Page 65 of What She Didn't Know (What She 1)

; “Why not?” I still didn’t understand.

“Because I said so, Mason. That’s all I can tell you.” She closed the file she’d been reading. “What about Aubrey?”

“We broke up.”

“Why?”

Because Lynn is all I can think about. “It was time.”

“Whose idea was it?”

“Mine.”

“Why, Mason?”

“I like Lynn,” I admitted, my teenage voice cracking the way it hadn’t in years. “I’d like to get to know her better.”

“That can’t happen. I’m sorry.”

“Mom,” I complained. “You have to give me a reason.”

Her voice rose about ten levels. “Because I said so, Mason.”

“You just used the because-I-said-so routine on me,” I felt the need to point out.

“Because you’re not listening.”

“Give me a reason, Mom. Why can’t I see Lynn?”

“Son…” she began. She massaged her forehead with her fingertips. “I can’t tell you.”

“Can’t tell me what?” I threw up my hands.

“Mason,” she said, her voice leveling out, “Lynn’s not just a volunteer. She’s a patient.”

“What are you treating her for?”

“I can’t tell you that. I’m sorry.” She suddenly sounded defeated.

A small voice from behind me broke the tension in the room. “May I tell him?” Lynn asked.

Mom startled. “Lynn, this isn’t a good time.”

Lynn walked into the room. “I brought the file you asked me to find.” She laid the folder on Mom’s desk.

“Thank you,” Mom said.

Lynn turned toward me and smiled. “I’m glad you’re here,” she said softly. “I’d hoped I’d get to see you again.” She shuffled her feet.

“Lynn—” Mom started to interrupt her, but Lynn held up a hand.

“Mason, have you ever heard of Dissociative Identity Disorder? DID?”

“You mean like Multiple Personality Disorder?” I asked.

She nodded. “A horse of another color is still a horse.”