Pretty Furious by E.K. Johnston

Author:E.K. Johnston [Johnston, E.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2024-04-16T00:00:00+00:00

15.

Mags Sharpe

It was a risk, but I couldn’t resist it. That weekend, I went into the sewing shop in town, because Elizabeth worked there, and I was pretty sure she’d be alone. Like Julia Hoernig’s photography store, the sewing shop had clung on by sheer will and special online orders. I brought Elsie in a few times over the summer. She’d gotten really into friendship bracelets and needed embroidery floss and beads. It gave her something to do when she visited Grandpa and he didn’t know who she was.

It was a tiny space. The restaurant next door took up what used to be the back half. Internal architecture changed inside these old buildings sometimes, to meet the needs of the stores that remained. There was a fire door at the back, but the front door was used for deliveries. If Elizabeth needed the washroom, she had to flip the sign and use the restaurant bathrooms. The weird interdependencies to stay on Main Street.

The bell rang when I opened the door, but I couldn’t see Elizabeth at first. The walls were stacked high with bolts of cloth, and the two small aisles were tall and crammed with everything from needles to cutting mats. It was like walking into a magical workshop, where everything was potential and none of the finished products existed yet, because imagination hadn’t made them physical.

“Hi,” said Elizabeth. I could tell by her expression that she had no idea why I might be in the store. Our parents were cousins, but we weren’t that close.

“Hi,” I said. “I know this is going to seem a bit weird, but are you okay?”

To be completely honest, she looked much better in the store than she did at school. The defensiveness was gone. Her shoulders were square. This was clearly a place where she felt safe. I was glad she still had that.

“Yeah,” she said. “I mean . . . yeah.”

“Look, it’s none of my business, but if you want to know, you should ask your mother,” I said.

“Know what?” Elizabeth asked.

“You know she came over to our house to fill out the divorce papers?” I said. Elizabeth winced and nodded. “They didn’t ask me to leave the room. I didn’t realize what they were talking about until they said it. They might have forgotten I was there. But you’re not the reason your dad left. And I know you know that, but if you want the truth, you should ask.”

“Is it Mum’s fault?” Elizabeth’s voice broke.

“Oh God, no,” I said. I wanted to hug her, but I wasn’t sure she’d let me. “No, sorry, that’s not what I meant. Your mum is taking the high road. She’s letting your dad keep secrets because she doesn’t want you to think he’s the bad guy. I don’t think he’d do the same thing.”

“She’s covering for him?” Elizabeth asked. She looked too exhausted to be upset.

“Yeah,” I said. “And she’s telling herself it’s for your sake, but it’s not. Your dad asked her not to tell to protect you, but he’s protecting himself.

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