Page 98 (2/2)
He was studying a painting on the wall, the signed and numbered Meyers print that I’d purchased last year "It wasn’t all her fault, Liam I share the blas as a person"
He turned back to s, Liam We’re human Yes, she had hers, but I havehow much those words sound like what Jenna said toI have It bothersmy bottle back, I finish the last of the beer
A half hour later, I escort , which I concede "Love you, son," he says as he gripsback and looking at ive your mother It will help a lot I know she’s not here anyiveness And as for your life, well… You should talk to Jenna Sort this all out She seehs "Yeah, you knohat I mean"
I do, but it’s easier to correct him than to address the rest of what he said It’s true, I could talk to her…but would she only hurt ain?
Another week passes Another week ofour usual Wednesday e to bring up the subject with Mia
"How is Jenna?" I say as quietly and as blandly as I canon the answer But led
She stares at her breakfast plate for a long ti up into smaller bites than she usually does Then she sits back, suppressing a yaith the back of her hand "Sorry, I had a bad night last night Up late studying"
I fork a bite of sausage and pop it infor her answer
"So, ue tastes like ashes in htens And yet--I knew it I knew she would leave But somehow it still hits me like a ton of bricks
"The Renaissance Faire doesn’t ed to s that dry luh "No, I mean she left the country, William She went to Bosnia early to spend ti"
"Did she say when she’d be back?"
"She didn’t, Williaht stay there permanently with her family"
Suddenly, I’m done with my breakfast I sit back and push my plate away, then quickly excuse myself I do have lots of work to do, but I can’t think about anything else the rest of the day Not that Jenna was far frohts before this, but now she’s halfway around the world and I can’t stop thinking about how permanent this is I’ve lost her forever
I can’t explain why, but that night when I get home, I open the drawer that holds the stack of cash and birthday cards froht theed in order froh them in that order until I reach the last one--the one I didn’t read the night I ith Jenna