Lexi and Ty had returned early from their ski trip as soon as they’d heard about what happened. Lexi’s face was the first I’d seen when I woke up; I’d find out later that she and Finn had nearly come to blows over who would get the seat closest to my bed – apparently, she’d won. I couldn’t say I was surprised by that, though.
She asked me if I wanted to call my father, and I think she was surprised when I said yes. After bringing me her cellphone, Lexi, Tyler, and Finn moved toward the door. I told them to stay, though, knowing this would be a brief conversation.
His phonerang three times before he picked up.
“This is DanielTurner,” he said, his stern voice unchanged.
Why can’t hejust say ‘hello’ like a normal person?
It had been nearly two years since I’d spoken with my father; I didn’t know where to begin.
“Hello? Is anyone there?” His voice was impatient.
“Hi, Dad.”
“Brooklyn?”he asked, surprise coloring his tone. “What’s happened? Have you been expelled?”
“Why is that always your first question?” I asked, annoyed and already preparing to hang up.
“Because the last time you called me, you’d been expelled from yourthird boarding school for sneaking boys into your dormitory.”
Okay, I guess that was a valid point.
“Well, I’m not in trouble.” I took a deep breath. “I’m in the hospital.”
“Do I need to send a check?” he asked, his tone accusatory. No questions aboutwhyhis daughter was in the hospital. No parental concern for my wellbeing.
“That won’t be necessary,” I bit out, clenching my jaw to keep from screaming. “I just need you to answer one question, and then this can be over.”
“Yes?” His voice was weary, as if atwo-minute conversation with me every two years was enough to tire him out completely.
“Did you know?” I asked, my voice breaking on the last word. “Did they call and tell you that he was released? I couldn’t figure out why I hadn’t been informedby his parole board, until I finally realized – I was a minor at the time. I was still living under your roof.”
I took a deep breath and squeezed my eyes shut so the tears couldn’t escape.
“So, Dad, I’m asking. Did you know that Ernie Skinner, the monster who killed my mother in front of my eyes, had been released early from his sentence, and actually choose not to tell me about it?”
There was a charged silence over the phone.I thought he wasn’t going to answer but he finally did respond, and his voice was more strained than I’d ever heard it. “Yes. I knew,” he admitted. “They called three years ago to inform me.”
“How could you not tell me!?” I exploded.
“I made a judgment call. You were struggling with your studies, already. It—it wasn’t something you needed to be concerned with.”
“Not something I needed to be concerned with,” I echoed bitterly. “That’s perfect.”
“Brooklyn, I–If I made a mistake, I’m sorry,” he said, rather haltingly. My father was not a man who apologized – not ever – and he didn’t suffer it well.
“He almost killed me. That’s why I’m in the hospital,” I told him, my voice impassive. “So I killed him, instead – drove a knife right into his gut and watched him die.”
“My God, Brooklyn…what can—”
“Save it,” I said, cutting him off. “I don’t need anything from you. I certainly don’twantanything from you. I just had to know. And as far as I’m concerned, you and me? We’re done.”
I hung up the phone.
When I opened my eyes, Finn, Lexi, and Tyler were looking at me with identical expressions – a unique mixture of sympathy and apprehension.
“I’m fine,” Ilied. “Can we go home now?”