Kacey hugs me and heads out the door, but Cody lingers, waiting until the door closes behind her before pulling me in for a hug. His massive frame swallows mine. “She loved you. Never forget that. And we’re all here for you. Anything you need, just say the word. We love you, Jessie.”
I nod, the lump in my throat preventing me from speaking.
Knock, knock, knock.
That’s weird. No one ever knocks. All Mom and Dad’s friends come around the back.
I peek out of the kitchen; the living room is quiet. My dad has been gone all day, and Mom is in bed. I pull back the curtain and try to see who’s here. Dad always told me not to answer the door. He said, “If someone wants in here, they’ll have to bring a warrant.” I don’t know what that means, but I’ve never answered the door before.
The bubbled glass of the window blurs my view, but I can see it’s an old lady. What’s an old lady doing here?
She knocks again.
I don’t answer, only watch from my tiny corner of the window. Time passes, but she doesn’t leave. She just stands on the porch.
“I know you’re there,” she says.
I about jump out of my skin. She sounds kind, her voice is soft, and she’s wearing a pretty dress. Biting my lip, I decide to open the door. What harm can an old lady be? I crack it open enough to see out with one eye.
“Hello, Jessie. You don’t know me, but I’m your grandmother.”
Grandmother? I have a grandmother?
“Your mom is my daughter. Are your parents home?”
Mom said we don’t talk to her family. But this lady looks nice.
I open the door more. “Mom’s sleeping. Dad’s gone.”
She looks me over, head to toe.
My face grows warm with embarrassment. The kids at school make fun of me because of my clothes and hair. I don’t have clothes that fit or clean hair like they do. I try to wash it when I can, but sometimes it’s days in between washes, and I don’t even know if I’m using the right stuff.
“Would you like to come outside and talk with me a bit?”
I bite my lip again. I know I shouldn’t—Dad will get mad. But he’s not here, and I’d like to talk to her. I never have anyone to talk to but Kacey.
She takes a step back as I open the door and close it behind me. I follow her lead, sitting on the porch step.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been here to get to know you. Your mother and I . . . we don’t have much of a relationship anymore.”
“Mom doesn’t really talk much. Is that why?”
She softly smiles. “No, sweet girl. That’s not it. But that’s a story for a different day. Today I’m here to visit with you.”
“Me? Why me?”
“Because I’d love to get to know my granddaughter.”
I fidget, uncomfortable. “What do you want to know?”
“What’s your favorite subject in school?”
“Oh, that’s easy. Science. Kacey hates it, but I like it. It’s way better than dumb math.”
She chuckles. “I’m no math whiz, either. Who’s Kacey?”
“My best friend—well, only friend—Kacey Hart,” I say proudly. She might be my only friend, but she’s the best in the whole world.
