Somehow, despite my churning emotions—or maybe because of them—I fell asleep on the way home. I woke up once to hear Luke quietly closing the car door, murmuring to Charlie. I thought that I should get up and supervise. Then I fell back asleep.
“Emily? Em?” There was a hand on my shoulder.
“Hm?” I shook myself awake. “I’m up.” I put my hand over my mouth as I yawned.
“We’re home.”
I opened my eyes fully and saw that we were in the driveway of Nana’s house, with Tara’s car still parked there too.
“Why is Tara still here?” I jerked at the door handle. “Cassie—”
“If Tara is a woman with spikey brown hair, she’s asleep on your couch. I saw her when I carried in the bags."
“Oh. Thank you.” I got out of the car and saw the chairs leaned against the house. “Thank you for unloading the car and driving us home.”
He leaned against the garden gate. “Emily, Charlie is pretty upset.”
I sighed. “I’ll talk to him.”
“He was just repeating what he heard at school.” As if it made me feel better to know that was how kids were hearing their parents talk about me. “To him, it was just a word. Like calling you a scientist or something.”
“I wish he had said scientist instead. I’d rather work in a scientist bar.” I sighed. “No, it’s ok. He was worn-out and angry. I understand. I’m just a little…on edge about Roy’s. It was just hard to hear.”
“What’s wrong at Roy’s?” Luke asked me.
I wasn’t going to go there. “Nothing. I’m just a little tired.”
He grimaced. “You said that the other night in the car too. I think you say you’re tired but you’re really saying that you’re upset.”
I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve just been having a rough few days.” Or months. “I’ll figure it out.”
“This is a terrible situation, but you’re doing the best you can,” he told me quietly.
It wasn’t enough.
“Annie has been texting me,” Luke continued. “She feels bad and wants to apologize to you for riling Charlie up about staying at the meet.”
I nodded. “Tell her it it’s ok. I know she wasn’t trying to be mean.”
“She’s a thoughtless child sometimes,” he retorted. “But you’re right, she wasn’t trying to be mean. She just doesn’t understand. Her life isn’t perfect—” He stopped when Irolled my eyes. “I’m serious, she has her own problems, and I know she wouldn’t like them paraded around a swim meet for other people to hear. She’ll apologize in person to you.” He sounded like her father instead of her younger brother.
“It’s ok,” I repeated.
Luke stepped closer. “I have to go to New York on business tomorrow.” He swallowed and looked around. “Will you be all right?”
My heart cracked a little. “Of course we’ll be all right. You don’t need to worry about Charlie or Cassie. I’ll take care of us.”
He opened his mouth, then closed it. “Emily—”
“Emmy?” Charlie called from the porch. “I’m trying to take a shower but the water is really cold.”
“I’m coming, pal.” I looked at Luke. “Have a good trip.”
He nodded. “I’ll see you when I get back.”
Charlie watched me anxiously as I came up the steps on heavy legs. We both walked to the railing to watch Luke back out of the driveway. He raised a hand, and I did too. He hadn’t said when he would be back.
Charlie snuck his hand into mine. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean it. I was mad.”
