Born at Midnight (Shadow Falls #1)(54)

"Did you have a good day?" her mom asked.

"It was okay." Another awkward moment. "Did you read my e-mail?"

"Yes," her mom said.

"Can you tel me what time you were born?"

"It was late."

Kylie's heart stopped. "How late?"

"I don't know the exact time. Are they feeding you wel ?"

Kylie closed her eyes. "It's camp food, only slightly better than the school cafeteria. Do you have your birth certificate? That should have the exact time."

"I think it was around eleven. Just say eleven."

"I need the exact time, Mom," Kylie muttered. "I told you. It's for a camp project."

"My birth certificate is in the closet in that box with al those other important papers and old pictures. It would take me forever to find it."

"Please?"

"Why is this important? You don't even believe in horoscopes."

There were a lot of things I used to not to believe in. "Like I said, it's for a camp project. Al the kids are doing it." Can't you do that much for me? "Do you have Dad's birth certificate?"

"Have you spoken with him?" her mom asked, lowering her voice.

"No," Kylie answered, and the feeling of abandonment swel ed in her chest.

"You're not angry at him, are you?" her mom asked.

Hell, yes. He left me to live with you. "Honestly, I don't know what I'm feeling."

"It's not good for you to be angry, Kylie."

Why not? You stay angry at him. Right then, Kylie realized something she should have realized long ago. Her mom was forever angry at her dad. Kylie just didn't understand why.

Her mom sighed. "I need to know if he's coming on Sunday."

"Why are y'al doing this?" It was a question Kylie had never asked. She'd always assumed her mom, being her mom, had one of her temper tantrums and told him to get his stuff and leave. She'd even heard her mom tel him to get out a couple of years ago when she'd walked in on them fighting.

"Doing what?" Her mom asked as if she seriously didn't have a friggin' clue.

"The divorce. That's what."

Silence. "Kylie, that's between your dad and me."

"Like it doesn't affect me? How can you even think this wouldn't affect me?" Tears fil ed her eyes.

"I'm sorry this is hurting you, Kylie." Her mom's tone came out hoarse. "I never wanted it to hurt you."

Was the Ice Queen crying?

Kylie closed her eyes and felt a few tears slip down her cheeks. "Wil you please look for your birth certificates?" she asked, trying to hold back the tears.

"Fine," her mom said. "I'l see if I can find them and I'l e-mail the information to you. If not tonight, tomorrow."

"Tonight would be better." Kylie pul ed one of her knees to her chest.

"I'l see," her mom said. Which meant Kylie could expect it to happen tomorrow. "Promise me you'l cal your dad about Sunday."

"Bye," Kylie said.

"Kylie. Promise me."

The knot tightened in her throat. "Promise."

Kylie hung up and stared at her phone. What was she going to say to her dad? Oh, hel , why not just do it and get it over with. She started punching in his number, only to realize she'd accidently punched in Nana's old number.

And just like that, it hit. The swel of grief. She missed her grandmother so much. Missed cal ing her whenever she had some crazy problem with her mom. Missed the way Nana would pat Kylie's cheek and say, "It's al gonna be okay."

A knock sounded at her bedroom door. "Kylie?" Del a's voice echoed on the other side.

Kylie closed her phone and wiped her tears from her face. "I'm on the phone," she said. "Can't visit now."

"But, I ... I have a surprise for you," Del a said.

"I don't want a surprise." Couldn't they just leave her alone? For once?

"I'm opening the door. I hope you're dressed."

The bedroom door opened. "I said I..." Kylie's words evaporated from the tip of her tongue, or maybe they crawled down the back her throat. That might explain her inability to speak. Then again, it was probably just the shock of seeing who stood beside Del a.

Chapter Twenty-six

"I found him sneaking into the camp. Better me, I suppose, than one of the others." Del a stared at Kylie. "Do you want to see him?" She gave Trey the up and down look. "He's kind of cute. If you like his type."

Kylie opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. So she just sat there with her mouth hanging open like an idiot, staring at Trey.

"Hey." He pushed Del a aside and moved into her bedroom.

"Not so fast!" Del a yanked him back a good three feet and looked at Kylie. "You wanna keep him, or should I toss him to the wolves? I heard they're hungry."

Trey, looking stunned that Del a-only an inch or so over five feet-could move him so easily, rubbed his arm where she'd latched on to him and stared down at her.

"It's okay," Kylie managed to say.

"Thanks," Trey said, cutting Del a an odd look, and Kylie wasn't sure who he was thanking. Her for agreeing to see him, or Del a for bringing him here.