Lightning flashed as a quick double knock rattled my door. Mydoor opened, and my dad poked his head through the crack. “Hey, honey. Can we come in?”
“Sure.”
My dad set a cup on the bedside table while my mom sat on my bed’s edge. “I brought you a Sprite. A Big Gulp, with that crushed ice you like.”
“Thanks.” I managed a smile.
“It’s good to see you smile, shug.” He sat on the edge of my bed, looking as lost as my mom. “Charley, hon, I can’t imagine how you survived what you did. But you’re strong. You always have been. You’ll get through this, love. I promise.”
A promise means nothing, I thought.It’s a statement of present want, not future reality.
My dad kept talking.
“Your mama and I are behind you, one hundred and ten percent. We checked with the school, and with all your fancy AP credits, you’ve got college credit. You can take next semester off if you want. Graduate early or get your GED. Travel, or not. Whatever you want.”
I want Thad.
He patted my leg. “Think about it, hon. Think about what you want. If we can make it happen, we will.”
“You don’t have to tell us today,” my mom said soothingly. “Take it slow,” she said, repeating the last counselor’s mantra. “There’s no rush. You have plenty of time.”
Plenty of time.
My mom’s unfortunate choice of words hurt me like few phrases could, and the pain pushed me to act. I took a breath, picturing my sweet Thad smiling at me, and looked at my parents.
“There is something I want,” I said, proud I was able to speak without tears.No regrets. With Thad’s voice echoing in my head, I laid out my plan.
Five minutes later, my mom stared at me like I’d just told her I wanted to get a full-body tattoo.
“The University of Washington,” my mom repeated. “You want to play volleyball at the University of Washington. In Seattle.”
“Seattle.” I nodded. “UW. The home of the Huskies.”
My mom glanced at my window, and visibly brightened. “Honey,” she said, employing her let’s-be-reasonable-I-know-what’s-best-for-you tone, “let’s think this through. It rains all the time in Seattle. And when it’s not raining, it’s overcast. People go crazy because they don’t see the sun.” She smiled at me, confident she had a winning argument. “Think about it. Charley, youlovethe sun.”
I just looked at her.
“Charley?” She frowned. “Let’s think this through.”
“I have,” I said softly.No sun, no shimmers.And no pretending.
My mom shot my dad a pleading look.
He cleared his throat. “Uh, love, Seattle’s just so far. What happened to good old UGA? Great college town, Saturday football games. You could room with Em again. And, shug”—now he grinned—“you know the sun always shines on Bulldog country.”
“It sure does, Dad.”A girl disappeared in west Athens last month. All they found were her clothes.I loved my dad fiercely, but my mind was set. “Seattle,” I said gently. My voice didn’t waver. “I want to go to Seattle.”
“Seattle!” My mom’s voice rose to a desperate wail. “That’s practically in Canada!”
Exactly.
Dad winked at me, mouthedI love you,then gently guided a still-protesting Mom out of the room. I could hear her sputtering all the way down the hallway. “Seattle! My baby, inSeattle!”
Seconds behind Dad, Em breezed through the doorway, wearingfaded jeans and a university-grown confidence that both fit her to a T.
“Guess who’s back?” she asked, beaming.
For a minute I thought Em meant me. Then Jen popped into the room. Her dark hair was chopped in an edgy pixie cut; it oozed Italian style.
