Hayley was trying to focus on the first paragraph of a book she had pulled from a shelf. It was the first time she had visited the library and was not able to concentrate on a single word.
A young man sitting at the table next to her was tapping his fingers on the table as he flipped through a book. He seemed to be frustrated. He shot a nervous glance at her. Hayley giggled and quickly covered her mouth, embarrassed the sound had escaped her throat.
She turned away, trying once again to focus on the first sentence of the book. She was afraid to look at the young man again, and was contemplating moving from the table, when she was startled by a deep voice.
"Miss Lawrence." She jumped. Her eyes found the familiar face before her.
"Mr. Hawthorn." Hayley smiled softly. She looked at the young man beside her and then turned back to Thor.
"Please sit down." The young man shot an irritated glance at Hayley, picked up his book and walked away.
"I'm so glad you agreed to come."
"Is everything okay?"
"Yes, yes---I just have some questions to ask you about Maddie."
"Is she alright?"
"Yes." Hayley trembled, not being sure that Thor would be honest with her. She looked intently in his eyes hoping to see the truth.
"Is she your sister?"
"Did she tell you that?"
"It doesn't matter how I know."
"If you do know, you do not need my confirmation."
"Yes. I do need for you to confirm it. I do not believe you would choose to lie to me."
"And you believe that Maddie would?"
"No, of course not. It's just that she does not want to talk about her past with me."
"You are not alone."
"What do you mean?"
"She will not talk to me either."
"But you are her brother."
"Yes, and she asked me to lie for her."
"So you are not her brother?"
"Yes, I am." Thor looked terrified.
"What did you mean when you said that Maddie asked you to lie?"
"You will need to ask Maddie concerning the things you want to know."
Hayley reached out her hand and touched Thor's arm.
"You seem to be tormented by something, what is it?"
I suppose it won't hurt if I tell you what I know since it is not very much." Thor ran his huge hand through his hair. "She wanted our parents to think she had died in a fire."