Page 46 of The Candle Palace (Jamison Valley 6)
“She sounded so good.” My smile widened. “And happy.”
Luna had apologized for not calling sooner. In truth, she’d been nervous to call, worried I hadn’t really wanted to hear from her since she was no longer my patient. I’d assured her I very much wanted to keep in touch and we’d talked for an hour.
Returning to school had been an adjustment. There were, as promised, a couple of asshole kids who snickered about her scars. But after a few weeks, most people treated her the same way they had before her accident.
She’d jumped into her former role as a reporter for the school newspaper. She’d had a couple of sleepovers with her friends. Luna was every bit the vivacious teenager I’d come to know, and I was overjoyed that maybe, just maybe, I’d even get to see her grow into a stunning woman.
“I’m glad she called you,” Milo said.
“Me too. How was your day?”
“Meh. Fine. Boring.”
“I take it you didn’t read that book I gave you.”
“No, I did. But I finished it already.”
“Already? Wow. You’re a fast reader. I’ll bring you another one tomorrow.”
“Good. I’ve missed you.”
I blushed, tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “I’ve missed you too.”
I’d been off for two days, and even though I didn’t get to spend much time with Milo while I was at work anyway, our small glimpses had become the highlight of each day. Two days without seeing his face was two days too long. How was I going to manage when he went back to Montana?
We’d gotten into a routine these past two weeks. We talked on the phone every morning as I walked to work, little conversations about what was happening. We saved our longer conversations for night when we were both tucked into our respectful beds.
I’d realized last night as I’d fallen asleep with a smile, for the
first time in a while, I didn’t feel lonely.
Because Milo Phillips had become my best friend.
“What time is your dinner with your family?” he asked.
I glanced at the clock. “Thirty minutes. I need to leave soon.”
The anxiety of what was to come had nauseated me all day.
Over the past two weeks, Mom and I had met four times for coffee and to discuss Denny. We agreed he needed help, and after a lot of discussion, we’d decided to approach him together, hoping a united front would resonate.
Tonight was the big night.
“Call me when it’s over.”
“I will. Bye.” I tossed the phone down and flopped backward on the couch, staring at the ceiling for the fifteen minutes I had before needing to leave for Mom’s.
Denny was going to hate me for this.
But I had to try.
“Fuck you.” The front door slammed.
Denny’s words echoed in the house as Mom and I stared at the smooth top of the dining room table.
She reached for another cigarette, shaking it from the pack. The click of the lighter was drowned out by the roar of Denny’s engine as he raced his truck away from the house.
Mom blew a long stream of smoke into the air. “I told you this wouldn’t work.”
