CHAPTER 9Her father—or rather, her counterpart’s father—patted Mara’s shoulder but didn’t look at her or say anything when he walked to the table. His face had gone ashen as he stared at Sam, who stared back, mute, with a glint of hope in his eyes. Though she knew the details were likely different in this realm, she was sure she understood the tension in the room. While Ping had said a few minutes ago that her counterpart did not have a brother, that didn’t mean she had never had one. After all, the Sam from her realm had died as an infant, and she didn’t find out this until discussing it with her mother—after Sam’s arrival during the crash of Flight 559 when he had crossed over from his realm. Obviously this version of her father recognized Sam but was astonished to see him.
With doubt a
