Things We Didn't Say - By Kristina Riggle Page 0,91
Casey is sad. I like her. Maybe she can be dad’s friend, like before, and we can see her sometimes.
I’m so happy I jump into Dylan’s room.
He’s putting his sax back in the case, and he looks soooo sad. I run over and jump on him.
“Hey, take it easy, sis,” he says.
I’m so proud he hardly ever stutters when he talks to me. He says it’s because I’m a magic Jewel.
I know I’m not really. But I like for him to say it.
I lie on my back on his bed and kick the wall with my feet a little.
“That was really smart of you to run away,” I tell him.
“What?” he asks me, his face all wrinkled up like he thinks I’m nuts.
“Cuz Mom is back now. Good work,” I say in my teacherish voice.
He sits down next to me and puts his hand on my belly. “J., I didn’t do this on purpose. Not to make Mom come home. And I—”
He bites his lip, and I stop kicking the wall. That’s his “I don’t want to tell you something bad” face. I saw it when my hamster died.
He goes, “I don’t think she’s here to stay. She and Dad fight all the time, remember? That didn’t change.”
I sit up now to face him, sitting “crisscross applesauce” like in school. “No, it’s different, can’t you tell? Mom’s being calm.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t want you to get your hopes up. Anyway, J. It wasn’t always very good when she was home. Remember?”
I cross my arms. “You’re harshing my buzz.”
He cracks up. I wasn’t trying to be funny. “What?”
“Where did you hear that?”
“Some movie I was watching the last time we were at Mom’s place. It means you’re ruining it, right? Did I say it wrong?”
Dylan tries hard to stop laughing. I like seeing him smile, even if it’s because I did something dumb. “No, it’s not wrong, just . . . weird coming from a kid. You probably shouldn’t say that.”
“Oh, it’s a swear?”
“No, not a swear, just . . . Don’t say it, okay? It’s not nice talk for a little kid.”
“Bees buzz.”
“Yeah. They do.” He shakes his head, smiling again. There’s a joke I don’t get. I can’t wait until I’m grown up and I’m in on all the jokes.
I stand up and start bouncing again. “Take me downstairs, Dylan! Horsey ride, like when I was little.” I jump on his back, and he goes ooof! But I know he’s just kidding. He’s way bigger than me.
So we gallop down the stairs.
The sun is out, and everyone’s home. I can’t help myself but leap around the room some more. I’m a frog, and the furniture is lily pads.
Dad’s putting on his coat.
“Where are you going, Daddy?” I ask him, and leap up into his arms. He swings me around in a hug, but it’s a small swoop. He must be really tired.
“Just for a walk. I need some fresh air.”
“It’s cold!”
“I’ll bundle up, kid.” He plants a smack on the top of my head.
He stops when he hears the creaky steps. Casey comes down to the bottom of the stairs, and they trade a really long, serious look before Dad goes outside.
“Mom!” I shout. “Can I have some Halloween candy? Pretty please?”
“Sure, honey! Go right ahead.”
I bounce on into the kitchen and get my bag of candy out of the pantry. Oh, there’s a red jawbreaker. I like the sound they make when they rattle on my teeth.
When I bounce back in—it’s a sour one, it makes me pucker—this time I’m a kangaroo.
Dylan’s already back upstairs, and my mom and Casey are having a secret adult conversation over by the computer. Casey still looks really sad. Maybe my mom is telling her that she’s moving back in for good.
Casey glances up at me and at first it’s like she doesn’t notice I’m there, then she says, “Hey, J. Don’t bounce on the couch with candy in your mouth.”
“Oh, leave her alone,” Mom says.
Yay! I can keep hopping! Everything feels so good this morning, it’s like I could touch the ceiling if I jump high enough. So I try, leaning my head way, way back and reaching my fingers up, up, up . . .
Chapter 42
Casey
She glares at me, all trace of girlfriend kindness from last night gone like frost in the sun.
“Are you going to tell him, or should I?”
“Tell him what?”
“About your secret past. About your boyfriend, Tony.”