On Little Wings by Regina Sirois Read Free Book Online Page B

okay. I understand.”
    Her mouth pulled up humorlessly at one corner. “I hope you never do.” I didn’t know how to answer that so I just ducked my head and told her I loved her one more time before closing the door. I bit down on my lip as I shuffled down the dark hall, wondering what was stronger – my reasons for going or her reasons for staying.
    “I put your bag by the front door. All set to go.” My father’s head rose up from his laptop when I passed the office. He had forgotten to turn the lights on (again) and his face glowed blue in the dark room. “You all right?” he asked. “Nervous?”
    “I guess so,” I said as I slipped up to his desk. “When I talk to Sarah she sounds great. When I talk to Mom I think I’m going to hate her.”
    My dad grinned. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about. I think you two will get along fine. She’s a good person. They both are.” He slid his rolling chair away from his keyboard and looked at me. “I’m sorry I can’t take you in the morning.”
    “That doesn’t bother me at all. Seriously. How I get to the airport is the least of my worries.” I fingered the paperweight on top of his stack of DV magazines. “Do you think I’m doing the right thing?”
    My father smiled. He usually resorts to a bad joke when he doesn’t know the answer. I waited for the buildup but he just said, “Can I answer that when you get back?”
    “Why?”
    “Because I have no idea. I don’t think you’re doing anything wrong, but I’m not sure I was right to tell you.” His bushy eyebrows lowered in thought.
    “I’m glad you did. She should have. I don’t understand why she didn’t.”
    “I don’t think she could if she wanted to. She’s locked up those memories tight. Like a bank vault. Inside a bunker. Inside a cave. I’m hoping all of this helps her in the end.”
    “Dad?
    “Yeah, Babe?”
    “You’ll take care of Mom? Make sure she knows I’m not doing this to hurt her?”
    His eyebrows tilted with sympathy. “She knows. But yeah, I’ll watch out for her.” He opened his arms and I bent over and squeezed him tight.
    “I’ll miss you,” he said.
    “You, too. I love you.”
    “Tell Sarah hi for me.” He smiled at me. “And tell her that I’m looking forward to meeting her.”
    That made two of us.

CHAPTER 7
     
    Cleo picked me up the next day and helped me load my suitcase and carry-on duffle into the backseat of her old Corolla. I kept my eyes on the living room window, where my mother appeared briefly with a worried frown and a last wave.
    “Feels weird,” I told Cleo as we left the neighborhood and headed for the highway.
    “How was your mom today? Did she make you feel bad?” Cleo turned down the radio.
    “She was okay. She acted nervous, but not mad. She didn’t say much.” I squeezed my hands together in my lap. The fields outside seemed to float on the horizon as the car gathered speed.
    “She’s not the only one,” Cleo said after a long silence.
    “Huh? Oh … sorry. I’m nervous.”
    “Still want to do this?” Her eyes darted doubtfully to my face.
    “What? Yes, of course!” I looked at her a moment before my expression fell. “Why? Do you think I shouldn’t?”
    “No,” she sighed with exasperation. “You have to go.” The breeze from the air conditioner shifted a few loose strands of hair away from her face. “I am wildly jealous,” she confessed. “I wish I could be there.” Her lips pursed in frustration. “It will be wonderful, I’m sure. And I have to miss it.”
    “But I’ll tell you everything. Every detail. Every word. I don’t want you to be sad.”
    “I’m not sad ,” she countered. “I’m just wishing. There’s a difference.” Despite her denial, she sounded wistful. I let my gaze travel up to her brooding face.
    “You’re going to miss me,” I said.
    She rolled her eyes. “Don’t look so surprised, Sherlock. I’ll be bored to death without you and you’ll be on a grand