ChapterOne
Katie
Iwas so effing tiredofcasseroles.
A month before, I had buried my mom, something I didn’t think I would be doing at the age of eighteen. Something I didn’t thinkanyoneshould be doing at such ayoungage.
I’d been living alone in my home since then, only surfacing when absolutely necessary. But parents of some of my high school friends, along with my grandmother’s friends, had made sure I had an endless supply of food. I was grateful, truly I was, but I wasn’t sure if I could actually stomach another pan oflasagna.
A knock on the front door had me getting off the couch, or what was basically my bed these days. I knew it was my grandma. Otherwise, I might have played possum andignoredit.
I opened the door to see my grandmother standing on the other side, with what was obviously anotherlasagna.
I sighed, looking down at the food she was carrying. “Hey,grandma.”
She looked down at the food in her hands and back up at me with a smile on her face. “I know, honey, I’m sick of them too. But Loretta insisted Ibringit.”
I grabbed the container from my grandma and invited her in, before going straight for the kitchen to find room in the refrigerator for this new addition. I shuffled leftovers around to makespace.
“You look like hell,” she said frombehindme.
“Language!” I gasped, scandalized. This was the woman who had scolded me for saying words likedumboridiotfor as long as I couldremember.
“Well, desperate times, my dear.” She replied,unfazed.
I looked at her, trying to formulate areply.
My grandma was beautiful. Her hair was long and the perfect shade of white, like snow. There weren’t any stubborn pieces struggling to hold on to their original color, just a nice, uniform shade. She always wore it over one shoulder in a ponytail or braid. Her skin showed the bare minimum of aging due to a woman in herseventies.
She was beautiful, but she was tired. The loss of her daughter had taken a toll on her the past few weeks. That much was obvious. So, while she still looked amazing for her age, the bags under her eyes were more prominent and her skin lacked the normal luster I was used toseeing.
“Well, that’s still not very nice,grandmother.” I finally said, putting emphasis on the title Irarelyused.
“When was the last time you showered,granddaughter?” she countered, crossing her arms across her chest and raising one browatme.
I took a whiff of my underarms, and crinkled my nose at thesmell.
“It’s not just the smell either. I never see you wearing anything besides pajamas or leggings. When was the last time you left thehouse?”
“I’m notready.”
“Do you have any idea what this does to me? To lose my daughter and then watch my granddaughterwastingaway?”
“Grandma,I’m–”
“I know you’re grieving, honey.” She interrupted before I could say I was sorry. “And I’ve tried to give you your space. But I think a change of scenerymighthelp.”
“What doyoumean?”
“I called your dad and he’s offered to have you come stay with him for awhile.”
“My dad?” I asked, confused. “I haven’t talked to him in years. Why did youcallhim?”
“I just thought you might want to see him, since he’s the only parent you have. I know he really wants toseeyou.”
I snorted. I couldn’t help it. This was the man who had basically ignored me for the last five years. And, now he wanted to see me? “That’s funny. But regardless, why would I fly all the way across the country? I have alifehere.”
Now, it was my grandma’s time to snort indisbelief.
