Jess and Will called, too. Left messages on your phone.”
“How does everyone know?”
“Well—it was on the news.”
“Oh, so people at school know?”
“Yeah. A bunch of people called me. They weren’t sure what to do.”
“I don’t want to talk to anyone, Colin. Or see anyone.”
“Okay, I’ll tell them. Dave said a ton of people had called him, too. Some of your parents’ friends wanted to come over and . . .”
Just then, I realized that Uncle Dave had been gone for hours. Where was he? What had happened at the police station? Why hadn’t he called? My mind started racing. Something was wrong. I could feel it.
CHAPTER SIX
Accident
“You talked to Dave?” I asked frantically as I jumped up from the sofa. “What did he say? Why isn’t he home?”
“Hey, slow down,” Colin said, pulling on me to sit down. “Dave handled everything at the station and then went to,” he paused not wanting to say too much, “handle some things. And then he was going to stop at his house and pack a bag so he could stay here tonight.”
By “handle things” I knew Dave was visiting the morgue and probably some funeral homes, arranging for a burial. Part of me felt excluded, like I should have been the one picking out their caskets and the cemetery. But deep down, I was grateful that Dave was taking care of it all. I had always felt older than my age, but at that moment I felt like a child, just wanting to hide from it all.
“Dave said things took longer than he thought they would. Said he’d be back around 6 and we could all eat dinner together.”
“What is this obsession with eating?” I asked, annoyed. I couldn’t understand how normal activities like eating could resume when my parents had died just hours earlier.
“You don’t have to eat, Sam. But it might make you feel better.”
“Nothing will make me feel better! So stop trying!” I yelled. I didn’t mean to lash out at Colin. But I had to yell at someone and he was the only person around.
“Uh, okay, Sam. I don’t know what you want from me.” Colin looked frustrated. I could tell that he wanted so badly to be able to turn back the clock and make everything normal again. And who could blame him? It was his senior year—a year that should be filled with fun and friends, not a girlfriend who was dealing with the death of her parents.
I took Colin’s hand and settled in close to him. We sat in silence, watching the room get darker as evening rolled in. Just before 6, Dave came trudging through the door, his arms full of groceries and luggage. It had been snowing most of the day, leaving his coat and shoes soggy and wet.
I got up and ran over to Dave. “So what happened? Where have you been?”
“Sorry it took so long, Sam. I should have called, but I was so busy trying to make arrangements and pack my bags. I’m going to stay here for a while. For quite a while, actually.” Dave nodded at Colin, a signal that he needed to be alone with me. Colin took the groceries and left for the kitchen.
“Um, okay, why? Do I need a babysitter?”
“Well, in a way, yes.” Dave hung up his sopping-wet coat and put his boots on the rubber mat by the door. “Come here,” he said, guiding me back to the sofa to sit down. “When I was at the station today, the police reminded me that you’re still a minor, so an adult needs to stay here with you. I know it sounds ridiculous, Sam, since you’re almost 18, but it’s the law. Of course, we could move to my place, but I was pretty sure you’d want to stay here.”
It’s not like this was bad news, having Dave live at the house, but it was another change I wasn’t prepared for. Dave was a lifelong bachelor. His house was a mess and he lived on takeout. I could take care of him better than he could take care of me.
“So what do you think, Sam? Are you okay with this?”
“Yeah. I understand,” I muttered.
“Well, I’m not the best housekeeper and I’m
“How does everyone know?”
“Well—it was on the news.”
“Oh, so people at school know?”
“Yeah. A bunch of people called me. They weren’t sure what to do.”
“I don’t want to talk to anyone, Colin. Or see anyone.”
“Okay, I’ll tell them. Dave said a ton of people had called him, too. Some of your parents’ friends wanted to come over and . . .”
Just then, I realized that Uncle Dave had been gone for hours. Where was he? What had happened at the police station? Why hadn’t he called? My mind started racing. Something was wrong. I could feel it.
CHAPTER SIX
Accident
“You talked to Dave?” I asked frantically as I jumped up from the sofa. “What did he say? Why isn’t he home?”
“Hey, slow down,” Colin said, pulling on me to sit down. “Dave handled everything at the station and then went to,” he paused not wanting to say too much, “handle some things. And then he was going to stop at his house and pack a bag so he could stay here tonight.”
By “handle things” I knew Dave was visiting the morgue and probably some funeral homes, arranging for a burial. Part of me felt excluded, like I should have been the one picking out their caskets and the cemetery. But deep down, I was grateful that Dave was taking care of it all. I had always felt older than my age, but at that moment I felt like a child, just wanting to hide from it all.
“Dave said things took longer than he thought they would. Said he’d be back around 6 and we could all eat dinner together.”
“What is this obsession with eating?” I asked, annoyed. I couldn’t understand how normal activities like eating could resume when my parents had died just hours earlier.
“You don’t have to eat, Sam. But it might make you feel better.”
“Nothing will make me feel better! So stop trying!” I yelled. I didn’t mean to lash out at Colin. But I had to yell at someone and he was the only person around.
“Uh, okay, Sam. I don’t know what you want from me.” Colin looked frustrated. I could tell that he wanted so badly to be able to turn back the clock and make everything normal again. And who could blame him? It was his senior year—a year that should be filled with fun and friends, not a girlfriend who was dealing with the death of her parents.
I took Colin’s hand and settled in close to him. We sat in silence, watching the room get darker as evening rolled in. Just before 6, Dave came trudging through the door, his arms full of groceries and luggage. It had been snowing most of the day, leaving his coat and shoes soggy and wet.
I got up and ran over to Dave. “So what happened? Where have you been?”
“Sorry it took so long, Sam. I should have called, but I was so busy trying to make arrangements and pack my bags. I’m going to stay here for a while. For quite a while, actually.” Dave nodded at Colin, a signal that he needed to be alone with me. Colin took the groceries and left for the kitchen.
“Um, okay, why? Do I need a babysitter?”
“Well, in a way, yes.” Dave hung up his sopping-wet coat and put his boots on the rubber mat by the door. “Come here,” he said, guiding me back to the sofa to sit down. “When I was at the station today, the police reminded me that you’re still a minor, so an adult needs to stay here with you. I know it sounds ridiculous, Sam, since you’re almost 18, but it’s the law. Of course, we could move to my place, but I was pretty sure you’d want to stay here.”
It’s not like this was bad news, having Dave live at the house, but it was another change I wasn’t prepared for. Dave was a lifelong bachelor. His house was a mess and he lived on takeout. I could take care of him better than he could take care of me.
“So what do you think, Sam? Are you okay with this?”
“Yeah. I understand,” I muttered.
“Well, I’m not the best housekeeper and I’m
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