Page 28 of The Heart That Breaks
Nathan
DAD IS AGAIN waiting up for me when I get home.
“Sorry I’m late,” I say, sticking my head in the living room where he’s watching something on Netflix.
“You know the rule, son,” he says, muting the TV. “If you’re not going to make curfew, touch base and let us know. That way, we don’t worry.”
“Sorry,” I say again. “Lost track of time.”
“Same reason as last night?”
I nod, not elaborating.
“You like her?”
“She’s nice.”
“Good to know.”
I walk into the living room, sit down across from my dad’s chair. “She sleeps outside at night with her dog.”
He looks as shocked as I expected him to. “Why, son?”
“Apparently, her mom’s boyfriend is a real jerk and kicked Ann-Elizabeth’s dog Henry out when he moved in. She sneaks out after they go to bed so he’s not out there alone.”
My dad nods a little, processing silently, the way he does when he’s not sure what to make of something. “Social services should probably know about this, Nathan.”
“No,” I say instantly. “You can’t do that. She would hate me.”
“Son. How can she stay out there through the winter?”
“I don’t know. I think she’s taking it one night at a time. It’s not that cold yet.”
“No, but it will be. Is the boyfriend abusive?”
“She didn’t say that. I get the impression she’s scared of him though.”
My dad shakes his head, and I know this is going to bother him. “I shouldn’t have told you.”
“You were right to. Not sure what we can do, but I’d like to think about it.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“You’ll tell me if there’s something we need to do?”
I nod, hoping that doesn’t turn out to be the case.
He’s quiet for a moment, and then, “You wanna sit in on my session with Holden tomorrow?”
“Really?” I ask, surprised.
“Yeah. I texted him earlier. He was cool with it.”
“That would be incredible.”
“You’ll have to miss school. The session is at nine-thirty.”
I think about the fact that I’d told Ann-Elizabeth I would see her in school, wish she had a phone so I could let her know. Even as I think the thought, I realize I’m going a little off the deep end. “That would be really cool, Dad. Thank you.”
