Moody by Penelope Ward

Author:Penelope Ward [Ward, Penelope]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penelope Ward
Published: 2018-01-22T00:00:00+00:00

Dax

The weeks leading up to Wren’s departure went by extraordinarily fast. It was hard to believe it was now mid-May and she’d be leaving in only a couple of weeks. Based on our interactions since the sleepover, you’d never know that had happened. We hadn’t been alone together since, and that was the way things needed to be. We’d enjoyed that evening together as if it were our last night on Earth; I’d never forget it. But the priority right now needed to be Rafe.

Over the past couple of months, he had continued to improve. Once his therapist became aware of the reason for Rafe’s mutism, she’d been able to get through to him in a way she hadn’t before. With the new cognitive-behavioral-therapy approach, he was now back to talking almost normally. He still might not initiate many conversations, but he’d been able to fully participate at school, and was no longer intentionally staying silent when spoken to.

Wren had been coming over regularly to visit Rafe, making the most of the time before she had to leave. My one job, when I happened to be around during her visits, was to continue to pretend her moving to France wasn’t killing me inside. Despite the fact that we’d been keeping our distance, she remained constantly on my mind.

Today, in particular, two weeks before she was set to leave, was a huge day for all of us. Wren would be coming over to tell Rafe the truth—who she really was. We’d chosen a Saturday afternoon for the big talk, and although Shannon didn’t normally work weekends, she’d come over to offer her support. The talk wouldn’t fall exclusively on Wren’s shoulders. It would be a team effort.

We had a few minutes before Wren was set to arrive, and Rafe was upstairs in his room with no idea of what was about to hit him. Shannon brewed some coffee while I sat in a kitchen chair, bouncing my legs. I was a ball of nerves, unsure of how this was going to play out.

“You okay?” she asked.

“Yeah. Just a little anxious for him, even though I know this is a wonderful thing.”

She cocked her head. “Just anxious for him?”

“What do you mean?”

“Wren is leaving in a couple of weeks. How do you feel about that?”

“It doesn’t matter how I feel about it,” I balked.

“I never asked you what happened the night of my party because it’s none of my business. But I can tell something’s changed in you since then.” She paused. “You obviously have feelings for her.”

There was no point in denying it. Shannon could see right through me. I sighed. “I’m definitely going to miss her. But I’m not going to mess up this opportunity for Wren. She knows I have feelings for her. But she also knows I’m not going to do anything about them.”

“Because of Rafe…”

“Of course, because of Rafe.”

That was the absolute truth. Because if it weren’t for Rafe, despite all of my other fears, I would’ve chanced it.

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