Contributor (Contributor Trilogy, book 1) by Nicole Ciacchella Read Free Book Online Page A

hearing Andersen's side of the story?
    Her eyes filled with tears, and she stared unseeingly at her screen. She had never imagined that becoming a Contributor would be like this.

Chapter 9

    How she made it through the day, Dara would never know. From time to time, Letizia brought updates from her father, but they weren't good enough. She didn't care what her father said, she wanted to be in the med center with her mother. A sort of superstition convinced her that her presence would somehow guarantee her mother would pull out of this.
    "How was your day?" Jonathan greeted her with a big smile as she hurried up to him. He caught sight of her face, and his grin melted away, instantly replaced by a look of concern. Gripping her elbow, he asked urgently, "What's wrong?"
    "My mom...she had an accident and I—"
    "When did this happen?" Jonathan immediately steered her toward the exit.
    "A few hours ago. I wanted to leave, but my dad told me to stay."
    "Oh, Dara, that must have been so difficult for you."
    For once, she forgot about all of the people swirling around them, and she burst into tears, relieved to be with someone with whom she didn't have to maintain a facade, someone who truly understood the depths of her pain.
    "I can't believe he wanted me to stay!" She could barely see through the haze of her tears.
    "He was just looking out for you, sweetheart."
    Her spine stiffened, and she wanted to pull away from him, but she reached for his arm instead. Without him, she doubted she'd be able to find her way to the med center.
    "How can you think that? She's hurt! I don't even know how badly or if she'll make it. What could possibly be more important than being there? What if she'd woken up, how would my absence be explained? 'Sorry, Dara was so busy Contributing, she couldn't be here for you?'"
    Dara knew perfectly well that her voice rose with every word, and that people were beginning to turn and look, but she didn't care. Jonathan clearly did, though. He looked around uneasily.
    "Dara, honey, you're upset right now, and that's understandable," he said, placating.
    "Of course I'm upset!" she shouted. People openly gaped at her.
    "You don't want to do this in public. You don't want to show your private grief like this," he whispered.
    All of the fight went out of her as she realized she was just providing fodder for gossip. She didn't want anyone taking her love and concern for her mother and twisting it into something ugly.
    Still, she seethed with anger at him. She had always believed that the two of them could all but experience one another's thoughts, hopes, dreams, fears. How could he not understand how she felt?
    By the time they reached the med center, she had put all of her uneasiness about Jonathan aside. Later, when things were better—if they were better—she would take the time to think about what her feelings meant. For now, her sole concern was her mother.
    "Sweetheart," her father said, standing up and enfolding her in a tight hug as soon as he laid eyes on her, his distress clearly written on his face. She almost forgave him—almost.
    "How is she?" Dara asked.
    "She's in recovery right now. She was in surgery for several hours."
    Dara blanched. "Why didn't you tell Letizia that when you sent updates?"
    "I didn't want you to worry. I didn't... I just..." Her father's face crumpled and he fell back into his chair, head in his hands. His shoulders heaved, making his whole body shake. A burst of compassion burned its way through her anger. Her parents loved one another, of that she had never had any doubt. She couldn't imagine the pain her father must be experiencing.
    "You said it, Dad, she's strong." Dara knelt before her father and put her arms around him.
    "I know, I know. I just... I feel so lost." He lifted his tear-streaked face to hers. "I didn't want you to see me like this. I tried so hard, but..."
    "You don't have to hide this from me. You love Mom and you're scared. You don't have to try to protect