When they left Rion’s room, Peter didn’t close the door. He left it wide open. They walked down the hall and once they were a few meters away from the door, Peter turned to Danny.

“I want you to stay here,” he said.

“What?”

“Just in case,” Peter said. “Rion… He isn’t okay. I’m not comfortable leaving him alone. You should go back and keep an eye on him until I can talk to someone or get Dr. Maes. I don’t want him to hurt himself.”

“You really think he would?” Danny asked, eyes going wide.

“I don’t know and I’m not taking any chances,” Peter said. “I’ll try to hurry–”

“Peter? Danny?”

They both turned to face Jesse, who was standing in front them. They stared at each other, taken aback.

“Jesse,” Peter said. “What are you doing here?”

“I heard that Sarina attacked Rion,” he replied. “I was worried. I didn’t want to go and see him, but… I couldn’t just… I tried calling you but you weren’t home. Your dad said you went out.”

“Rion’s okay,” Peter said, though it was technically up for debate. “Sarina yelled at him but she didn’t beat him up like people are saying.”

“Good. That’s…good. Yeah,” Jesse said.

There was a pause. Peter wanted to send Danny back to Rion’s room, but with Jesse standing in front of him, he didn’t want to dismiss him either. Things were already awkward. He needed to explain–

“Did you talk to your parents? About Amber?” Jesse asked. “Last time, it sounded like you were going to talk to them right away. But you haven’t called or anything… I have a cell phone, remember? You don’t have to wait until I’m home from work.”

“I know,” Peter said, trying not to grimace. “I did ask them. We need to talk about it, but now isn’t a good time.”

“Why not?” Jesse said. “It’s pretty straightforward, isn’t it? You were so sure that Rion was lying…”

Of course. Of course this was happening now. Jesse probably couldn’t wait any more. Peter didn’t blame him, but the timing could not be worse.

“Stuff is going on right now, Jesse,” Danny spoke up.

“Then tell me,” Jesse said. “Just tell me and get it over with.”

“Fine,” Peter said. Then he turned to Danny. “Do me a big favour. Go and talk to the nurses or find Dr. Maes. I don’t care which. I’ll talk to Jesse.”

“But Rion…” Danny began.

“His door’s open,” Peter said. “He can barely walk. Just… We just need to be quick.”

“Why?” Jesse said, frowning. “Did something happen? Is Rion in trouble?”

“I don’t know. I hope not,” Peter said.

“I’ll be right back,” Danny said before darting off.

“Let’s just… Let’s step off to the side,” Peter said, waving Jesse over, moving down the hall.

He didn’t want to tell him right out in public, for everyone to see. A quiet room would be the best place, but Peter didn’t want to walk into a random room that might be in use. He ended up steering Jesse to the opposite end of the hall where it was quieter, near the elevator and the stairwell. It was on the opposite side, away from Rion’s room, but that was probably for the best.

“Why do you need to drag me over here?” Jesse said. He was clearly suspicious. He probably already had a good idea what Peter was going to say. “You were so sure it was a lie.”

“I was wrong. And I’m sorry,” Peter said.

He wasn’t sure how he expected Jesse to react. Maybe he thought he would get angry or cry. Instead, Jesse stared at him for a long time, swallowing hard.

“You were wrong,” he finally said, voice low, heavy.

“I talked to my parents,” Peter said.

He had to pause to try and collect himself. He hated having to do this. Especially with what Rion was going through. This entire situation was a disaster and he was beyond emotional.

Peter took a breath and continued. “Amber was found in the bathtub. It looked like she’d hit her head, and…the blow dryer was in the bathtub with her. It’s what caused the fire. It…lines up with everything Rion said. I’m sorry, Jesse. I’m really, really sorry.”

Jesse stood there, staring at him.

This was not how Peter expected Jesse to react. He expected screaming and tears, maybe anger, frustration, despair. He didn’t expect this…flat, stiff reaction. Peter stood, feeling awkward, young, and stupid and wondering if he was too cold or if he said the wrong thing…

“Why are you sorry?” Jesse asked, voice flat.

“Amber was pregnant.”

The words escaped him. Peter knew it was a mistake, especially after telling Rion. But it just came out of him, burst free.

Jesse still didn’t react. Maybe it was the right time to tell him.

Maybe Peter just needed to get it over with. He was so, so tired. With everything.

“My parents said she was about three months along. She’d just found out,” Peter said. “Mom and Dad gave me her diary. I can… I can give it to you. I’m so sorry.”

He was sorry. He was so, so, so sorry. He didn’t want to be the one to tell this to Jesse. He didn’t want things to be this way. He didn’t want to worry about Rion anymore.

And then Peter realized how absolutely overwhelmed he was. His vision swam. He reached up to scrub himself behind his neck.

He wanted to be anywhere but here.

“Amber was pregnant,” Jesse repeated, his voice still flat.

“Yes,” Peter said.

“And Rion put her in the bathtub and electrocuted her.”

“She might have been dead before that. Rion said she hit her head. My parents said she hit her head too. The police thought she slipped and fell backwards into the tub. They said… They said she wouldn’t have suffered.”

“But she was pregnant.”

“Yes.”

“And Rion electrocuted her.”

“Yes.”

“Okay,” Jesse said.

“It’s not okay,” Peter said.

“No,” Jesse replied. “But… Okay. I understand.”

“Do you?” Peter said. “Jesse, are you okay? You… Look, I’m sorry–”

“Don’t,” Jesse said. “Don’t. Just… I need space.”

“Jesse,” Peter said, but Jesse had already turned and started walking.

Jesse headed for the stairs, opening the door, and vanishing into the stairwell.