Katie's New Recipe by Coco Simon

Author:Coco Simon
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Simon Spotlight

CHAPTER 10

“Your Dad, Marc Donald Brown”

It didn’t take us long to finish up our plan for the PTA display. When my friends left, I found Mom in her bedroom, reading a book.

“Mom, I think I want to read that e-mail now,” I said.

Mom nodded, but she didn’t look happy. “Okay. Let’s read it together.”

For a second I almost argued with her. It was my e-mail, wasn’t it? Why did she have to be so protective? But I was really eager to see the e-mail, so I didn’t make a big deal out of it.

I looked over Mom’s shoulder as she opened the e-mail on my phone, and I read the message silently to myself. My heart started to beat really fast, though I wasn’t exactly sure why.

Dear Katie,

I know it’s been a very long time since I’ve seen you, but I think of you often. I live nearby with my wife and our three children, and I’d like very much to come take you to lunch or for ice cream, so we can get to know each other a little more. Here is my e-mail address, my home address, and my phone number.

Love,

Your dad, Marc Donald Brown

“Your dad, Marc Donald Brown.” For some reason, that line stuck with me. I mean, I know that Marc Donald Brown is my father. But a dad is more than a father, right? Like Callie’s dad, who used to play Monopoly with us for hours; or Alexis’s dad, who drives us places; or even Mia’s stepdad, who cooks for us and makes jokes. How could Marc Donald Brown say he’s my dad?

Unless maybe he wants to be my dad now, I thought, and I could feel a tiny spark of hope shimmer inside me. I think a part of me had been wishing for that my whole life.

“You okay, Katie?” Mom asked softly. She chewed her lip, like she does when she’s upset.

“I want to e-mail him back, Mom,” I said.

Mom looked surprised. “You do?”

I nodded.

Mom looked thoughtful. “Look, Katie, I don’t want to see you get hurt. Please let me call him first and talk about what his intentions are with you. He left us a very long time ago, and this is the first time he’s reached out like this. I guess I don’t trust him. I need to find out what’s going on or what has changed to make him do this.”

That sounded fair. But one thing was still bugging me.

“Mom, he says he lives nearby—look at his address. It’s one town over! I thought you said he moved to Washington.”

“He did, at first,” Mom said. “But then he moved back here with his family a few years ago. I didn’t tell you because . . . Well, I’m not sure why, honestly. I kept worrying that would we run in to him somewhere, but we never did.”

It took a minute for this all to sink in. I couldn’t be mad with Mom for not telling me. Even if I knew,

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