Chapter 2
two
Tristyn
Alright, can you give me three more of those?” Lacey studies my hand as I squeeze and release the foam ball three more times.
She smiles, grabs her clipboard, and scribbles something on the page. She sets it back on the table and rolls toward me on her chair.
“That’s good, Tristyn, that’s really good.”
“It’s good I can squeeze a foam ball?”
Seems like a stupid thing to be excited over.
“Your grip strength is getting stronger, that’s what’s good.” She grabs the ball out of my hand. “It wasn’t even a month ago when you couldn’t even make a proper fist. Now you’re able to squeeze and release a foam ball without your hand tensing up.”
“Does this mean I’m almost done with these stupid physical therapy sessions?”
She rolls back just enough for me to see the fake disappointment in her eyes as she clutches her chest.
“You mean you don’t enjoy seeing me for two hours three days a week?”
“Of course I do, but I’d rather it not be because my wrist is a piece of crap.”
“Well, then I guess it’s a good thing you’re here because I’m helping it not be a piece of crap.”
“Could you work faster?”
“Ball your hand into a fist,” she ignores me, “and move your wrist back and forth. You’re going to do it for three thirty-second intervals, but if it starts to hurt, stop and let me know.”
I watch her walk over to another patient across the room. She shows them how to properly do an exercise as the first 30-second timer goes off.
I take a quick break, then restart the timer. By the time I’m finishing up my last interval, Lacey is back in front of me.
“Any pain?”
“Nope.”
“That’s good.” She marks on her clipboard. “Okay, your next appointment is Friday, so don’t overdo it until then. I know that’s a lot to ask of you, and I also know you’re probably going to ignore me completely, but the more you listen, the easier this will be.”
“I’m sorry, are you suggesting I’m the type of girl to ignore your instructions because I think I know better?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. I’ve known you for about three weeks, and I could tell that from the first day we met.”
“It’s a little hard for me to properly do my job without using my hand. I’m in an office all day typing on a computer.”
“Tristyn, your hand isn’t going to heal properly if you don’t give it the time to do so.”
“And I wouldn’t be able to come to physical therapy if I didn’t have that job, so I kind of need to keep it.”
“I could write you a note. I’m sure they can find something else for you to—”
“Don’t. I’ll take it easy. I’ll type with just my left hand, okay?”
“Okay.” She rolls back over to the counter and then rolls back to me. “Go get your wrist worked on; it should help your muscles not get too sore. I know sometimes you like to skip, but it really helps you avoid the pain.”
“Thanks, Lace. Same time Friday?”
“Same time Friday.”
I stretch my hand before shoving it back in my brace. I smile at the receptionist as I push my way out of the front door.
I don’t have time to get my wrist worked on, but I have a feeling Lacey knew I wasn’t going to stick around. Sometimes I get lucky and get back there within a couple of minutes, but other times I sit in the waiting room for nearly an hour to have someone massage my wrist and apply some ice.
It's stupid.
“Skipping your massage again?” Vince rests against the side of his car, his arms crossed, and a grin is plastered on his face.
“Pretty sure I can massage my own wrist.”
“They’re trained professionals, Tris, no one does it like them.”
He chuckles as he unlocks his car, and we both hop in.
“Thanks for picking me up.”
“I always do.” He turns the car on and then scrolls through the radio stations to find the right one before we even take off.
I’ve known Vince since kindergarten. He was the first friend I ever made, and he’s stood by my side through everything since.
I don’t know what I’d do without him.
He was the first person I went to when I found out I was pregnant.
And I was the first person he went to when he realized he was gay.
Both of those realizations led us to be the only family we have.
Aside from Henry.
When my family found out I was having a baby at sixteen, they gave me two options: terminate the pregnancy or get out.
I got out.
I moved in with Vince and his family and never looked back. Then, during our senior year, shortly after Vince turned eighteen, he finally came out to his family.
They weren’t even close to being supportive, which was crazy because they had provided so much support to Henry and me after he was born.
We moved in together after that and jumped right into the workforce. Neither of us went to college because we couldn’t afford it… especially not me. I had Henry to think about.
I don’t regret a single thing.
“You hungry?” He glances at me.
“Is that even a question?”
“What time do we have to get Henry?”
“He’s done in about an hour.”
Today is Henry’s last day of first grade, and then he’s home for the summer, which sucks. I don’t know what I’m going to do with him while I’m at work, that won’t cost an arm and a leg.
“Have you figured out your plan for the summer, you know, with Henry?” Vince pulls into a parking lot and then shuts off his car.
“I have no idea.” I unbuckle my seatbelt. “I feel like last summer was so much easier in figuring out how to juggle Henry and work.”
Vince gets out of the car, and I follow him. He opens the door for me, and then we find a booth in this diner.
“Last summer he had camp at the church, that’s why it was so easy.”
Not only was it easy, but it was free. The church was low on funds this year, though, so all the camps were shut down. Now they have little weekend sessions throughout the summer for different age groups.
“Yeah, and I’ve looked into other things for Henry this summer, but some of the things are more than my rent. I’m barely making ends meet now, especially since the—”
I don’t finish my train of thought. I don’t need to. Like everything else in my life, Vince has been by my side for it all.
“How is the wrist?”
“As good as it can be.”
“And your dipshit baby daddy?”
“I don’t even know.”
“Would he be able to take Henry a little bit this summer? I know he’s a piece of shit, but he’s his dad. Maybe he could make himself useful for once.”
“Andrew would rather hold the fact that I can’t afford to put Henry in anything this summer over my head than actually take care of his kid.”
“I can take Henry whenever I don’t have work. You know I love that kid as if he were my own.”
“Thanks, Vince. Really, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Andrew was in and out not long after I had Henry. He wanted nothing to do with him; he said Henry would ruin his future plans. Ruin his dreams. I never expected much from him, but he likes to pop in every once in a while to remind me that he exists.
I wish I could protect Henry from him, but Andrew comes from money, and I know he’d take Henry from me in a heartbeat.
Not because he wants to see his son. Not because he wants to be a good dad.
But to spite me.
“Hey, y’all.” Our waitress appears, a bright smile on her face. “I’m Maia, and I’m going to be taking care of you today. Can I get you started with something to drink? Or maybe you’re ready to order?”
“Could I do a Coke Zero?” I glance over the menu. “And maybe a patty melt with onion rings?”
“Of course.” She doesn’t even scribble it down, turns her attention to Vince. “For you?”
“Make that two.” He snatches my menu from me and then hands it to Maia.
She walks over to the computer, then puts our orders in, before disappearing behind the double doors.
“What about the rec center?” Vince suggests. “I know they always have deals because not everyone can afford something crazy.”
“I’ll look into it.”
I pull out my phone, a picture of Henry filling the screen, as I search the rec center nearby.
As I do, the bell above the door dings, and a group of people walks in. Luckily, this place isn’t super busy, because if it were, I don’t know where they'd all sit.
The guys are wearing Rockford Hockey sweatshirts, so I’m assuming they all go to the college up the road. As our waitress comes out with our drinks, the large group finds a couple of booths across the diner from us. The three girls take the middle booth, and the guys fill in where they can.
“Your food will be out shortly.” Maia’s smile isn’t as bright as it was when she took our order, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s due to the large party that just walked in.
But as she heads to their tables, she doesn’t take their order; instead, she takes a seat next to one of the girls.
“How’s he doing?”
That's all I hear her say, and then I realize I’m eavesdropping and should probably get back to the task at hand.
“What about this?” Vince turns his phone to show me a diving class.
I roll my eyes, looking down at my own phone.
“Not a chance in hell.”