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“I was outside Hanging out withbreak, it ar so well during my first year on the teaht “Adele had been gonefor Christmas presents She askedwith her She’d run back and forth across the back patio, giggling nonstop It took her awhile to warm up to ot her to co hiet it out, no matter how painful it must be for him to relive the day I’d rather comfort him and tell hiot a phone call He’d been working on a big ether and he had to take the call He told ht and of course, I said I would” He released a shuddering sigh and closed his eyes “She played hide and go seek withher I knewon the phone

Adele was suddenly at the door and she asked me…she asked me to come inside with her I told her I couldn’t, that I had to watch Vanessa and she convinced ht there And he was, I swear he was So I went in and…and Vanessa soated area that surrounds the pool and she fell in Turns out my dad had walked to the front of the house but I didn’t know it then He didn’t realize I left Vanessa alone I thought he had her and he thought I had her…”

Drew fell apart Literally crurave, his shoulders heaving as he hunched over the gravestone as if in prayer “I’oddamned sorry”

I went to him Got down on my knees and wrapped ing his arainst ainstin his hair as I tried , silentwith eainst me I let him, felt the tears and the sadness well up inside of ed rief and pain

This isn’t all that plagues him, I know I can sense there’s ht freak out Or worse, think less of him

It has to do with Adele And I think I knohat it is

I’m just not ready to face it yet

~ Chapter Twelve ~

Day 6 (Black Friday), 11:00 pm

It’s the people who know you the best that can hurt you the most – Drew Callahan

Drew

I’et

After the cerabbed some fast food for lunch, then headed back ho between us, and I couldn’t have held a conversation if I tried I’m exhausted, both emotionally and physically, and she knows it Fable doesn’t push, doesn’t ask for any explanations unless she dee what happened the day Vanessa drowned Hard to believe, but it felt good getting everything off of my chest I’ve never talked about my sister’s death with anyone Not my parents, no one I’ve held that inside , it was like a dam broke

I cried I mourned I told my story and was so damn thankful when she didn’t flinch, didn’t condee She just heldbaby

Da fking eht to cry and rage if I want

We slept the rest of the afternoon away Together Curled up in thearound each other, a blanket drawn up over us The afternoon throughwe remained like this, and I knee both needed it Neither of us has slept much this hile in Car as the two-year anniversary of et out of here, but unsure what life’s going to bring Fable and ht do What sheup

My cell pings and I knoithout looking who it is My dad or Adele, the very last two people I want to talk to I scoot over and sit up, reaching for my phone The la out its di at my cell, I see that yep, it’s my dad who sent the text and just as I’ain, it’s my dad

“Sorry I haven’t returned your calls,” I ih time of it too, and I shouldn’t shut hi up on me” Fuck, it’s Adele

“What do you want?” I keepmy best not to disturb Fable but she rustles under the blanket, turning away so her back is to me

I have no idea if she’s awake or not, but I have no plans in saying anything to Adele that Fable h I confessed what happened with Vanessa today No way can I dump any more on her