response. I’m eighteen, they don’t have to take me in or help me. I’m technically an adult. So for them to be doing this is going above and beyond and I might have accidently screwed the whole thing up.
Finally he clears his throat, “I think it’s going to take work and you can’t expect her to be normal after what she went through, Jenny. Things are going to happen. Remember what happened with Avery the first few months after he came to live with us?”
Laughing, “Oh yeah, that was hell on earth. Remember when he would go out partying at all hours and we found him that one time butt naked laid out on the kitchen table?”
They are both laughing over this and my eyebrow arches.
Say what? Who is this Avery? And why was he naked on a table? When they start whispering I lean closer not watching where I am leaning and my elbow falls off the center console knocking a few CD’s down to the floor.
Startled Jenny stops her whispering and looks at me with wide eyes. I assume she’s waiting for me to freak out or something or hoping I didn’t just hear her conversation. Smiling at me she holds up a finger, “Hey, Andrew I have to go. Hadley just woke up and we’re going to go find something for lunch.”
“ Mmm kays…talk to you in a few.”
Finally lunch , I think, my stomach rumbling in anticipation.
Awkward silence fills the car and neither of us fill it with words because we’re too busy looking for road signs and a place to stop for lunch.
***
I contemplate trying to kiss the ground once I’m out of the car, unfortunately when I try to open the truck door I remember that I can’t. Jenny rounds the truck and opens the door for me, “Sorry, I put the child lock on in case you tried to open the door and get out like the last time. You know the whole fight or flight response.” She shrugs like she’s trying to protect me.
How embarrassing, I’m not even going to tell her that I knew she did that earlier today. Twisting my hands in my lap I wait for Jenny to bring me my crutches not able to even look her in the face. She hands them to me and I stick them under my arms and adjust them as one digs into my arm.
Walking awkwardly into the restaurant I sigh in relief. I made it without falling. I’m also happy we stopped at a Denny’s, nothing fancy but they serve breakfast 24/7 … The smell of bacon fills the air and I inhale deeply. I’m bumped from behind by a waitress who apologizes sheepishly. I look across the room to see that my aunt’s already seated at a table. Awkwardly juggling the crutches I maneuver my way beyond the chairs and find my way to the table Jenny’s at and sit down. I eat quickly savoring it as if I haven’t eaten for days.
Looking at my phone to distract myself I notice the time and am counting down the minutes until I’ll be able to get some time to myself. I used to be a people person but ever since the accident all I want is to be alone. I’m sick of the pity. My mood is black and I’m sure Jenny wishes she didn’t have to do this for me.
“Not much longer until we get to my place. My fiancé, Andrew lives with me.” Jenny looks at me while dipping her fries in ketchup. “He’s been getting your room ready. . He had to move his office from downstairs to upstairs so you don’t have to walk up and down the stairs until your leg gets better.”
Nodding I continue to make a play of eating. I hate to be a bother to their lives. Having to move his office to another room must be a pain in the ass .
Looking up from my fries I mumble, “I’m sorry about him having to move. I could have just taken the room upstairs or even the couch.” But in all honestly I’m not exactly sure I could. I was taught to be polite and my mom would be disappointed in me if I didn’t at least offer to take the couch.
Jenny’s eyebrows are raised when she listens to me. I may have insulted her by suggesting the couch by the look on her
Finally he clears his throat, “I think it’s going to take work and you can’t expect her to be normal after what she went through, Jenny. Things are going to happen. Remember what happened with Avery the first few months after he came to live with us?”
Laughing, “Oh yeah, that was hell on earth. Remember when he would go out partying at all hours and we found him that one time butt naked laid out on the kitchen table?”
They are both laughing over this and my eyebrow arches.
Say what? Who is this Avery? And why was he naked on a table? When they start whispering I lean closer not watching where I am leaning and my elbow falls off the center console knocking a few CD’s down to the floor.
Startled Jenny stops her whispering and looks at me with wide eyes. I assume she’s waiting for me to freak out or something or hoping I didn’t just hear her conversation. Smiling at me she holds up a finger, “Hey, Andrew I have to go. Hadley just woke up and we’re going to go find something for lunch.”
“ Mmm kays…talk to you in a few.”
Finally lunch , I think, my stomach rumbling in anticipation.
Awkward silence fills the car and neither of us fill it with words because we’re too busy looking for road signs and a place to stop for lunch.
***
I contemplate trying to kiss the ground once I’m out of the car, unfortunately when I try to open the truck door I remember that I can’t. Jenny rounds the truck and opens the door for me, “Sorry, I put the child lock on in case you tried to open the door and get out like the last time. You know the whole fight or flight response.” She shrugs like she’s trying to protect me.
How embarrassing, I’m not even going to tell her that I knew she did that earlier today. Twisting my hands in my lap I wait for Jenny to bring me my crutches not able to even look her in the face. She hands them to me and I stick them under my arms and adjust them as one digs into my arm.
Walking awkwardly into the restaurant I sigh in relief. I made it without falling. I’m also happy we stopped at a Denny’s, nothing fancy but they serve breakfast 24/7 … The smell of bacon fills the air and I inhale deeply. I’m bumped from behind by a waitress who apologizes sheepishly. I look across the room to see that my aunt’s already seated at a table. Awkwardly juggling the crutches I maneuver my way beyond the chairs and find my way to the table Jenny’s at and sit down. I eat quickly savoring it as if I haven’t eaten for days.
Looking at my phone to distract myself I notice the time and am counting down the minutes until I’ll be able to get some time to myself. I used to be a people person but ever since the accident all I want is to be alone. I’m sick of the pity. My mood is black and I’m sure Jenny wishes she didn’t have to do this for me.
“Not much longer until we get to my place. My fiancé, Andrew lives with me.” Jenny looks at me while dipping her fries in ketchup. “He’s been getting your room ready. . He had to move his office from downstairs to upstairs so you don’t have to walk up and down the stairs until your leg gets better.”
Nodding I continue to make a play of eating. I hate to be a bother to their lives. Having to move his office to another room must be a pain in the ass .
Looking up from my fries I mumble, “I’m sorry about him having to move. I could have just taken the room upstairs or even the couch.” But in all honestly I’m not exactly sure I could. I was taught to be polite and my mom would be disappointed in me if I didn’t at least offer to take the couch.
Jenny’s eyebrows are raised when she listens to me. I may have insulted her by suggesting the couch by the look on her
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