Sue and I tidy up the house Saturday morning, then go grocery shopping. She has her reading club on Saturday nights, so I spend my time trying to get my homework done and catching up on laundry.
Sunday passes by quietly as I help Sue paint the kitchen walls. She has a philosophy if you touch up one room every year, your house will remain fresh and in good working order. Each winter she chooses a room. This year is the kitchen. She replaced her stove last month, and she has a new window on order that should arrive soon.
The month of February passes in a blur. I visit Jake every week, help Sue in the kitchen, survive school, and talk to my therapist weekly, but I’ve had a few breakdowns.
The high school was hosting a hockey tournament one weekend, and I was attending the mandatory pep rally on Friday. They put up a large picture of Jake in his uniform on the wall, and I lostit. I ran out of there and took the bus to visit Jake. I stayed there all afternoon and evening. Luckily, Mal called Sue, so she didn’t worry.
I visited my Mom on her birthday in the middle of the month. I brought her some more fresh sweet peas. Sue helped me bake her a chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream frosting, her favorite. At the gravesite, we placed a waterproof blanket down and enjoyed the cake with Mom. Being in the hospital on her last birthday made this one incredibly hard.
There were other hard days here and there. But that’s the thing with grief. It sneaks up on you and strikes at random times. Without warning a scent, a memory, or a place can fling me back into the past. My therapist says that’s normal.
Chapter 3
One Thursday morning in March, I go down for breakfast and see Sue with a worried expression on her face. “Everything okay, Sue?”
“I believe so. sweetheart, I got a call from your caseworker at CPS. She wants to stop by and talk to you after school.”
“Oh. Well, we’re doing fine, so I’m sure it’s something routine,” I wave her off. “They have to check in every so often with foster homes.”
After a delicious quiche, I grab my jacket and backpack to walk to school. I have a math test today and a chemistry test. Both require all my concentration, as I’m still having trouble focusing or caring about my grades.
When I arrive home with a headache after a long day of testing, Mary’s car is already in the driveway. Going through the back door to the kitchen, I wave. “Hey Sue. Hi Mary. Let me put my stuff away, and I’ll be right down.”
I trudge up the stairs, drop my backpack and jacket on my desk chair, and throw my hair into a messy bun. It’s too long now, but I haven’t been able to bring myself to cut it since the accident. Jake loved my long hair. He used to play with it all the time, whether we were doing homework or just watching tv. It happened so often that he didn’t realize he was doing it most of the time.
Back in the kitchen, I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and flop down at the round table. Sue and Mary both have cups of tea in front of them, so I grab a double chocolate cookie from theplate in the center of the table. Sue was baking again because the cookies are still warm. Yum.
Mary is in her usual ill-fitting business suit with a sour expression on her face. “Summer, how have you been since we last saw each other?” Mary inquires.
“Sue has been wonderful putting up with my moody self,” I tell her, taking another bite of chocolate decadence. I notice Sue has lowered brows and pinched lips. She didn’t greet me when I got home either. I wonder what’s wrong.
“I’m glad to hear that. Sue tells me you’re still in therapy and attending school regularly.” Mary interrupts my scrutiny of Sue.
“Yeah, therapy has helped a lot. I’m doing better overall. School still sucks, but it is what it is.” I told her about the bullying I was enduring at school shortly after my first placement, but she insinuated I was exaggerating, so I never brought it up again.
Mary gazes at Sue, and they share a loaded look before she shifts her attention back to me. “Summer, I’m here today because I have some news. If you remember when we first met, I was trying to find a relative of yours to take you in. Unfortunately, I wasn’t successful at the time, but I’ve kept digging and I’ve finally found someone.”
I look at her quizzically. “Why did you keep looking all this time? I’m happy here with Sue.” There’s no family left. Nana, Mom, and Lily bee are gone. I’m the only Easton now.
“It’s always our intention to reunite children with their families. It is our policy. We do not give up searching until the child ages out of the foster system. Often, we are unsuccessful, but in your case, we were lucky. Summer, we have found your father.”
Uh…I must’ve misheard her. There’s no way. I glance over at Sue in shock, but she has her head down, staring at her teacup.Don’t panic,Summer. Keep taking deep breaths.I’m not a huge fan of life-altering situations since the accident. My therapist says I have a form of PTSD, which causes me to freak out over bigchanges.
My father…I mean, I knew I had a father out there somewhere, but he was a one-night stand passing through town when my mom was 18. She knew nothing about him or even his last name. My birth certificate just says Zander under the father’s name. Mom never looked for him, happy with her lot in life.
She had me and finished college. Her mom helped take care of me while she was in school. Mom was a free spirit and became a freelance artist. That enabled her to stay home and raise me while she worked. Lily was another one-night stand when I was nine. We didn’t have a lot of money, but enough. We were happy.
“Summer?” Mary tries to catch my attention, snapping her fingers in the air.
I lean back in my chair. “Yeah, sorry,” I reply, feeling dazed. “So, what does you finding my father have to do with me and Sue?” I ask warily.
“I’ve contacted him, and he was shocked, but is thrilled about being a father. Apparently, he never had children of his own, but always wanted kids. He knows all about yoursituation,” she says, emphasizing the last word. “You will be moving away to live with him as soon as possible.”
No.
No, no,no.
My breath comes in quicker.
