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Authors: Jennifer Labelle
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anyway,” Chrystal said.
Holly stayed quiet and wondered, what is he up to this time?
“Darla’s offered to keep you both for now, and if that doesn’t work out, we’ll deal with it then. I’m not exactly out of the picture here. You’ll still be able to get in touch with me.”
“We get it,” Holly exclaimed. “You want the relationship, just not the responsibility of fatherhood.”
“If you could even call it that,” Chrystal snorted. “No offense.”
“Hey, don’t get lippy with me.” He actually laughed and messed their hair. It kind of pissed Holly off. “Believe it or not, I am trying to do what’s best for the both of you.”
“Sure, whatever.” Her sister rolled her eyes while Holly scowled.
“Well, good.” He stopped in front of them and bent down to give them an awkward hug before looking at the door with longing. “Look, I’ve got to go, but if you need anything, anything at all, you just give me a call. I’ll see you both next week, and we’ll get you enrolled in school again. It’s better late than never, right?”
“Yeah,” Holly answered and had to swallow the lump that formed in her throat. “Bye.” What he’d said made sense. They really were better off without him, but hearing that from him still stung. He was their only living parent left. They should’ve been able to count on him, and time and time again, he’d screwed that up. It was official, the sperm donor didn’t even want them, and that was just another heartbreaking reality of what had become their life.
Chapter Five
“Good morning, my name is Jace Yates, and I’m the social worker here at Radcliffe High.” The man held out his hand and then pulled it back when he saw how skeptical both girls were of him. “Well, all right, then.” He cleared his throat and took a seat behind his desk. “It’s come to my attention that you girls have been through quite a bit in the last year, and I wanted you to be aware of the resources available to each of you.”
“What sort of resources?” Chrystal inquired.
“Well, there is me, of course, so if you ever need to talk or need help with anything, you can come to me and I’ll do my best to help you out. I have the ability to access the people or places you may eventually need or would like, such as counseling services and support groups, for example. The school also has guidance counselors you can reach out to as well as office staff if you’re more comfortable speaking with them than me. In light of your past hardships, and the fact that you both are dealing with a late enrollment, we thought it might be beneficial for the two of you to see me before starting out the day officially. I’d also like to schedule weekly meetings with both of you so we can help you cope with the trauma you suffered due to your mother’s untimely death. It is also my understanding that your living arrangements are new, and your father is now not in the picture full-time.”
“Wait, where are you getting all of this?” Holly felt as though her jaw was about to hit the floor. Un-freaking-believable, have our lives been broadcast? Who is this joker anyway?
“Your father was nice enough to inform us when he enrolled you here.”
“Really? Because ‘nice’ is not a word I’d use to describe Christian.” She looked away and willed herself not to cry in front of this stranger. How dare he air our dirty laundry like that to a bunch of people we don’t know, the asshole! The last thing she wanted at the moment was to open up to some Joe Schmo she wasn’t sure she could trust. My God, it was hard enough on her own coming to terms with things. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to face her mother’s death yet. Getting high or drunk and becoming numb had been the solution for months to cope, and it was easier to deny it all.
She’s just on vacation and will walk through the door at any minute, damn it! She didn’t die, please God let
Holly stayed quiet and wondered, what is he up to this time?
“Darla’s offered to keep you both for now, and if that doesn’t work out, we’ll deal with it then. I’m not exactly out of the picture here. You’ll still be able to get in touch with me.”
“We get it,” Holly exclaimed. “You want the relationship, just not the responsibility of fatherhood.”
“If you could even call it that,” Chrystal snorted. “No offense.”
“Hey, don’t get lippy with me.” He actually laughed and messed their hair. It kind of pissed Holly off. “Believe it or not, I am trying to do what’s best for the both of you.”
“Sure, whatever.” Her sister rolled her eyes while Holly scowled.
“Well, good.” He stopped in front of them and bent down to give them an awkward hug before looking at the door with longing. “Look, I’ve got to go, but if you need anything, anything at all, you just give me a call. I’ll see you both next week, and we’ll get you enrolled in school again. It’s better late than never, right?”
“Yeah,” Holly answered and had to swallow the lump that formed in her throat. “Bye.” What he’d said made sense. They really were better off without him, but hearing that from him still stung. He was their only living parent left. They should’ve been able to count on him, and time and time again, he’d screwed that up. It was official, the sperm donor didn’t even want them, and that was just another heartbreaking reality of what had become their life.
Chapter Five
“Good morning, my name is Jace Yates, and I’m the social worker here at Radcliffe High.” The man held out his hand and then pulled it back when he saw how skeptical both girls were of him. “Well, all right, then.” He cleared his throat and took a seat behind his desk. “It’s come to my attention that you girls have been through quite a bit in the last year, and I wanted you to be aware of the resources available to each of you.”
“What sort of resources?” Chrystal inquired.
“Well, there is me, of course, so if you ever need to talk or need help with anything, you can come to me and I’ll do my best to help you out. I have the ability to access the people or places you may eventually need or would like, such as counseling services and support groups, for example. The school also has guidance counselors you can reach out to as well as office staff if you’re more comfortable speaking with them than me. In light of your past hardships, and the fact that you both are dealing with a late enrollment, we thought it might be beneficial for the two of you to see me before starting out the day officially. I’d also like to schedule weekly meetings with both of you so we can help you cope with the trauma you suffered due to your mother’s untimely death. It is also my understanding that your living arrangements are new, and your father is now not in the picture full-time.”
“Wait, where are you getting all of this?” Holly felt as though her jaw was about to hit the floor. Un-freaking-believable, have our lives been broadcast? Who is this joker anyway?
“Your father was nice enough to inform us when he enrolled you here.”
“Really? Because ‘nice’ is not a word I’d use to describe Christian.” She looked away and willed herself not to cry in front of this stranger. How dare he air our dirty laundry like that to a bunch of people we don’t know, the asshole! The last thing she wanted at the moment was to open up to some Joe Schmo she wasn’t sure she could trust. My God, it was hard enough on her own coming to terms with things. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to face her mother’s death yet. Getting high or drunk and becoming numb had been the solution for months to cope, and it was easier to deny it all.
She’s just on vacation and will walk through the door at any minute, damn it! She didn’t die, please God let
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