If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch

Author:Emily Murdoch
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Part II

THE MIDDLE

It’s always useful to know where a friend-and-relation is, whether you want him or whether you don’t.

—RABBIT, FROM POOH’S LITTLE INSTRUCTION BOOK

10

Melissa calls it fate when school reopens on Wednesday, December 1, the exact day I’m supposed to start. The snow has been divided and conquered, plowed to each side of the roadway, and the buses are running again. However, Melissa takes her mom job seriously, driving Delaney to school on those slippery, snowy days—which means driving all three of us now.

“I’m going to drop you girls at the high school first, so I can get Jenessa settled into her new classroom.”

“Don’t you worry about Carey, Mom.” Delaney turns to me from the front seat, her face sweet as pie. “I’ll take her to homeroom and introduce her to everyone.”

Melissa looks harried as she switches on her blinker and turns right, weaving her way through the high school parking lot and coming to a stop along the sidewalk by the front entrance.

“Well, I registered her last week, and took care of all the paperwork. You sure, Delly?”

“Sure I’m sure. No self-respecting sophomore shows up for homeroom with a parent in tow.”

I’m paying little attention to either of them at this point, as I take in the building, so large that I have to blink to be sure I’m really seeing what I’m seeing. I could get lost in there and no one would find me for weeks.

“You’re absolutely sure?” Melissa darts a look at her watch.

“Yes, we’re sure.” Delaney throws her arms around Melissa, and my teeth ache. “We can look out for each other. Didn’t you say that’s what sisters do? It’s more important you take care of Jenessa. Right, Carey?”

I swallow the lump in my throat and nod. Melissa surveys me in the rearview mirror. I force my own pie smile.

“If they ask, Mrs. Haskell sent her records along two weeks ago, so there’s no need for her to go to the office that I know of.”

“Then we’ll go straight to homeroom. C’mon, Carey.”

Melissa looks as dubious as I feel, but another glance at her watch seals the deal.

“Okay. I’m counting on you, Delly, to get her to homeroom and her classes today.”

Melissa turns to me. “By the end of the day, you’ll be an old pro.”

Delaney snickers as I step out of the SUV and slide on an icy patch of asphalt. I fumble with my violin case, wondering why I even brought the dang thing. I must look like a doofus (Mama’s word for me). I wonder what word Delaney would use—something different, perhaps, but meaning the same. I barely have time to give Ness a hug and kiss, what with Delaney tugging on my arm and bossing me around.

“You’ll be right fine, Ness. Remember what I told you. Be a good girl. Have fun.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever,” Delaney says, waving at Melissa as she pulls out. “If you don’t get moving, we’ll both be late.”

I watch the SUV until it disappears, almost jumping out of my skin when a car horn blares behind me.

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