Happy Families by Tanita S. Davis Read Free Book Online Page A

I’ve had lots of practice.
    We got here about noon, and Dad showed us around his bland little town house—kitchen, dining room, living room, and master bedroom upstairs; rooms for Ysabel and me, a bathroom,and a laundry room downstairs. He pulled out bags of chips and some stuff for hoagies and told us we could settle in, then come upstairs and have some lunch and get him caught up with what we’ve been doing for the last few months. To which I thought,
Yeah, right
, and proceeded to throw down my bag and stretch out on the bed.
    Dad knocks again, and I tune out the sound. I lie still and concentrate on a silent message:
Go away
. I lie still for so long that I actually start to doze off.
    My eyes fly open and my heart slams against my ribs when something touches my shoulder. At my wild look, my sister takes a big step back, oh so casually putting herself out of arm’s reach.
    I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, pretending I don’t notice her reaction.
    “What?” My voice is harsher than I intended.
    “Dad’s been asking if we want to go eat.” Ysabel looks tense, waiting. Yawning, I rub my face, wondering how long I was asleep. The light coming through the window is leaving bright squares on the wall. I must have slept through lunch.
    “You can get out now,” I invite her, then raise my brows as Ysabel gives me a look that is equal parts hurt and irritation. It doesn’t take a special twin vibe to know she’s pissed.
    “What?”
    She shrugs stiffly. “Nothing. Just … you kind of stayed in here and left me with Dad.”
    I give her an incredulous look. “I didn’t leave you with anyone. I took a nap. You could have done that, too.”
    Ysabel leans against the wall and shrugs. “I guess. But we were supposed to
talk
and all. Figure stuff out, like he said.”
    I yawn and slip my phone from under the pillow into my pocket. “Not interested. You go ahead, though.”
    “Jus
tin
.” Ysabel sighs.
    “Wh
at
?” I imitate her whine, shoving down the flicker of guilt I feel.
    “Fine. Screw it.” She flings open the door.
    “Okay, okay.” I put on my shoes. “Where are we supposed to have dinner?”
    “How should I know? Hurry it up,” Ysabel says, and slams my door.
    I wince, but instead of following her, I pull out my phone and reconnect to the Internet. I squint at the Kids of Trans Web page, sign in with my username, JustC, and look at my post on the message wall. I’ve been lurking on the site since Dad left, reading conversations between people and finding out about their personal experiences. It always feels a little like I’m snooping, like I’m sneaking around in people’s private lives, but today I realize that my private life is a lot like theirs.
    Frowning down at the tiny screen, I take a breath and do something I’ve never done before. I post a message.
    JustC: Spring break, hour one: visiting the new Dad/Chris, who is now Dad/Christine.
    To my surprise, I get almost instant replies.
    Styx: been there. done that.
C4Buzz: First time. Drama!
Viking: Happy first visit. Don’t forget he’s still the same person.
    A kick at the door rattles me into snapping my phone closed before I can reply. Ysabel glares at me from the hallway, and I silently follow her upstairs, wrapped in my own thoughts.
    Happy?
Viking means well, but seriously—I’m not seeing cause for celebration. And is Dad really the same person? Isn’t the point of this whole thing to say that he’s not?
    It’s awkward in the car. Dad makes small talk while Ysabel glowers at me, still pissed at having had all of Dad’s attention this afternoon. It’s a relief to park the car and join the trickle of foot traffic out onto the sidewalk past the Road Closed signs to the street lined with stalls for the farmer’s market.
    The smell of popcorn hits me, and my stomach growls.
    There are far more people than I expect: kids in face paint running around screaming, a DJ playing tunes for an impromptu dance party on the