Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 102079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
“Sometimes it’s nice. But sometimes it’s lonely.”
“Sweetie, I’m so glad you made it.” Mom wiped her hand on her pink apron before hugging me. “I made tuna noodle casserole, your favorite.”
“With extra potato chips?”
She laughed, releasing me. “Of course.”
I darted my gaze around the entry.
“He’s working,” Mom reassured me.
“Do you need help? If not, I’ll go pack up more of my stuff.”
Mom’s smile faded. “Gabby’s helping set the table. Do what you need.”
“Okay.” I headed up the stairs, and Eve followed me. “How much trouble did you get into for the tequila?” I asked, tossing the bag onto my bed.
“Enough.” She wrinkled her nose. “I'm grounded for a month, and I have to clean the wax off the church floor under the candelabras.”
I grinned, but it was bittersweet—a memory of Heather that I didn’t want to forget, even if it was a reminder that she was gone.
“But Dad said if I show I’m trustworthy, I’ll get your car.”
I grunted while shaking my head. “Save all the money you can. You’re going to need it when he kicks you out in a couple of years and gives that car to Gabby.” I riffled through my closet.
“What makes you think I’ll get kicked out?”
I laughed. “You’re sixteen, and you had a stash of alcohol in your room. You’ve already said you can’t wait to have sex. I was way more disciplined at your age.”
“You mean obedient?” She plopped onto my bed.
“I suppose I do.” I glanced over my shoulder, fighting the urge to react to her devilish grin.
“You look so sad.” Her smile melted into a frown.
I hugged several shirts and two pairs of jeans. “He left me,” I whispered.
“Isaac?”
I nodded.
“What do you mean? He broke up with you or left town?”
I set some old clothes on the bed along with the new ones from Isaac. “He bought me a new guitar. It’s beautiful. And he left a note with cash.” I wrinkled my nose. “A lot of cash. But that’s it. No one knows where he went. It felt like a goodbye. A ‘good luck,’ but goodbye.”
“Do you think he left you money because he knew Dad would kick you out?”
I shook my head. “That makes little sense. Nobody predicted that.”
“Well, he has to show back up. Right?”
“I don’t know.” I tucked the folded clothes into my bag.
“What are you going to do? How long can you live in a motel?”
“I don’t—” I choked, biting my lips together as tears burned my eyes.
“Sarah, he’ll come back.” Eve stood and hugged me.
I fell apart, fat tears falling down my face as my heart bled in her arms. “W-why did h-he leave m-me?” I cried.
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “But he has to come back. He loves you. He carried you out of a funeral. That’s the ending to all the great love stories.”
I laughed through my tears while releasing her and wiping my eyes. “I don’t know about that,” I sniffled. “But he’s a dream. And maybe that’s all he is.”
“Come on. Let’s eat. Gabby and I made an apple pie.”
“I like cherry,” I said, following her.
“Apple is the only real pie. It’s the American pie.”
Eve made me smile, and I needed to feel something akin to joy again.
We sat down to dinner, and Mom said a prayer as we held hands. She asked God to heal the relationship between me and my father. I wasn’t sure if she was talking to me or God.
“This looks amazing. Thanks, Mom,” I scooped up a generous serving of casserole.
“I’m sure you’re tired of McDonald's.” She eyed me with a hint of disapproval as if I had much of a choice.
“Have you heard from any of my grandparents?” I asked, making small talk.
“Your dad’s parents are planning a visit next month. And my mom has eye surgery next week, so your sisters and I are driving to Tulsa for a few days to help my dad take care of things.”
“Tulsa’s on the list,” Gabby said.
“What list?” Mom asked after serving herself and setting the spoon on the edge of the casserole dish.
“The list I found on Sarah’s floor when you made me vacuum her room.”
Everyone looked at me, but I did not know what she was talking about.
Gabby sighed. “I set it on your desk.” She pushed back in her chair. “I’ll go get it.”
“I think you should come to church this weekend,” Mom mumbled, wiping her mouth.
“Because Dad can’t yell at me in front of the congregation?”
“So he can see you’re making an effort,” she mumbled.
“What about him? Doesn’t he have to make an effort?”
“I think it would have a more significant effect if he saw you taking the first step.”
I didn’t feel that forgiving yet.
“Here,” Gabby said, setting the list on the table beside me before plopping back down in her chair.
It was a list of dates and locations in Isaac’s handwriting.