13
Haven
"Where in thehell have you been?" Dad is the first to shout at me as I walk through the front door. I was hoping they didn't notice my disappearance, given how often they come home after midnight and leave before sunrise, but I guess I wasn't that lucky this time.
"I was out for a walk," I tell him, pointing behind me. "Why, is everything okay?" Do I look guilty? I've gotten good at this lying gig over the years. It must be a hereditary trait that runs in my genes.
"At what time last night did you leave on this walk of yours?" Dad places his hands in his pockets and settles into his heels as he stares me down with a raised brow.
"I don't understand?" I’m hoping to appear confused.
"Haven, I know you didn't come home last night, so I need you to tell me where you were all night before I go and make some bad assumptions."
What kind of assumptions could he possibly make? "I fell asleep at Maryanne's last night. What's the problem?"
Dad takes a few steps toward me, blocking me into the foyer. "You honestly think Maryanne's parents weren't the first people I called last night?" His face is flaming and his eyes narrow. "I'm only going to ask you once more, Haven. Where were you last night?"
"Jesus. Fine. I slept on a bench at the park. I had been sitting there watching the sunset, and I fell asleep."
"You were alone?" he presses.
"Who would I have been with if it wasn't Maryanne?" I learned these question-turning tactics from him. He should be proud.
He inhales thickly through his nose and rashly blows the air back out of his pursed lips. "Don't you ever stay out all night again. The next time I don't know where you are at midnight, I will send the entire sheriff's department after you. Am I clear?"
"Yeah," I respond without hesitation. I like to tell myself that Dad doesn't scare me, but he has his moments.
Dad closes the space between us and wraps his arms around me. "You have no idea how worried I was about you last night, sweetie."
"Mom must be freaking out too, I suppose?" I know I'll have to go through this interrogation twice, and she's not likely to believe my story.
"I didn't want to worry her until I knew we had a problem, so I let her think you were asleep in your room." He releases his grip and gives me a little space.
"I'm sorry, Dad."Not sorry.
"I know."
"I really did see Maryanne yesterday. Actually, she wanted me to ask you something."
"What's that, honey?"
"Well, she has this friend, and he and his family are having some big money issues. Anyway, she wanted me to ask you if you knew anyone who had a job opening for him. I guess they're kind of desperate."
"Oh," he says, scratching at his chin. "Hmm. You know, I have a lot of administrative work to be done, and we have been looking for some extra help with it. How old is this boy?"
"Um," I pretend to think for a minute. "I want to say the guy is like twenty-one or around there. Maryann did say he's really smart and a hard worker."
"Aw, what the hell. Tell Maryanne I'll help her friend out. Anyone can do some light admin work, right? The pay is ten an hour, and I can give him about twenty hours a week. You think that'll work?"
I try to hide my excitement by gritting my teeth and swallowing away my smile. "I think that'll be just fine, but I'll run it by Maryanne real quick. Mind if I go call her?"
He nods his head toward the kitchen, dismissing me from the corner I've been held in for the last few minutes. "Let me know what she says."
I run into the kitchen and grab the phone from the wall. I fake dial Maryanne and speak the information into the dial tone. Making my pretend call short and sweet, I’m hoping Dad won’t leave before I have a chance to tell him Raine will be here to meet him in about a half hour.
"Dad?" I call out.
"In here," he answers from his office.
