Page 37 of When I'm Gone
“See you tomorrow?” Annie asked, leaning against the wall, as far away from Luke and Clayton as she could possibly be.
“Uh”—Luke hesitated—“I’ll call you later.”
She tipped her head to one side like she didn’t completely understand what he was trying to say.
“Sounds good,” she answered in an incredibly normal voice.
When Luke turned to leave after waving his good-byes, Brian called to him.
“You get any calls yet? They said they’d be done with the background check in the next week or two.”
Luke didn’t turn around. The idea that he was leaving Annie in the house with a man who might also be her abuser killed him. Now that man was asking him for favors.
“Nope, nothing yet. I’ll let you know if I hear from them though.”
“Hey,” Brian called after him as he stepped out the door, “maybe they won’t call you at all!”
When the door slammed behind him, all Luke could think was,Let’s hope.
JUNE
CHAPTER 14
Luke clicked the button on the top of the camera, Will and May framed in the display screen. The digital software made a soft click, reminding him of the days when a shutter actually opened and closed inside a camera.
When they were kids in Pentwater, Luke and Natalie used to pool their spare change to buy those disposable cameras. They’d have a photo shoot in the backyard fort, taking turns making the funniest faces they could imagine. They never had enough money to actually develop the film.
Clicking another picture, Luke wondered if those cameras were packed in an old box somewhere. He’d have to ask Will to check with Terry while he was at her house.
“Dad, are we done yet? You’re going to make us late,” May said through clenched teeth as she held her smile, posing with her hands on her hips. Will rolled his eyes.
“It’s the last day. I don’t think anyone cares if we’re late.” Will flipped his hood up. It was the first week of June and seventy-eight degrees outside, but he was still wearing the hoodie. Maybe it would dissolve one day due to overuse. “But, seriously, can we go now? Last day I get to see my friends for the whole summer.”
Luke flicked the power switch off and placed the camera on the side table in the hall. The pictures weren’t his idea. Natalie reminded him a few days ago in a letter. Every year she’d take pictures on the first and last day of each school year and then put them side by side in a set of frames on the mantel in the family room. The first and last day of school was always treated as a holiday in the Richardsons’ house. It probably came from Natalie’s career as a teacher.
There was one part of the “last day of school” letter Luke loved. He read it again this morning before waking up Will and May. She’d said: “I don’t understand why parents cry on the first day of school. For me, that’s the best day. The anticipation and excitement for what lies ahead always gives me goose bumps. It’s the last day that makes me tear up. The year is over, and my students walk out of the room first graders and into their parents’ arms second graders. It’s the end that marks a beginning, not the first day.” Every time he read it, he couldn’t help thinking she’d been talking about more than school.
“Don’t be so dramatic, Will. We aren’t leaving for another two weeks.” May hefted her faded purple backpack on her shoulders. Why it was so heavy on the last day of school, Luke didn’t dare ask. The rocks he’d seen May and Jessie decorating a few days ago were probably the culprits. “Plus,” May continued, “Grandma Terry said she’s going to take us to Disney World and the beach and to see alligators and—”
“I don’t care about all that. I just want to stay here and chill with friends.” Will yanked on the drawstring on his hood, closing it around his face. “Clay! We’re leaving.”
“Hey, be nice to your sister,” Luke said, grabbing his keys off the holder by the door. “And stop yelling. Annie’s going to think we live like a bunch of wild people.”
Clayton’s feet stomped on the hardwood floor as he ran in from the kitchen. Annie walked behind him in measured steps like she was sure he was about to trip and fall. Annie was a new addition to their morning routine. She’d called him a few hours after he picked up Clayton for his nonexistent doctor’s appointment. With no reference to Luke’s insinuations, Annie offered to care for Clayton at the Richardsons’ house. She also explained that she’d changed her mind and was ready to move to Washington, DC with Brian, asking, halfheartedly, if Luke would still be willing to give the promised recommendation. He agreed, not wanting to push her away again, but still not sure what he’d say if the call ever came.
Soon he wouldn’t be seeing her much anyway. When Terry asked if she could have the kids visit her in Orlando for six weeks over the summer, Luke couldn’t find a reason to say no. The shift to being a single dad had been exhausting. He’d be working on a new project, and as grateful as he was for Annie’s help, he didn’t feel right about making her watch all the kids through the whole summer.
“Don’t worry; I was already aware of the wild people in this house. You’re not as shocking as you think.” Annie tugged at May’s high ponytail and stood in front of Will. “Though after spending a few minutes in your room, I thinkNational Geographic Explorercould do a whole series on the things growing in there.”
She gently yanked at the gathered fabric around Will’s face and pushed back the hood. With Will already a head taller than her and still growing, Annie had to stand on her toes a little. She patted down a few flyaway hairs and smiled.
“That’s better,” she said, stepping back to stand by Luke. “You took the pictures without the hood, right?”
Luke nodded, glancing at his watch. Seven forty-five, time to go.
“Okay, everyone, say bye to Clayton and Annie.” Luke clapped his hands together. “We’re going to be late.”
“You meanyouare going to be late for your meeting with Ms. Mason,” Will said, raising his eyebrows. “What is this, the third or fourth time in the past six weeks?”
