Finding Forever (52 page)

The news sunk in, slowly. Brooklyn caught her breath.

“Everything's going to be fine,” her mom said, rubbing her back.

Brooklyn leaned into her mother's chest and folded forward in a puddle of tears.

“What's going on, Brookie? Who are these people you're so afraid of?”

Brooklyn pulled out of her mother's embrace. Wiping her cheeks, she said, “I've uncovered a huge conspiracy, a story bigger than I realized. But I'm scared. I could use your help, but it's sort of . . . complicated. And I haven't been totally truthful.”

“No one understands the meaning of
complicated
more than I do. And I haven't been totally truthful to you, either.”

Brooklyn stepped back. “What do you mean?”

“Have a seat,” her mom said. Brooklyn sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed. “It has to do with your father.” Her mom began to tear up. “It's something that I've been wanting to tell you, but, quite honestly, I didn't want to upset you.”

“What is it?”

Her mom exhaled. “I think your father was having an affair right before he disappeared.”

“What?” Brooklyn shot to her feet. “What do you mean
think
he was? And with who?”

“I found emails after he disappeared. I can't say for certain, but his emails to this woman made it seem like there was something intimate between them.”

“Who is this bitch?”

“One of his clients, someone he did security for on the weekends.”

“Mom, just tell me.”

“Tina Degrassi.”

“The actress? That lady from the nineties? I don't believe it. No way. There's no way in hell he would do that to us, Mom. And, I mean, with that kind of . . . Wait, didn't Tina Degrassi die a few years ago?”

“Yes, she did. A few months after your father disappeared.”

“Why are you just telling me this now?”

“I didn't want upset you any more, especially in those dark months after he died. And I don't know for sure if he was cheating on me with her. It's just a suspicion. But when you ran in here just now and told me about your source committing suicide, I realized I had to tell you because Tina DeGrassi also committed suicide. There's never a good time to tell your own baby such bad news, but I had to tell you now. I just did. I'm sorry it has taken me this long. I feel horrible about it. It's weighed heavily on me. I hope you can forgive me, but I don't blame you if you can't.”

This was the part of the conversation when Brooklyn normally would shame her mom for not treating her like an adult, for doing the thing she hated most: keeping secrets. But she didn't. This time, she needed a teammate.

“Honestly, Mom, I've been keeping secrets from you, too.”

“You mean about your event in Beverly Hills tonight?” she asked, unsurprised.

“Yeah, but also about more, about this whole investigation I have been working on.”

“Well . . .” Her mom clapped her hands together. “Go ahead. We're already up!”

                      
EXT. SUNSET:

                      
PETER and WENDY, in a Jeep convertible, drive up a winding desert mountain road. Laughing, smiling, carefree.

                      
Wendy turns up radio, starts singing.

                      
WE HEAR:

                      
For all things fresh, forever and true Wendy sang a song for her guy, simply called “I love you.”

CUT TO:

                      
A sign—“SCENIC OVERLOOK”

                      
They reach the top. Peter parks the Jeep in a parking lot near the cliff's side.

                      
WE HEAR:

                      
I love the stars, love the moon, love the way you make me swoon Teach me to fly, I'll follow you high, singing together our favorite tune

                      
The young couple kisses before exiting the Jeep and running toward the cliff hand in hand.

“Okay. Cut!” Peter Kensington jumped from the flatbed truck that had been carting the Jeep seven miles up the steep Highway 74 to Coachella Valley Vista Point. He slapped Taylor and Evan a high five. “Perfect! Absolute perfection.”