Eleven days.
Eleven days with no answers.
Lucy’s classmates had filled the countdown to graduation with endless parties and sailing trips on Lake Windermere, or so she’d ascertained from the few pity invites emailed to the entire senior class. It didn’t matter that she was still grounded, she wouldn’t have attended anyway.
If Cate and Stew had managed to convince Claudia to come along, Lucy didn’t want to be there to spoil her fun. She had ruined her best friend’s senior year more than enough for one lifetime. Maybe, just maybe, after a summer away from her in Chicago, Claudia might be ready to talk. A long shot, but it was all Lucy had.
Her gaze drifted to the top of her dresser. The tourmaline necklace rested next to her phone. She willed an email to arrive from DNA-4-U confirming what Lucy knew to be true: she was the daughter of Drs. Victor and Elaine Phelps, lightning gene and all.
Zilch.
On-demand answers from the universe wasn’t one of her superpowers.
With a sigh, Lucy fastened the tourmaline around her neck. A true touchstone. Given to her by Ravi and fashioned by Claudia, the necklace had a complex history but it grounded her—and not just her oscillations. She would need as much help as possible today. Besides Claudia, Ravi would be at the graduation ceremony and he would be expecting a decision.
Sometimes, joining the Archimedeans seemed like the only rational choice. They knew what she was and she didn’t frighten them. Professor T seemed convinced she was the key to research that could help lots of people—as well as prolong her own life. Lucy tried not to think too much about the fact that her heart had stopped for thirty seconds. What secret to the lightning gene had Tesla unlocked that the Archimedeans had been unable to reproduce?
But going with Ravi and Professor T would mean abandoning her parents. And they might never get over it. Staying out all night was one thing. Not showing up for freshman orientation was quite another.
A knock startled Lucy from her thoughts and she whirled around.
“I can’t believe it. My daughter, the graduate.”
“Mom,” she muttered, embarrassed, cheeks warming.
“Can’t I be proud of my little girl?” Laughing softly, her mother strolled toward Lucy with her effortless grace. “Not so little, I know.”
“Proud?” The question became a peep.
“Oh, honey. Of course I’m proud. So is your father.” She stroked the tiny scar above Lucy’s eyebrow from the stapler incident, and Lucy inhaled the faint aroma of smoke. It was pretty early in the day for her mom’s one cigarette. Could she be stressed about graduation too?
Lucy fingered the tourmaline.
“You scared us to death on prom night,” continued her mom, “but that doesn’t negate everything you’ve accomplished.”
“Tell that to Dad.”
“Your father is all bark, no bite. Trust me, he adores you. I think what he finally realized is that you’re not three years old anymore and that he can’t protect you from everything—although he tries.”
Lucy’s breath caught for a moment. Her mother had never spoken so frankly to her about her dad before. “I don’t need him to protect me,” she forced out, almost reflexively.
“I know it’s time for you to stand on your own two feet.” Her mom cupped her cheek. “Just give your father some time to catch up. We’re both going to miss having you at home.”
Lucy’s heart was in a tangle. “I’m not going anywhere for a couple months,” she said, knowing it might not be true.
Sadness glinted in her mother’s eyes so quickly that Lucy nearly missed it.
“I wanted to give you your graduation present early.” She reached into the pocket of her cashmere cardigan. “I thought maybe you could wear them to the commencement ceremony?” Lucy’s eyes widened, throat growing dry. “I’ve noticed you haven’t gone anywhere without the necklace Claudia made you,” her mom said, glancing at the stone. “When I saw these, I thought they’d match perfectly.”
Her mom held out two tourmaline bracelets, like garlands of night. Lucy accepted them with a dagger-sharp breath. She reached out for her mother’s energy as their fingers brushed but there was nothing. If only Lucy had an equally iron grip on her emotions.
“Do you like them?”
An expectant gaze drilled into her. The bracelets were exquisite. Cool. Smooth. Thick bangles an inch wide that sat heavily in her palm. Their potential meaning weighed even more heavily.
“Where did you find them?” Lucy rasped.
“I can’t reveal all my secrets,” she said. “I wanted to get you something special for this special day.”
Lucy slipped them on either wrist and painted on a smile.
“They’re beautiful. I love them.” And the more grounded Lucy was today, the better.
“That makes me very happy, honey. Your father will be too. He had to go out early to run a few errands but he’ll be at the ceremony.” Her mom dropped her gaze to check her watch so she didn’t notice the way Lucy’s face fell. Her dad was still avoiding her. “Lucy, you should get going. Don’t you need to pick up your cap and gown?”
Lucy tipped her gaze at her phone and her heart tumbled.
9:35 A.M. She would be late to her own high school graduation if she didn’t leave soon—but that wasn’t why Lucy couldn’t speak. There was an email notification.
From DNA-4-U.
She snatched the phone from the dresser and pressed the screen to her chest before her mom could see.
“You’re right.” Her smile trembled at the corners. “I’d better jet.”
She took two steps and her mom stopped her with an uncharacteristically tight hug. Lucy detected the scent of peppermint beneath the smoke. The embrace was warm and it didn’t take a sixth sense to know the affection was real. Lucy squeezed the phone harder against her heart and guilt twisted like a knife. It was her secrets, her lies that threatened to tear her family apart.
“You’ll always be my little girl.” Her mom breathed against Lucy’s temple. “Don’t forget.”
“I won’t.”
Her mom planted a swift kiss on her cheek. “See you at the school.” As she exited, she enthused, “Break a leg!”
Nodding, Lucy cast her eyes to the floor. She didn’t want her mother to see the tears threatening to spill over.
After she’d gone, Lucy spun around to look at herself once more in the mirror. On the outside, in her cheerful royal blue dress, she looked like any other American teenager on her way to her high school graduation. If her mom knew Lucy had almost killed someone and pulled off a heist with mercenaries, she’d never think of her as her little girl again.
Lucy wanted one last day being her mother’s daughter.
Now that she had the answer at the press of a button, she didn’t want it.
The truth could wait. At least one more day.