floor, her eyes were burning and her hands shook. When the elevator doors finally opened, she walked off and right into Thorn's arms.
“Are you alright, Mali?a?” he asked, his voice low with concern as he wrapped her in a steady embrace. “I saw you on the security cameras. Did something happen to your mother?”
Evie shook her head, pressing her face against his chest. “No. Mom’s… as fine as she usually is. Where’s Tommy?”
Thorn’s arms tightened around her briefly, almost enclosing her. “On a date with Nissa. Where else?” He rubbed slow circles on her back. “Do you want me to call him home?”
Evie hesitated. Over the last four years, Thorn had become her confidant, the person she trusted most besides Tommy. There were things she’d told him that she’d never breathe to anyone else.
“I need to show you something.”
She led the way into the kitchen, and they sat at the table. It was their spot, where they went when they wanted to talk to one another about things they had going on and needed support. She unlocked the box and pushed it over to him.
Thorn raised an eyebrow and began leafing through the papers. When he reached the legal agreement, his pace slowed. The tension in his shoulders eased slightly as he read.
“Well,” he said finally, laying the documents on the table. “This is much better than what I thought.” He glanced up at her, his expression softening. “But I imagine this is a shock.”
“You knew?” Evie’s voice caught. “How did you know? Does Tommy know?”
“As far as I know, Tommy has no idea.” Thorn shrugged lightly. “I just thought your mother and his father had an affair. You are clearly closely related.”
“Oh.” Evie blinked, surprised but not offended. It made sense; he was observant in ways few people were. “I guess that’s fair. But if you’d ever met Tommy’s parents, you’d know that was impossible. Henry only had eyes for his wife. And he didn’t exactly like my mother.”
“You were only nine when they died,” Thorn reminded her. “How could you tell?”
“I don’t know,” Evie admitted, shaking her head. “Just a feeling. He used to get this look when she spoke, like he was being polite, but not taking her seriously.”
Thorn smirked, picking the document back up and began rereading it. “I would imagine it was a lot like the look you have when she speaks.”
Despite everything, Evie huffed out a small laugh. “You might be right.”
“It is odd,” Thorn began after a moment of silence.
“They set all these terms and conditions - preventing Henry and Mary from having any say in how you were raised, making it clear that you would have no stake in Sloane Technologies - and that makes sense, considering the friendship dynamic that existed.”
He tapped the paper lightly. “But they were very specific that the relationship between you and Tommy was not to be interfered with, and that it was to be allowed to develop naturally.” He looked up at her. “They had to know it would eventually come out that you were related.”
“What do you mean?” Evie leaned forward, reaching for the paper. “I thought it just meant they wanted our relationship to be whatever it was going to be, that they couldn’t force us to be friends or keep us apart.”
“It was added as an addendum four months after the original agreement,” Thorn explained, handing the papers back. “It mentions explicitly Tommy’s emotional attachment to you. Realistically, he was fourteen and very intelligent. It would have made more sense to limit your interactions.”
Evie reread the addendum and smiled sadly. “I think they didn’t want us to be alone when they passed. Technically, we were both only children with older parents who couldn’t have more kids.”
“Perhaps.” Thorn inclined his head, still thoughtful. “Are you going to tell him?”
“I don’t know.” Evie set the paper down and stared at the table, tears pricking at her eyes.
“What if telling him ruins everything? What if he thinks I’m trying to take Sloane Tech or part of his inheritance?
There was nothing left after Oscar’s estate was settled, and Mom’s leaving everything she owns to the church.
” She hesitated, her voice going small. “What if he doesn’t want me?
I can’t lose him, Thorn. I need him in my life. ”
“There are many negative hypotheticals there, Evie.” Thorn’s voice was gentle as he reached out and took her hands in his. “What if he is happy and embraces you? What if he already knows but does not know how to tell you? He already sees you as his little sister. What if nothing changes?”
“I don’t know!” Evie’s voice cracked as it rose. “This is too much, Thorn! I just graduated today, and Mom decided to dump this on me. She’s dying and going into hospice, I’m trying to pack everything up to move, I start my job on the first, and now I have to decide if I tell Tommy -”
“Tell me what?”
Evie jumped and twisted in her chair to see Tommy and Nissa standing in the kitchen doorway, both looking a mix of confused and concerned.
“I thought you were on a date?” she said faintly.
“We were,” Tommy replied, stepping closer. “Then I got a security notification that you were in the building, and when I checked the cameras, you looked like you were crying, so we came home.” He tilted his head, eyes searching her face. “What happened?”
Evie rose slowly, giving Thorn a warning look as she reached for the adoption certificate. He shook his head once, then thankfully began folding the rest of the paperwork and slipping it quietly back into the box.
Taking a steadying breath, Evie crossed to Tommy and held out the certificate.
“What’s this?” Tommy frowned, but when he saw what it was, his eyebrows lifted and his expression softened. “Oh.”
He handed the paper to Nissa and pulled Evie into a hug. “I’m so sorry, Princess. Your mother could’ve waited to tell you that.”
“Yes,” Nissa said, her mouth tightening. “She kept it a secret for twenty-three years, what was another day?” She rubbed Evie’s arm gently. “I’m sorry she dropped it on you like that.”
“I mean, I kinda always thought I was,” Evie murmured, “but seeing it in black and white…” Her voice trailed off as Tommy let her go. Her pulse was pounding in her ears, and she felt like she might throw up.
“On the bright side, you don’t share DNA with Oscar,” Tommy said, smiling faintly, clearly trying to make her laugh. “Why were you worried about telling me?”
“I don’t know.” She’d been about to tell him that they shared the same parents, but when she met his warm brown eyes, she couldn’t.
“I think I’m just completely overwhelmed.
Mom went on this whole speech about God keeping her from having an evil child with Oscar, and now this… I’m not thinking straight.”
Tommy nodded, his expression softening with concern.
“Okay. Let’s get you home so you can rest. I’ll talk to the Calvary Hospital administrator first thing tomorrow to see if we can move your mom in earlier.
Thorn, Nissa, and I will help you pack on Saturday and get you into your apartment ASAP.
” He rubbed her arms gently. “You’ve had way too much dumped on you at once.
You just need some help and a chance to breathe. ”
“Thanks, Tommy.” She hugged him tightly, then met Thorn’s eyes over his shoulder.
He gave her a slight nod, picked up the box, and left the room without a word. She knew he was taking it to hide in his apartment. She’d have to make his favourite muffins tomorrow to thank him.