Triplets Make Five

“No,” I stopped her. “I don’t want to hear your excuses. I don’t. There’s nothing you can say that would justify the way you abandoned your daughter.”

“I’m trying to get better,” she sniffled. “I swear, Caleb. That’s why I’m here. That’s why I checked myself into treatment, because I knew I couldn’t do this anymore.”

“Good,” I said, shaking my head. I’d heard this a dozen times before. I have heard the tears, the emotional appeals. I did not believe it anymore. Until my sister came home, sober and ready to behave like a decent human being, I would not believe it. “I hope, for Emmy’s sake, that yo

u can get your life together.”

I was tempted to hang up the phone.

“Calista, just to be clear, I’m not doing this for you, I’m doing this for Emmy.”

Then I slammed down the phone and sunk back into my chair. My head was throbbing and I needed to get out of this office. I reached for my cell phone and I pulled the thread of text messages that I’ve exchanged with Daisy.

“Join Emmy and I for dinner tonight?”

I hit ‘send,’ and then I second-guessed myself. This wasn’t exactly a sexy follow-up to our last date, but before I could think too much about it, her response showed onto the screen:

“As long as it’s our little secret :)”

I smiled, sliding my phone back into my pocket, and despite the phone call from Calista, everything somehow felt brighter.

15

| DAISY

“God, look at you,” Raven rolled her eyes as she watched me grin into the screen of my phone. “You’re so smitten with this guy that literally it’s disgusting.”

“Shut up,” I said, even though her comment made my smile grow wider.

“I know that look,” Raven eyed me up and down knowingly. “You got the D.”

My entire face burned bright red and I slapped her arm, glancing around the schoolyard to make sure nobody overheard.

“You did!” Raven insisted. “Don’t deny it.”

“That’s none of your business,” I snapped. “And besides, I shouldn’t be talking about this at school anyway. Not after what Mr. Richmond said--”

“Ok, Mr. Strict-mond needs to loosen the hell up,” Raven said, rolling her eyes again. “And you, missy, need to give me all the dirty details.”

I sighed, then I flicked my eyes to her. I tried to keep a straight face, but my resolve immediately melted and I busted into a huge smile.

“Ok, ok,” I admitted. “We might have,” I nodded my head, filling in the blanks.

“Oh my God!” Raven squealed, grabbing my shoulders and pulling me in for a hug. This time, a few pairs of curious eyes do looked our way, but Raven ignores them.

“Finally!” she gushed. “Do you know how long I’ve waited for this? Oh my God I feel like I should get you a cupcake or something. Do you want a cupcake? I want a cupcake.”

“Slow down,” I said, glancing around anxiously for any sign of Mr. Richmond. “Let’s not make a huge deal out of this.”

“It is a huge deal!” Raven clapped her hands together. Then, in a whisper, she added, “You’re a woman now!”

I stabbed her in the ribs with my elbow, and she finally forced herself to take a deep breath and contain her enthusiasm.

“I need all the details, obviously.”

“No way,” I said. “That’s private.”

“Please,” Raven rolled her eyes. “It’s Caleb Preston. The man is about as private as a bus stop bench.”