“She had already decided she wanted to leave. I just helped her get somewhere she felt comfortable.”
For a moment, Evan said nothing.
Then Daniel glanced at the clock again.
“And that’s why I need you to understand something.”
“What?” Maya asked.
“Mark is coming here tonight.”
The entire table went silent.
“He may already be on his way.”
Evan looked toward Maya.
She asked the question I was thinking.
“If Mark treated Claire like that, why are you still friends with him?”
Daniel looked ashamed.
“We aren’t close.”
“He’s coming to our house,” Maya replied.
“I know.”
Evan’s voice was quiet.
“Did he ever know that you helped my mom leave?”
“No.”
Daniel shook his head.
“I promised Claire I wouldn’t tell him where she went.”
Then he looked at Evan.
“That’s why I reacted the way I did when I saw you.”
“Because I look like her?”
Daniel nodded.
“And you also resemble Mark.”
I finally understood.
Daniel hadn’t reacted to Evan’s clothes.
Or his hair.
Or his tattoos.
He had recognized something from his past.
