Page 16 of Family Forever
“That’s not true. Family takes care of family, that’s just the way it is.”
He needed out of this uncomfortable conversation. “How’s your jaw?” His question reverberated in his head.Real nice, Dylan, asking her how her jaw was, bringing back the memory of her father punching her. Idiot.
She placed her tiny hand on her cheek. “It’s a little sore, but it'll be fine.”
Her teary eyes contradicted the strength in her tone.
“You’re welcome to stay here as long as you like, I could use the help, and you could earn money for school.”
She nodded. “I need to pick up some things from home.”
“I’ll drive you over.” Now that he’d seen firsthand how her dad could be, he couldn’t very well let her go alone, and seeing it was after noon it wouldn’t surprise him if her father had already started drinking. In fact, if the rumors were true, her dad probably never stopped drinking.
The night before, her dad seemed fine with her leaving. He hoped his attitude hadn’t changed any overnight. “Marissa, how do you think your dad’s going to feel about this?”
She shrugged. “I’m eighteen, graduating in two weeks, he can hardly stop me.” Her wounded gaze swung to the floor. “He probably won’t notice, anyhow.”
That had to be the saddest thing he’d ever heard. Her family life was at the opposite end of the spectrum from his, hers so empty, and his bursting at the seams.
