This Is War, Baby - K Webster Page 0,69
her. But after today, neither of us will have to. Another gift for her should arrive at some point this afternoon. I ordered it not long after she arrived but it was being custom made to my specifications.
“Why wouldn’t I tell him?” I say with a chuckle. “He’s my father. I tell him everything. Didn’t you tell your dad everything?”
Dad leans against the counter and watches our exchange with interest.
“Well,” she says slowly and starts to turn off the water, “not everything.”
Her cheeks blaze red with embarrassment and I laugh. But when she turns off the sink, my laughter dies in my throat.
“Not done. Forty-eight more seconds,” I bark out a little more harshly than I intended. Dad grumbles behind me but doesn’t say any more on the subject.
The water turns back on and she continues to scrub her hands. “Now?”
I start frying the vegan omelets and sigh. “Not yet.”
The seconds pass by but I don’t tell her when the time is up. A few more moments of washing never hurt anyone.
“Baylee,” Dad says in a soft voice. “I’m sorry for what happened to you. You’re a victim. And if you decide you want to leave, you call me. I’ll drive you home myself.”
She shuts off the water this time and I don’t stop her. “I’m okay right now. Thank you, Mr. McPherson.”
“Please, call me Land. You’re strong and you’re brave. Thank you for attempting to help my son, no matter what your motives are for doing it. That means the entire world to me and I’ll do whatever I can to return that favor.”
In a surprising move, she hurries over to him and throws herself into his arms. He hugs her tight—like I wish I could—and strokes her back in a way that always comforted me as a child. I’m jealous of both of them. That they can hold each other and I can’t hold either of them.
He murmurs whispered assurances and I finish the food up, careful to make each omelet the same size with equal portions of vegetables and tofu in them. Once I’ve added some sliced bananas to the side, I carry the plates to the table. She finally breaks away from his embrace and flashes me a shy smile.
“So tell me about yourself, Baylee. If you’re someone special to my son, then you’re someone special to me,” Dad says after we settle at the table and begin eating.
She sighs and her eyes focus past him at the ocean as if she’s recalling happy memories. “I run track and am pretty good at it. My parents Tony and Lynn are good to me, and we live in a modest home in Oakland. I plan on going to Berkley next fall. Well, I did plan to go there.”
My father and I both frown. Guilt slices through me and I stuff another bite into my mouth as she continues.
“I love to read. Swimming is something I enjoy, especially in the ocean. Um, that’s all I guess.”
“Did you know War used to surf?”
Her eyes widen in surprise and she darts her gaze over to me. I grunt my confirmation and she smiles.
“I didn’t know that. I don’t know much about your son, I’m afraid. I mean,” she says with hesitation, “besides the obvious. He doesn’t tell me anything.”
Dad glances at me, sadness and fatigue marring his features. “There’s a lot to my boy. His sickness plagues him but he’s still in there. I see him fighting to the surface sometimes. I’m glad that you’re able to break through to him some.”
“I’m right here,” I complain and stab at a banana. “She’s not my shrink.”
He frowns and I wince. I shouldn’t have said that. My father has only tried to help me ever since I lost my shit. It’s not his fault I’m the way I am. He’s only done everything he can to provide for me, accommodate my issues, and love me enough for two parents.
“What do you want to do when you, um,” Dad says with a grunt, “grow up?”
I groan at his word choice but she doesn’t seem to be affected.
“If you mean after high school,” she says with a grin, “then I’d hoped to go to school on a track scholarship. I was always intrigued with medicine because of my mom. But now…”
I lift my gaze and meet her compassionate one.
“Now I’d like to get into psychology.”
Her words are genuine and not meant to cut me. She’s curious about my condition and it has sparked a