Page 138 of When You Wish Upon a Wideout

No one knows that better than me,he thought, remembering himself at a young age following Greg around, begging his mother to buy him the same clothes and shoes. Only one other person could drag his attention and admiration away from his older brother—Sienna.

“I’ll see you next weekend,” Damien said, getting out of the car and shutting the door.

Beau quickly rolled down the window. “Hey, Damien, bring your brother, alright?”

“You sure?” Damien asked, dipping his head down. “That kid might tell his whole school you’re playing ball in the park.”

Beau shrugged. “What’s one more?”

Damien nodded, and Beau rolled up his window, watching him walk into the hospital. He was about to put the car into drive and pull away from the curb when there was a knock on the window he had just shut—a frantic, energetic knock.

“Holy shit,” Beau exclaimed, rolling the window down. “I could’ve run over your foot. Then your mother really would kill me,” he told Grace.

“So youarestill in the dog house then.”

“You couldn’t tell?” He shook his head, the tension between him and Sienna at the lantern festival still thick in his mind. “What are you doing here?”

Grace glanced around. “Henry dropped me off. I’m going to sit with Molly for her treatment while he has brunch with some friends.” She sighed. “I’m sorry. I... I tried to talk to her about the letter—”

“No, it’s not your fault,” Beau told Grace as she pouted. “You were looking out for her. I should’ve handled it better.”A lot better. Like telling her up front and still standing by her.“She shouldn’t be mad at you. I’m the adult.”

“Yeah, well,” Grace began, “I mean, I did read her diary.”

Beau’s eyes widened.

“How do you think I knew about all that stuff?” Grace asked him.

Beau had assumed that Sienna had told Grace about their relationship—about the plans they made, the wish list. He never knew Sienna even kept a diary. “I thought maybe she told you.”

Grace looked down and shook her head. “No. I think some stuff hurts too much to talk about, even the happy moments, you know?”

It was a punch to the gut that left Beau needing to look away from Grace and take deep breaths. “Well, don’t go snooping anymore. No need, alright? I’m sure you’d be pretty pissed if she did that to you.”

Grace nodded and rubbed her arm. “Feels like rain,” she groaned, tilting her head to the sky. “Great. Just in time for prom tonight. You know, the committee wanted to do it outside this year. Maybe they’ll do it in the gym now.” She tugged on her wig. “This really doesn’t hold up well during flash flooding.”

“That kid ask you?”

“No,” Grace began. “But Billy Blythe did, and he’swaycuter.”

Beau shook his head with a laugh. “See? Everything works out the way it’s supposed to at the end of the day. You should go before it starts to pour. Hopefully it will clear up later.”

“Are you going to call my Mom?” Grace asked, ignoring him.

“Grace.” Beau sighed. “I... ”

“She’s stubborn as a goat.”

“I’m aware.”

Grace stepped closer to the truck, placing her hand on the opening of the window. “And sometimes she needs a little push.”

“She needs time,” Beau said. “I’m trying to give it to her.”

“You guys already lost a lot of time,” Grace reminded him, and Beau frowned. “Life is short, isn’t it?” She tipped her head at the hospital. “I’ve gotta go see Molly. She’s probably on her third popsicle by now. You know, chemo sores.”

Beau nodded as Grace backed away from the truck. “See you around, kid. Have fun tonight. Hopefully the rain will hold off, and you can at least get your pictures outside if they move the dance in the gym.”

“It’s alright. Who doesn’t love dancing in the rain, anyway?” Grace waved as she walked away, leaving Beau with his mouth slightly agape.

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