He let her take her bag up to her room. He gave her the
space she needed. She unpacked in quiet. The house was even
quieter below her. It was like her dad wasn’t even there, but
she knew that he was. He wasn’t rushing out. Wasn’t grabbing
his keys and rushing straight to the highway to Claire’s house
to declare war. Maybe that was an improvement. Maybe that
meant something. Haley hoped so.
When she had everything put away, she sat down at the big
writing desk and took out her phone. She sighed softly when
there were no missed calls or messages. She knew Claire
wouldn’t contact her, but of course she’d still hoped.
She felt so tired. She felt like all the things she’d come to
make right were falling apart worse than ever. She didn’t know
how to fix anything. She wanted to go back to Claire’s more
than anything. She refused to accept that she might never see
Claire again.
Claire had listened the night before, but she hadn’t been
able to change her mind.
Haley’s heart wouldn’t listen.
Her dad really hadn’t listened to her either. Would he ever?
Haley dialed her grandma’s number. Out of everyone in the
world, even her best friends, she knew her grandma would
hear her out. She’d hear everything that Haley said and didn’t
say. Maybe she’d hear it all without Haley even having to utter
a word.
Her grandma’s voice was bright and sweet, familiar and
loving, and it brought Haley to tears. “Hello, dear. I’ve got a
batch of chocolate chip cookies just pulled out from the oven,
so you had better tell me you’re calling because you’re on
your way over here.”