Past Perfect Life by Elizabeth Eulberg

Author:Elizabeth Eulberg
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Chapter

TWENTY-FIVE

“I have something to tell you,” Sheriff Gleason says to me the next day. “I gave your message to your father.”

“You did?” A foreign feeling swells in my belly: hope. I haven’t felt hopeful in what seems like forever. Even though I can’t say goodbye, I need to have some kind of word from him before I leave.

“Yes. He thanks you for the message, but most of all he wants you to know that he loves you. He made it easy so I couldn’t forget.” He gives me a wink. “He also said that he wants you to give your mother a chance. He knows he’s deprived her of getting to see an incredible young woman grow up. And I agree with him. Paula and her family deserve a chance. They’ve been punished for years. So please try.”

I nod. Dad has a point, even though, you know, this is his fault. I can’t deny that Paula is my mother and I should try. It doesn’t really matter, does it? The law says I have to go with my guardian. Sheriff Gleason says I have to go. Even my dad wants me to go with them. So I’m going.

But I can be sad about leaving. All through packing and even now, I’m still in disbelief that I’m really moving. That this IS happening.

“Please give them until at least graduation.” He says it as if it doesn’t feel a lifetime away. “Then you can come back here. You’ll be so busy with your last semester of senior year it’ll fly by.”

“Sure,” I reply unconvincingly.

“Well, I better make sure there aren’t any prying eyes around.”

“Thanks, truly.” I give him a quick hug before either of us tears up.

He nods at me one last time before exiting the house.

I head to the living room and sit on the couch, my packed bags by my feet. Marian and her mom wait with me for Paula and Craig to show up. Baxter’s lying on the floor, his sad eyes looking up at me. He can tell there’s something wrong. Dogs always have a sixth sense about these things. He whimpered when Marian took him out this morning, stubbornly pulling on his leash. I have a feeling he thinks I’m leaving him behind. He’s probably going to hate being on the plane. He’ll probably hate Florida, too, but at least I’ll have him.

“They’re here,” Marian’s mom says as she pulls the drapes down again. “Now, remember, call if you need anything.”

“And I’ll see you in a couple weeks,” Marian replies.

Marian’s mom called Paula last night to see if it would be okay if Marian came to visit me during Christmas break.

It’s making an impossible situation just a tiny bit easier knowing I’ll get to see a familiar face soon.

Baxter starts running in his little circle. He started doing this his second day here. I think he’s waiting for Dad to walk through the door.

“Come here,” I call to him. For some reason I don’t want him enthusiastically greeting Paula and Craig.

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