’s [

hed with her keys in her hand. “I can’t believe we lucked out with a day shif

in the ER. This is my last day shift for a while, though. I’ll be pulling nights for the re

xa. I don’t envy you.” I didn’t mind it s

been distant since his death. I was afraid if I slowed down I’d start to get depressed again, and that was the la

the long jet-black strands fell like curtains on a stage. Kathy shook

irdresser says it’s unnatural abuse. I have to remind her it’s necessary.” I rak

at’s abuse,

e we worked together, so I walked her to her car, and she waited to get in until I was at my door, then we called across to each other goodbye before ducking i

I were lucky, things would be more upbeat than usual. It had been all doom and gloom and d

g in the shrubs out front. Gardening had become one of his hobbies to cope,

s Bre? I thought she would be with you.” My oldest and best friend Bre was driving

had a few bad episodes

had somewhere to go befor

ctionate than Mom, who acted like my brother was the only child sh

me?” I hoped it was something about them goin

resent.” He held the door and waved me in, a

ome. Dad found projects to work on, and even though he’d never been much of a handyman, he liked that it filled the time between gardening

l he’d moved out. She’d taken over both of our rooms and turned them into guest rooms, taking out all of the per

came away from the window. “Di

ing too awful. Ton

k on the cheek and then walked out. I followed but didn’t continue what I was saying. She was

e aroma of our dinner became mor

washed her hands before she took out a big bowl of salad which she tossed with her hands as if she’d made it herself. That’

are you doing?” Bre hugged Dad and

instead of jet-black, hers was more of a purple-toned red and wavy. Bre had always been a bit edgier and had often tr

l. I tried to call you, but you never p

d out my bottom lip and the

my way, mimicking my mother’s hand tossing of the salad. I nodded, and she made a f

d me, and we walked to the dining roo

d then finally I couldn’t wait any longer. I needed to

miled Dad’s way and hoped I could tell simply by the look on his face. He

and wiped his mouth. When I turned to

filed the papers today.” She took a long pull from her d

t my parents could move along and be satisfied with the insurance settlement, but the

ow?” I reached for som

aying the house off, there simply wasn’t much left for your father

lown through the life insurance money, but this w

ker in the pilot’s seat at the time of the crash. He wasn’t a licen

t the world to me, Lexa, and because of some rich prick wanting to show off in th

of a settlement would make it right and the man she wanted to punish died along

sing his entire family. It didn’t seem right to sue someone who’d already lost so much. There was nothing left to gain, an

pinions since the funerals when I’d wanted to go to Allison’s. I ended up skipping it out of respect for them

to me wringing her hands in her lap, and I