Tight Knit by Allie Brennan Read Free Book Online Page B

like it. I have one with a flower too, for those who aren’t into skulls.” 
    “I don’t understand how anyone can be ‘into’ skulls.” 
    I stand up and pull the edge of my tiny skull covered underwear out of my jeans and Nan presses her lips together and frowns. I laugh and tucked them back in.
    “I don’t know, Nan. I just like them, but I only have socks and underwear. I leave the death skulls to the more hardcore.” 
    Nan shakes her head and continues to scan the hat.
    “This is really wonderful, darling. I’m so proud of what you’ve learned.” 
    “I’d like to sell them at the drive. Maybe then someone under the age of 50 will actually show up.” I smirk and Nan sticks her tongue out at me. 
    “I think you should. After all, you’re planning it.” 
    I blush, I hope I won’t be planning it. I hope that she just gets better and then rocks the show like she always does. 
    “Don’t you have to have the work juried?” 
    “I’m sure you’ll be fine. It’s just a hat, and you are a good enough knitter. But maybe submit the one with the flower for jurying. After you’re accepted you can put whatever your twisted heart desires on the hats.” 
    She hands the hat back and heads back to the couch, which is her favorite place to knit. I feel the most calm when I am knitting with Nan. It’s like all the jumbled thoughts move to the back of my brain and I can think clearly. 
    But I’m still dreading the meeting tomorrow. 
    ~
    Dad’s home when I wake up on Sunday morning. He’s reading the paper, playing with the side of his glasses. He glances up when I pad into the room. He does that thing with his mouth that looks like it could be a smile, but he’s a lawyer so it’s neutral-looking and I can’t really tell.
    I get my cereal and milk and sit down across from him. I’ve never realized how young he looks. He has a full head of thick dark hair, like mine, and there are only a few faint lines around his eyes. 
    “So how was your trip?” I ask, still studying his face but this time I’m searching for expression. Particularly a guilty one. 
    He looks up with his permanent impartial expression, “Fine. How was your first week of school? I feel bad for missing your first day.” 
    I choke on my last bite of cereal. I can’t remember the last time he asked me a question, never mind apologized to me for missing something. 
    Sure, if I ramble on about something he’ll listen...kind of, but he doesn’t start the conversations.
    “Deacon cheated on me with Janna, so I dumped him and don’t have a best friend anymore. And, a senior at school tried to get me to go on a motorcycle with him. He has tattoos and has been to prison. So all-in-all pretty good.” 
    I smile at my dad’s stare of incredulity. It feels good to make a lawyer lose his composure. Although, he’ll probably never ask me another question again. 
    “I’m, I’m sorry to hear that. Deacon was a nice kid,” he recovers quickly. He’s a good lawyer.
    “Not really if he cheats on his girlfriend, Dad.” 
    He frowns like I’m crazy. 
    “I guess not.” 
    I dump my left over milk in the sink. I hug him quickly and kiss his temple. 
    “Nice to have you home, Dad.” 
    He forces a confused half smile before going back to his paper. 
    ~
    I ride my bike to the Wool Shop and lock it up in my regular spot. I didn’t bring cookies this week, because...well, because I didn’t want to. I’m not Nan, I don’t have time to bake cookies every week. I asked her to bake them for me when I called her this morning to double check that she was missing another meeting but she said she was tired. She says that a lot now and I am positive that something’s going on that I don’t know about. It’s driving me crazy. She’s not being herself and I’m worried about her. Nan has always been the only thing I didn’t worry about.
    I push open the door into the familiar warmth of the shop. Immediately I sense something is