really?”
Dad nodded. “You betcha. Just you and me, kiddo.”
I felt my smile beaming. A shopping trip with just dad and me! And a new bag, too! I felt like the luckiest girl alive then. Who cared that Dana got a bigger Easter basket earlier that morning than I did? It didn’t matter anymore.
I noticed Dad’s tie was still crooked. “Mom’s gonna flip if she sees your tie like this.” I quickly worked to remedy the situation.
Mom and dad had been fighting more and more before that day. I hated when dad got in trouble with her, so if I could spare him a lecture from a crooked tie on Easter Sunday, then I would.
He laughed. “Thanks, sweetheart.”
I reached around and hugged his neck, squeezing tightly. My dad was the only one who knew how to make me feel better about the stupid stuff between mom or Dana.
He was the only person who would ever truly love me, and I was the luckiest girl alive to have him as my daddy.
~*~
NOW
“How about we watch that new vampire movie?” Dana called out from the kitchen.
I really do appreciate everything she’s been doing these last two days, but she’s beginning to get on my nerves. I know we’ve come a long way from where we were when we were kids, but I find myself dangerously close to snapping at her.
“Sis, I can’t watch another damn movie. I can’t watch anymore TV either. I’m about to lose my mind!” I let out my building frustrations.
Dana joins me, carrying a fresh glass of water and a bottle of pills in her hand. “Med time!”
Great. Dope me up some more and maybe I’ll get lucky enough to pass out again. At least when I’m sleeping, I don’t have to think about Clink. I can be numb to the heartache and pain for just a little while as the magic little pills cast their spell over my battered body and soul.
I hold my hand out, palm up, and gladly accept the little white tablets as my baby sister and temporary caregiver dispenses the potent pain relievers and antibiotics. I throw the handful of pills into my mouth and follow it with a chaser of water, washing them down.
Using the back of my hand, I wipe under my chin at the drop that’s escaped my lips. “Thanks, Dana.”
She smiles, glad to be helpful. It’s not often that we’re kind to one another. I hope she knows that I appreciate all of her attention the last couple of days. I might actually miss her when she goes home tomorrow. I never thought I’d think that about her.
“I’ll stop by the bookstore later and pick up some new things for you if you want to give the TV a rest. You can get caught up on that new series about Salem. You know, about the witches.”
I shift to get more comfortable within the cushions of the oversized sofa, pulling up the little knitted throw to cover my neck. I close my eyes and wait for sleep. She still speaks, though.
“And maybe the day after tomorrow we can take a ride to the beach, sit out and get some sun, maybe walk the shoreline. The doctors say you’ll be clear to get out and exercise a bit by then.”
Her words cause me to fling my tightly-shut eyes open in shock.
“I’m sorry?” I ask. “Won’t you be back home by then? I thought you were leaving tomorrow?”
There’s an uncomfortable pause. I feel my pulse quicken at the horrific possibility her words imply.
“Dana…” I find my voice growing terse.
She clears her throat. “About that…”
Shit.
~*~
THEN
“He’s not coming,” Dana boasted from the living room window.
Mom and dad had pretty strict rules about not dating until we were 16, so Dana was living vicariously through me. Although, from the tone of her voice, I could tell she was rooting more for me being stood up than actually enjoying my first date.
“He’ll be here, honey. Don’t you worry about it,” dad reassured me from behind his newspaper as he read in his favorite old broken-in leather chair. “If he doesn’t, he’ll have me to answer to.”
I smiled, hiding my growing fear. What if
Dad nodded. “You betcha. Just you and me, kiddo.”
I felt my smile beaming. A shopping trip with just dad and me! And a new bag, too! I felt like the luckiest girl alive then. Who cared that Dana got a bigger Easter basket earlier that morning than I did? It didn’t matter anymore.
I noticed Dad’s tie was still crooked. “Mom’s gonna flip if she sees your tie like this.” I quickly worked to remedy the situation.
Mom and dad had been fighting more and more before that day. I hated when dad got in trouble with her, so if I could spare him a lecture from a crooked tie on Easter Sunday, then I would.
He laughed. “Thanks, sweetheart.”
I reached around and hugged his neck, squeezing tightly. My dad was the only one who knew how to make me feel better about the stupid stuff between mom or Dana.
He was the only person who would ever truly love me, and I was the luckiest girl alive to have him as my daddy.
~*~
NOW
“How about we watch that new vampire movie?” Dana called out from the kitchen.
I really do appreciate everything she’s been doing these last two days, but she’s beginning to get on my nerves. I know we’ve come a long way from where we were when we were kids, but I find myself dangerously close to snapping at her.
“Sis, I can’t watch another damn movie. I can’t watch anymore TV either. I’m about to lose my mind!” I let out my building frustrations.
Dana joins me, carrying a fresh glass of water and a bottle of pills in her hand. “Med time!”
Great. Dope me up some more and maybe I’ll get lucky enough to pass out again. At least when I’m sleeping, I don’t have to think about Clink. I can be numb to the heartache and pain for just a little while as the magic little pills cast their spell over my battered body and soul.
I hold my hand out, palm up, and gladly accept the little white tablets as my baby sister and temporary caregiver dispenses the potent pain relievers and antibiotics. I throw the handful of pills into my mouth and follow it with a chaser of water, washing them down.
Using the back of my hand, I wipe under my chin at the drop that’s escaped my lips. “Thanks, Dana.”
She smiles, glad to be helpful. It’s not often that we’re kind to one another. I hope she knows that I appreciate all of her attention the last couple of days. I might actually miss her when she goes home tomorrow. I never thought I’d think that about her.
“I’ll stop by the bookstore later and pick up some new things for you if you want to give the TV a rest. You can get caught up on that new series about Salem. You know, about the witches.”
I shift to get more comfortable within the cushions of the oversized sofa, pulling up the little knitted throw to cover my neck. I close my eyes and wait for sleep. She still speaks, though.
“And maybe the day after tomorrow we can take a ride to the beach, sit out and get some sun, maybe walk the shoreline. The doctors say you’ll be clear to get out and exercise a bit by then.”
Her words cause me to fling my tightly-shut eyes open in shock.
“I’m sorry?” I ask. “Won’t you be back home by then? I thought you were leaving tomorrow?”
There’s an uncomfortable pause. I feel my pulse quicken at the horrific possibility her words imply.
“Dana…” I find my voice growing terse.
She clears her throat. “About that…”
Shit.
~*~
THEN
“He’s not coming,” Dana boasted from the living room window.
Mom and dad had pretty strict rules about not dating until we were 16, so Dana was living vicariously through me. Although, from the tone of her voice, I could tell she was rooting more for me being stood up than actually enjoying my first date.
“He’ll be here, honey. Don’t you worry about it,” dad reassured me from behind his newspaper as he read in his favorite old broken-in leather chair. “If he doesn’t, he’ll have me to answer to.”
I smiled, hiding my growing fear. What if
Similar Books
