“And the other part?”
“The other part doesn’t want to leave you.”
“Mon chou, I want you to go.”
“Don’t say that just for me.”
“I’ve been taking care of myself for years. What I can’t do is watch you waste away here, mourning something that was stolen from you.”
Stolen.
“Okay,” I finally say. “Maybe you’re right.”
“I love you,mon chou, always and in all ways.” He pulls me into a hug. “Don’t ever forget that.”
“I love you, too, Papa.”
One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven.
Seven seconds.
I count to myself and sink into his embrace, committing the moment to memory.
Present Day
It’s two a.m., and I can’t sleep.
My apartment’s a shoebox, really, in a narrow brick building wedged between a dry cleaner and an antique shop, with hardwood floors that creak when you step on them and a cute little bay window that overlooks the street.
I’m sitting on the edge of my bed in the dark, still in my jeans and white T-shirt that has the tavern’s logo on it, replaying the same four words over and over like a song I can’t get unstuck.
It’s about Genevieve’s father.
What about him? What does Art know that I don’t, and why was he telling Lance instead of me?
My phone sits on the nightstand, its black screen taunting me like it might bite me if I touch it.
Just call your dad, Ginny. It’s not hard.
Except it is. Because if I call and everything’s fine, then I’m paranoid, and if I call and everything’snotfine…
I grab the phone before I can talk myself out of it.
It rings for what feels like an eternity and I’m about to hang up when my father’s voice comes through, rough with sleep.
“Mon chou?It’s late, is everything all right?”
Some of the tension in my body loosens. He sounds okay. Like himself, likePapa.
“I’m fine,” I lie, tucking my legs beneath me. “Just wanted to hear your voice.”
“…at two in the morning?”
“Oh, is that what time it is?” I chew on my lip. “Couldn’t sleep, I guess.”
“Ah. Well, you can always call me. I love hearing your voice.”
Maybe Art didn’t know what he was talking about.After all, if something was wrong, my dad would tell me.
