Capture the Wind for Me by Brandilyn Collins

to. I had to admit to her sense of propriety. Talking to Daddy at church, smiling at him when she came into the bank, was one thing; crossing our threshold quite another. This was my turf.
    I made a point of studying in my bedroom while Derek worked in our house. I’d felt awkward around him ever since the at-home. Not because of that fleeting moment of weirdness between us; that I’d long since chalked up to the surrounding anxiety of the moment. But because of the obvious growing attraction between his half sister and my father. What had Derek and I to say to one another? What could we say?
    â€œJackie.” Daddy stuck his head in my door around nine o’clock. “Derek’s all done. You need to come say thank you.”
    â€œDon’t worry about it,” I heard Derek mutter as I pushed back from my desk. He stood in our hallway, head tilted, one hand shoved in his pocket.
    â€œThanks so much, Derek,” I offered, meaning it. I knew he’d probably come straight over from work. “I don’t know when you’ll have time to do homework tonight.”
    â€œOr eat a full supper for that matter,” Daddy added.
    Derek lifted a shoulder. “I’ll be okay. Don’t need that much sleep anyway.” He glanced at me, then considered the floor. “Well.” He turned to Daddy. “Thanks again for the sandwich.”
    â€œHey, the least I could do.” Daddy opened the door.
    â€œAnd if you run into trouble, just give me a call.” Derek threw me a shadow of a smile and stepped out onto our porch. Daddy and I followed to see him off.
    â€œHe’s a nice kid,” Daddy remarked as we watched him drive away. “Mighty smart.”
    â€œMighty strange, too.”
    Daddy focused on something in the distance. “Not strange, Jackie. Just different. He’s—himself. That takes a strong person.”
    â€œUh-huh.” I pursed my mouth, irritated at his defense of Derek. I couldn’t help but think he’d said it just because Derek was Katherine’s brother.
    An hour later in my bedroom I sang along to “I Want You Back” by ’NSync. I’d already seen Clarissa and Robert to bed. Daddy knocked on my door, saying he needed to talk to me again. Instinctively, I knew what the topic would be. No, no, no, I thought. Couldn’t we talk tomorrow? How about next week, next year? How about never?
    â€œOkay,” I mumbled and turned off my radio.
    Daddy lowered himself to the edge of my bed and crossed his ankles, hands clasped between his knees. I waited. He regarded me with an expression of love and sadness that sent darts through my chest.
    â€œI suppose you’ve guessed what I want to talk to you about.”
    A stillness gathered within me. I nodded.
    He inhaled slowly. “I don’t know if I can do this very well. Just hear me out, okay?”
    â€œOkay.”
    He focused on his thumbs, lining them up side by side. “It’s been a long road for me since your mama’s death, Jackie, as it’s been for you. In the last few weeks, I’ve felt an anticipation about life that’s been gone for a long time. Katherine . . . is an unusual person. She has many fine qualities, and I would like to start spending some time with her to get to know her better.”
    He paused, awaiting a reaction. I remained silent, denials humming through my head.
    â€œYou kids are the most important thing, though; I hope you know that. Robert and Clarissa like Katherine a lot. I’m mostly concerned about you. I’d like you to be honest with me about what you’re feeling. And I want to tell you that I don’t know where all this will lead. I simply want the chance to explore where it may go, and I can only do that by spending time with Katherine. Not that I need your permission. But I do want your understanding. Mostly, I don’t want you to be hurt. This doesn’t in any way mean I love you