Collins
My parents stayed on the phone with Cam, so she could walk them through the filing process. Boone left to get back up to his property before dark. Brady and I were sitting on the stairs, and he was rubbing the back of my neck.
"What do you think?" he asked. "About everything."
"I think it's crazy," I said honestly. "And I hope it's crazy enough to work." I looked over at him. "Thank you—for calling Boone."
"It was a shot in the dark," he said. "But a phone call felt like the least I could do. I—I'd do anything for you." I kind of felt bad that Brady knew more about Boone's family than I did. I forgot that he had a life before us. I made a mental note to ask him more about it when I had the chance.
"If this works, I'll owe you forever," I said, leaning into him more.
"You won't owe me anything. And it will work, Collins." Brady kissed the side of my head. "Are you ready to go home?"
"I need to go through some stuff with Clarke," I said. "I'll meet you back at the shop?"
"Do you want me to stay?" he asked, and I shook my head. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure," I said. "I'll text you when I leave."
Brady nodded and kissed my forehead. Once he was out the front door, I grabbed Clarke's hand and pulled her up the stairs.
"Are you trying to take my arm out of its socket?" she said sharply.
"Okay, first of all, that feels dramatic," I said as I opened the door to the console room. "Second of all, I'm not the one you're mad at, so drop the tone."
Clarke's nostrils flared. "I really can't believe she did that without even talking to any of us." Clarke shook her head.
"You get one day," I said. "You get one day to be as angry as you want, but you can't be mad at her forever. Our parents have only ever made the decisions that they thought were best for us, and they need us right now—both of us."
"In what world would selling everything they have be good for us?" Clarke demanded.
"In this one, Clarke. When it came down to it, I don't think Mom would've followed through on a contract if it weren't for the Sullivans' being shit-asses, but I think she was blinded by the idea of trying to help us."
"Yeah, well," Clarke said, folding her arms across her chest.
"We're going to win this," I said. "Cam has a good plan."
"I really hope you're right, Collins," Clarke said. "You really stepped up down there."
"I figured you could use a day off," I said, and pulled Clarke over to the couch. "Can you get Earnest in here?" I asked.
"Put on Dusty Springfield or Gordon Lightfoot. He'll show up," she said. "Why are we up here?"
I stood quickly to throw on one of the vinyls Clarke recommended, and then I grabbed a sheet out of the basket of vintage linens in the corner before turning out the light.
"Do you feel him yet?" I asked.
"Not yet," she said. "Why are you acting insane?"
"You'll see," I said. A few seconds later, the temperature in the room lowered slightly, and the curtains moved, even though there wasn't a draft.
"Earnest?" I asked, and his form appeared near the doorway. Thank god. "Earnest, Clarke and I are going to try something, and I need you to stick around, okay?" He didn't move. "Nod if you can hear me."
He nodded.
I shook the sheet open and put it over my and Clarke's heads. "What the hell are you doing?" she asked.
"I'm going to tell you a secret," I said. "And you're going to tell me one." I couldn't see Clarke roll her eyes, but I swear I could hear it.
"We have tried the Lady in White thing a million times," Clarke said. "I thought we decided like ten years ago that it was just a myth."
"Humor me," I said. "Please."
"Fine," Clarke sighed. "Spill your secret. And it can't be about Brady—you two are disgustingly and glaringly obvious."
I took a deep breath. I knew there had to be a reason I kept putting off telling Clarke, and this was it. I needed a secret. "I didn't come home to help you," I said. "I came home because my abilities went away…and I ran out of money." I tacked on that last part for good measure.
"Your abilities went away?" Clarke asked slowly—like she couldn't believe it.
"Yeah. They went quiet."
It was silent for a few beats. I knew my twin was sufficiently stunned. "I…I'm sorry, Olly." Clarke's voice was surprised and earnest. "I know how much this part of us means to you."
It was hard to swallow. I reached over and put my hand on her knee. "I'm sorry, too—for what it did to us."
"That's why you pulled away?" Clarke whispered.
"Never again," I said, and I meant it. Clarke's hand found mine and squeezed. "Your turn," I choked out.
I heard Clarke take a deep breath. "Um, okay, well, I've been talking to Wilder Wilkes." My jaw dropped open. Now that was juicy.
"What?" I asked. "Why?"
"He's worried about Leith," she sighed.
"Oh my god. You're talking to your childhood crush's dead dad about him?"
"Shut up!" Clarke said, and swatted me on the arm. "He came to me." I had a million questions for her. It felt like Clarke and I had switched places—she was using her abilities while I couldn't. I was about to dive into my questions when both of us heard Earnest.
"Addy?" he asked, bewildered. I heard him—loud and clear. There was no static, no interference. Just Earnest's voice, and the sound of the victory bell ringing in my chest.
I did it.
I yanked the sheet off our heads and heard Clarke gasp. There she was, in all of her wispy, haunting glory. The Lady in White—Adeline Bennett. I watched in awe as she raised her hand. Earnest did the same, until their palms were touching—well, as much as ghost palms could touch.
"What in the hell…" Clarke whispered.
"I'll fill you in later," I whispered back. Adeline whipped her head toward us, and I waved. "Is that who you were looking for?" I asked her.
And for the first time in over half a century, I was sure of it, Adeline Bennett smiled.