Sidelined Read Online Free PDF Page A

ones—fake tits, fake hair, fake nails, fake face. The ones doing whatever it takes to break out in the movie world. The ones who take a boyfriend then ditch him as soon as something better comes along.
    “You?”
    “I’m good.” She smiles, but there isn’t an ounce of warmth in it.
    “Great.” I offer a lip twitch, but then, thankfully, my father comes barreling into the room.
    “Georgia!” he says excitedly to my mom. “I finally cracked the puzzle!”
    “You finished it?” Mom asks, showing the appropriate interest.
    “Finished it? No. I just found the piece I couldn’t figure out. I was putting it in upside down!”
    “That’s great, honey.” She claps her hands together. “I’m so glad.”
    Dad nods enthusiastically then pauses. Slowly, he turns his head to me and narrows his eyes.
    It shouldn’t, but it stings.
    “Hon, Macey stopped by.”
    “Hey, Daddy,” I say quietly.
    “Macey…” he mutters, looking at me. “Macey!” He throws his arms in the air, laughing. “Well, hi, baby girl!”
    He comes forward and kisses my forehead the way he always does. Or at least, the way he always used to. Before the Alzheimer’s began to claim his mind a year ago.
    “How are you, Daddy?”
    “I’m good. I found the puzzle piece that was bugging me!” he repeats, clearly already having forgotten his earlier announcement.
    “You did?” I smile, holding his aging hand. “That’s great, huh?”
    “Absolutely. Do you want to see it?”
    “Sure, Dad. I’d love to see it.” I keep hold of his hand as I get up, and he guides me into “his” room opposite the living room.
    I swallow hard as I step into the room. What was once the old dining room is now my father’s puzzle room. The walls are adorned with framed, finished puzzles from the last several months. They’re of anything—fairies, dragons, castles, villages. You name it, my father has bought and completed it. There’s even a Minnie Mouse kids set we bought him last Christmas when he was still in control enough to appreciate the joke. Cal dared him to finish them and put them on the wall.
    He did.
    “Wow, Dad. That’s amazing,” I breathe, staring at the giant scramble of pieces on the table. The outline is complete, and there are hundreds of pieces inside that are done, too. “What is it?”
    “This.” Dad hands me the box. “New York. Your mom’s favorite place.”
    I take the lid from his hands and smile. “This is a great image, right?”
    Dad nods, staring at the puzzle. “I wanted to finish it before Christmas and give it to her.” He tilts his head to the side. “But, Mace, I’m afraid that, by Christmas, I’ll have forgotten why I started it.”
    I push my face against his arm. “Daddy,” I whisper. “She’ll love it.”
    “She will.” His tone is brighter, and he pats my arm.
    “And I promise, if you forget, I’ll remind you why you started it, okay?”
    “You will?”
    “Sure I will. So you better finish it, okay?”
    Dad beams. “Oh, I will.”
    “How many pieces are there?”
    “Five thousand.”
    “What?” I sputter, looking at him. Five freaking thousand?
    Dad smiles, but it soon falls. “It creeps on me. All the pieces… They keep me focused, baby girl. And if my mind is focused, it doesn’t…wander.”
    I reach up and kiss his cheek. “You want a hand?”
    “Naw. It’s okay.” He wraps an arm around my shoulders and squeezes me. “I like the challenge.”
    “All right. It’s gonna look great.”
    “Sure is.” Dad kisses the side of my head. “Hey, how’s Mitch? Why isn’t he here?”
    I breathe in. “We broke up, Daddy. Remember? At Christmas.”
    “You did?” My father’s brow furrows as he thinks, and I let him remember. “Oh, of course. Sorry, Mace. I forgot.”
    “No worries.” I kiss his cheek again. “I’m gonna sit with Mom, okay? Do you need anything?”
    “Maybe some water,” Dad answers, sitting down in his chair, his focus on his puzzle.
    “Okay.” I