Page 208 of Finding Us

Later, as Jade and I are watching TV, my dad calls to see how the appointment went. I tell him the basics but then he starts asking me questions I can’t answer.

“You’ll have to ask my wife that stuff,” I say to him. “She’s taken over my health.”

She laughs as she takes the phone. “I have not. I just listened better than your son did.”

The two of them talk about me for a good 10 minutes and then she gives me the phone back.

“It sounds like she has your whole treatment plan memorized,” my dad says. “She takes good care of you. You’re lucky to have her.”

“I know I am.” I smile at Jade as she goes in the bedroom.

“Garret, I wanted to let you know I still haven’t been able to locate that police report for the robbery at your neighbor’s house.”

“Maybe you just couldn’t find it.”

“It’s a small police department and there isn’t a lot of crime in that town. It should be easy to find the report.”

“So what does this mean?”

“Nothing, at least not yet. It’s just unusual and I’d like to look into it some more.”

“Well, let me know what you find out.”

“I will. By the way, Lilly started school today and she wants to tell you about it. I know you’ve been busy, but can you give her a call tomorrow?”

“Shit, I totally forget she started today. Yes, I’ll definitely call her. How did her first day go?”

“I’m not sure yet. She was quiet when she came home. She didn’t tell me much. She said she wanted to talk to you about it.”

“Okay. I’ll call her. Bye, Dad.”

I go in the bedroom. Jade’s already asleep. It’s been a long day and she has class early tomorrow.

I get into bed. Her back is to me so I lean over her shoulder and whisper, “I love you. Thanks for taking care of me.”

Her eyes are closed, but I see her smiling. “I’ll always take care of you,” she whispers back. “I love you, remember?”

I move her hair back and kiss the side of her face and she rolls over into my arms and falls back to sleep.

* * *

When we get homefrom class on Friday, I call Lilly. I used to be able to call her on her cell phone but Katherine took it away because she doesn’t want me calling Lilly. Then I tried doing a video chat with Lilly but Katherine found out and took the computer away.

Things have gotten worse between Katherine and me ever since she and my dad broke up. She used to tolerate me because of him, but now she doesn’t need to so she’s being even bitchier than before. And since she has to pretend to be married to my dad, she’s still living at the house. My dad tries not to fight with her for Lilly’s sake, which means he avoids talking to Katherine at all. Talking just leads to fighting.

“Jade, I’m calling Lilly,” I yell into the bedroom.

“Yeah, I’ll be there in a minute.”

The phone rings several times and then I hear Katherine’s voice. “What do you need, Garret? Your father’s not home yet.”

“I need to talk to Lilly.”

“She’s busy. She has homework.”

“She’s only had school for two days and she’s in second grade. I highly doubt she has homework.”

“Goodbye, Garret.”

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