Some Kind of Normal

“Yep, we should head over soon,” I answered. I leaned into the mirror and applied some gloss before stepping back.

“So, your mom, she knows what your dad’s gonna do?”

I nodded. “She was home with Isaac a few days ago but decided to go back to my uncle’s. She just thought this was going to be too hard for Isaac, and well, she’s pretty devastated, you know? She’s not doing very well.”

“Was she mad that you stayed here?”

“I don’t think she’s mad, but she wanted me with her. She’s confused and hurt by everything, and I think she just wishes it was all over. She’s supposed to be coming back next week, but I’m not sure that’s going to happen. And poor Isaac, he’s like this little confused puppy dog. This is going to be hard on him. Hard on everybody.”

I missed her so much. I swiped at my eyes. Don’t cry. Not today.

Hales walked up behind me, slipping her arms around my waist and staring at me in the mirror as she leaned her head on my shoulders.

“Well, I think it’s great that you’re supporting your dad the way you are. I don’t know if I could…I mean, I love my dad even if he’s the biggest grump on the planet, but if he came home and told me he was gay, I’d freak the hell out. I’d eat at least one hundred cartons of ice cream and end up in the hospital or something.”

“Um, impossible to eat one hundred cartons of ice cream. Besides, that’s a little bit of an overreaction, don’t you think?”

“I don’t know, Everly. The gay thing is worth at least eighty cartons.”

I made a face in the mirror. “Maybe seventy-five.”

She giggled but fell silent as soon as our eyes met in the mirror. “It’s going to be tough, you know that, right? Like, people are going to talk and they might say some really awful things. Not everyone is forward-thinking in this town. Heck, in this country. It’s just the way it is.”

“I know, but I’ve got you in my corner, right?”

She stood back. “Yep. You do. So, we gonna do this or what?”

I blew out a long breath. “Thanks for everything, Hales.”

“No problem. I’m the sunshine to your KC.”

Okay. “Um, what?” We were heading down the stairs.

“You know. KC and the Sunshine Band? They’re, like, older than retro so I’m not surprised that you’ve never heard of them. Your taste in music is pretty pathetic.”

“You’re crazy.”

“Yep, that’s me. The rock to your roll. The snap and crackle to your pop.”

By the time we reached her car, I was laughing, though that didn’t last long, because when we reached the church, the parking lot was packed. Like sardine packed, and I glanced at Hailey nervously as we pulled in behind my dad’s car in our family spot. I spied Mrs. Henney walking up the steps, and she hadn’t been to service in at least six months.

“Go figure, everyone’s decided they need to worship today,” I said woodenly, staring at my hands. At the chipped blue polish I’d meant to replace.

“You don’t have to do this, you know. Your dad will understand.”

I knew he would. He’d told me to stay home, but how could I? He needed me, and even though a part of me was still confused and upset, he was my dad and I loved him. All of him. Even the parts that I didn’t know all that well. The ones he’d kept secret.

“I’m going in,” I said quietly, reaching for the door.

“Okay, Captain,” Hales said. “I’m right behind you. Just don’t expect me to sing or anything, because we both know I can’t carry a tune. Like seriously. Remember in fifth grade when Mrs. Yancy told me not to sing the national anthem? Remember?”

“I remember.”

“I mean, she had no right, but she totally called it. Honestly, I love you, Everly, but I have to draw the line somewhere.”

“Noted.”

“I mean it, Everly. If things go bad in there and you decide that you want some comic relief, do not look my way. I tell a joke worse than I sing.”