“She heard I was staying at the house and didn’t want an awkward meeting in the grocery store.”
Jess snorted.“Like you’re going to be buying groceries.Not when you can get them delivered.Did you talk to her?”
“Yeah, but not really.I wasn’t prepared.”
I could picture the expression my sister would be wearing.Worried frown, biting her lip.“How was it?”
“Weird.Difficult.Sad.”
“Sad?”
“She never got to go to medical school.She has a kid.”
Now she was rolling her eyes.I knew her well enough that I didn’t need FaceTime to know.“If you’d ever let us mention her, we could have told you.”
“I was doing my best to forget she existed.”
“And that’s worked so well for you.”
“Yeah.”I rubbed my cast on the leg of my shorts.It was a constant reminder that I had shit to deal with.“But enough of me whining.How are things with you?”
Jess was happy.I heard it in her voice, especially when she talked about Alek.Good thing it wasn’t a video call, because I was still coming to terms with my sister and Alek Denbrowski together.
When we started theI’d better godance, she asked if I was going to be okay.I didn’t want to worry her—she’d spent too much of her life already worrying about me, but she needed to know I was doing the work to get over my issues.
“I think I’ll call Mom and Dad.”
“They haven’t reached out?”
“Not a word.”
“You ready for this?”
Now I rolled my eyes.“No, but I’m going to do it anyway.”
“I’m proud of you, Jus.”I looked at the cast, still immobilizing my dominant hand.I wasn’t sure there was anything to be proud of yet, but I appreciated the support.“Let me know how it goes.”
“I will.”
After she hung up, I sat with my elbows on my thighs, staring at the ground.I didn’t like this unsettled feeling.I’d need to tell my therapist I’d seen Mia.Since I didn’t want to dwell on that, I needed something else to talk about.Meeting my parents would do that.
I dialed Dad’s number.He picked up on the second ring.
“Hello, Justin.”He sounded cautious.
“Hey, Dad.I’m in town for a bit.Thought we should talk.You free now?”Catching him last minute meant he wasn’t likely to be, but I could say I’d tried.
“Just a sec.”There was silence.“Sure, we can meet.Tomorrow?”
Was that “him and me”we, or “him and Mom and me”we?Was it worth asking?“It needs to be somewhere casual.I’m not doing buttons right now, so I can’t dress up.”
“Ah.Well, what if we meet at Stanley Park?Anything goes there.Do you want me to pick you up?”
“I can get there.”I’d prefer to make my own way, in case things went badly.
I headed back, having killed enough time that I didn’t have to deal with Marge for much longer.She asked where I’d been and what I’d done, and I made a mental note to check on how much I had to share with her.I wasn’t a child, and I didn’t like being treated as if I was.
My whole body unwound after she left.I watched a playoff game on my own, texting with some of my teammates.This was why I was putting up with a stranger in my space.Why I was going to see my dad tomorrow.Why I’d have to see Mia sometime.