Unwanted: Finding Where You're Loved by Elise Manion

Author:Elise Manion [Manion, Elise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798988211006
Publisher: Happy Distraction Press
Published: 2023-07-27T16:00:00+00:00

Deena thought her confession would surprise me. It did — and didn’t. I used to believe my father a super hero. After living with him those few months, my dad revealed a dark side, one I’d been warned about, but refused to believe existed. Whether or not he’d meant to show it, I’ll never know.

Or maybe I’d chosen to ignore it all along? Children instinctually love their parents no matter how severe their cruelty.

I’d read that somewhere, and now I was a believer.

Mom and I cleaned up the broken pieces of her addiction, tossing the bits in the garbage. When I pushed her for more information, she said, “I never meant to tell you about your father’s past and basically that’s all you need to know. I can’t keep blaming him. I need to move on. I’m turning my life around, Sophie.”

Though she wasn’t manic, I recognized the flare of temper I’d grown up with. I knew if I pushed, we’d be taking two steps back in our tenuous relationship.

An hour passed since the flushing and the toast had long grown cold. I scrambled two eggs and split them for sandwiches. We sat at our beat-up table and talked about Deena’s petunias, leaving last night’s incident with her dealer in the dark.

Even though she knew I’d overheard her conversation with Clyde, we never talked about my previous assault, the part she’d played, or the destruction of that damn pipe. Neither of us were ready to dredge it up.

Around three o’clock, Grandma LaPage walked through the door. “How are we today?”

I looked at Mom as she silently begged me not to rat her out.

“We’re good, Grandma. What’s up with you?”

She bounced her eyes between Deena and me before announcing, “I have a summer job lined up for you, Sophie.”

“Ookay?” I hadn’t asked her for money since I flew to Oregon.

“I know the manager of a local babysitting service who hires teens on their summer break.”

Babysitting sounded normal…but, “I don’t have a car, Grandma.” I’d gotten my driver’s license through school but the last time I drove was for my test.

As if reading my mind, Grandma said, “The service provides a shuttle.”

Convenient.

“Sophie,” Mom said. “You don’t have to work if you don’t want to. It would be nice to hang out together this summer.”

Grandma LaPage glared at my mother, an unspoken argument going on between them. Then I remembered they knew about Jeremy.

“How do I apply?” I might as well take advantage of earning an income while here. My father wasn’t going to offer me an allowance when — or if — I got back to Oregon. Lord only knew what Tammy was instigating. There was a real possibility I wouldn’t be going back at all.

Thank you, Grandma LaPage. Just saved me time looking for a job.

She reached into her purse and handed me a scribbled note with a web address on it. “You have to apply through this.”

I suppressed a smile at her lack of technology. “I’ll do it now,” I said, escaping to my room and away from whatever argument they were about to have.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.