Chapter 35
“Can we talk?”
My peanut butter sandwich almost goes catapulting into the air at Daniel’s voice.
I needed a breather from everybody, so even though we just had barbecue take-out for dinner, I snuck into the kitchen to make me a snack since I was still hungry.
Then I slinked off to my room. I’m always hungry now.
This baby is going to make me gain a hundred pounds if I’m not careful.
Our house is full of people at the moment. The Jamesons, Mr. Cutton, Hailey, Brea, Jayson, Julien, Fallon, Elijah, Meredith, and Trevor. I guess it’s what you would call “rallying the troops.” I love them for caring so much about me.
Of course, the guys are flipping livid about what happened.
Meredith is almost feral with rage on my behalf.
Freda, Mitch, and Randy wanted to make sure that I was okay.
Mrs. Cutton and Jamie are staying in Durham at a hotel so they can be close to Ryder.
It was when I realized that I kept looking around the room for the umpteenth time expecting Ryder to be there that I knew I needed a break.
My car was towed to Randy’s garage after Fallon made us wait for a sheriff to file a report and to take pictures of the damage.
The report will help with getting our insurance to pay for the repairs.
Since there are no security cameras on school grounds, it’s highly unlikely we’ll find the culprits.
And as much as it absolutely pains me to say it, I believe Jacinda when she swears that she had nothing to do with it.
Meredith, on the other hand, isn’t as willing to trust her.
She told the officer that, and also threw in that she thought she saw Maria and Samantha.
I wave Daniel into my room as I take my first bite of peanut butter.
There is really, absolutely nothing better than peanut butter.
It goes with almost everything. Jelly, chocolate, apple slices, banana, crackers.
Thank you, George Washington Carver, for making peanuts a staple in the American diet.
He did not, however, invent peanut butter.
It already existed. The ancient Incans and Aztecs and Marcellus Gilmore Edson created peanut paste, and Dr. John Kellogg—you know, Kellogg’s cereal—patented the first true peanut butter in 1895.
Sorry. I watch a lot of History Channel.
Daniel moves over some textbooks and my spiral notebook, colored pens, and highlighters to make a space so he can sit down on the bed with me. I reach for my guitar that is near the footboard and prop it on the floor against the side of the bed.
I continue eating my sandwich while I wait.
I can already tell whatever it is Daniel wants to talk to me about is serious.
The worry lines crinkling his forehead are more pronounced and his brows are scrunched closer together.
He rakes a hand through his already messy hair, then pinches the bridge of his nose, before he drops his hands to his lap.
I can’t help the smile that grows as Daniel starts to talk because he always prefaces his lectures with the fact that he’s clueless about being a parent.
He begins with, “You know I’m not good with figuring out how to do all this parenting stuff, so I’ve been pretty lax when it comes to laying down boundaries and rules. You’ll be eighteen anyway, but I need to be a better parent, especially for Hailey. And that means I need to lead by example.”
My easy smile fades as he continues.
“This entire situation at school is getting out of control, Lizzie.”
The sandwich that had been delicious, now feels like glue in my mouth, making it hard to swallow. I take a few sips from my water bottle to help it go down. “What do you mean?”
Daniel reaches over to cover my hand with his and looks at me with soft, concerned eyes. The likeness between him and my father is surreal. It’s almost like Dad is the one sitting next to me, giving me this talk.
“Since school started in August, you’ve been bullied, you’ve been in fights, and now you’re being targeted. Why didn’t you tell me about what happened with your locker on Monday?”
I literally shrink three sizes as I hunch my shoulders and bring my knees up, trying to make myself smaller. “I handled it.”
The deep sigh of disappointment he emits has me feeling guilty.
He squeezes my hand. “And to add to all of that, you’re pregnant, Lizzie. I have failed you every step of the way. John would be so ashamed of me and how I’ve allowed this to happen.”
The layering of guilt he’s throwing at me is crushing.
“Daniel, you have been wonderful,” I tell him, but he shakes his head.
“I allowed Ryder to sleepover. I knew the two of you were having sex. I asked you if you were being careful and responsible.”
My bottom lip wobbles. “We were,” I whisper.
“You wouldn’t be pregnant if that were the case, Lizzie. And then I find out that you had sex with Jayson as well.”
“That happened once and on the night my memories came back,” I reply, trying to argue my case.
“The same night you ran off without a word and I find out you’re on a yacht with Fallon.”
Jesus. He’s hitting me with everything and shooting those arrows of guilt straight into my heart.
“Daniel—”
“I’m sorry, Lizzie. I’m so sorry that I failed you. But that stops now. I’m still your guardian and I’m still your uncle. And I love you. I hope you know that.” He pulls our hands together between us, holding tight. “I love you so much.”
The tears clouding his eyes are my Achilles heel.
“So, I hope you’ll understand why I’m doing this.”
“Doing what?”
“As of Monday, you and Hailey are finishing out the school year at Highland High.”
What?
“I thought we were moving back into our old house,” I splutter.
“We are.”
“But Highland is a completely different school district.”
“Phillip took care of that.” Daniel plows on, tossing out more of those emotionally-laden grenades my way.
“I’m so scared for you, sweetheart. Your safety and welfare come first. And I think this is the best plan of action to get you and Hailey away from all the bullying. You’ll both be safe at Highland.”
Safe? Marshall goes to Highland! But Daniel doesn’t know about him. He doesn’t know about any of it.
We look over at the doorway when we hear footsteps coming up the hallway.
“There you are,” Jayson says, and he and Fallon stop when they see Daniel. They must feel the tension in the room.
Daniel stands up and leans over to kiss me on the top of my head. “Please understand, Lizzie, and don’t fight me on this.”
I’m having a Groundhog’s Day type of month with how so many things keep getting repeated.
Didn’t Jayson say something similar to me the other day, just like I said basically the same thing to Fallon the night I showed up at his house asking for his help?
I could go on about how often I’m hearing the same things being repeated.
Which is weird. And a little freaky. It’s like my past and my present are coming together.
Daniel walks over to the guys, and I guess he was serious about being more parental because he tells them, “It’s a school night. No more sleepovers. You guys have thirty more minutes before I kick everyone out.” He pats them on the shoulders to lessen the severity of the statement and walks out.
“What the heck was that all about?” Jayson asks.
“Apparently, I’m being transferred to Highland High.”
“What the fu—”
Maybe I should’ve waited to tell them that.