Read Online Forever This Time by Maggie McGinnis - Free Book Online

don’t want to know what Sally looks like. Could give you nightmares.”
    â€œHow’s your dad?”
    â€œThey moved him to a step-down unit, so that’s good news. He’s not communicating yet, though, so it’s hard to tell how … how he’s going to be.” Josie grunted as she stuffed her foot into one of the clown shoes, trying not to picture her dad lying in a bed, unable to talk. “How’s everything there?”
    â€œUmm, pretty okay.”
    Alarm bells rang in Josie’s chest. “Not a confidence-inspiring answer, partner.”
    â€œEverything’s fine. Just normal full-moon stuff.”
    Josie recognized the evasive answer for what it was, but didn’t want to push. The last thing Kirsten needed was to feel like Josie didn’t think she could handle things on her own. “You’ll let me know if you need me, right?”
    â€œGotcha on speed-dial.”
    â€œSo no emergencies? Are you sure? You don’t need me to bust out of this costume and come back, like, stat?”
    Kirsten laughed. “I’ve got things handled here for now. You stay up there and be with your family. I can manage for the next few days. If it goes longer, we’ll just have to figure something out. Cross that bridge when we come to it.”
    There was a long pause. “And as your therapist, I highly recommend you spend less time in costume and more time at the hospital with your dad.”
    â€œYou’re awfully blunt for a therapist. And you’re not my therapist.”
    â€œBest friend. Same thing.” Another long pause. “Things weren’t always awful, right? Maybe being with him could help you remember the good times, too. And understand each other.”
    Josie gave a short, bitter laugh. “Excellent advice—for someone else. I’m sorry, Kirsten, but I have no desire to go strolling down memory lane here.”
    â€œJust think about it. That’s all.” Kirsten clicked off, leaving Josie sitting on the bench with seven shades of neon and a giant head.
    No, she definitely wasn’t heading down memory lane here … because her version of it was paved with broken glass, broken promises … and broken hearts.

 
    Chapter 8
    â€œSo I hear Princess is really back at Camp Ho-Ho.” Molly delivered Ethan’s burger and fries, then set a plate of lasagna down in front of his dad.
    â€œThat she is.” It was Sunday night, and they were sitting at Bellinis having a pub version of a home-cooked meal. Between his time at Avery’s House and extra hours at the park this weekend, Ethan hadn’t had time to go grocery shopping, and the cupboards at Chez Miller were getting pretty bare. Mama Bellini’s cooking outweighed the risk of the third degree he’d known he’d get from Molly, but he was already wishing he’d come in on her night off instead.
    â€œWho’s Princess?” Pops poured ketchup on his lasagna before Ethan had a chance to stop him.
    â€œJosie.”
    â€œOh. The one who ruined your life.”
    Molly snorted. “That’s one way of putting it.” She leaned over and pilfered one of Ethan’s French fries. “So how’s it been? What’s she been doing? Is it totally awkward?”
    Ethan tapped his father’s fork so he’d know which utensil to pick up. He was having one of his good days, but little things like that were starting to fade from his memory bank. It killed Ethan to watch, but so far they were taking it day by day, figuring it out as they went.
    â€œAwkward does not even begin to describe it.”
    â€œI can’t believe she’s been there all weekend.”
    â€œDiana insisted she be at the park, not the hospital. Practically begged me to find a way to keep her busy so Josie wouldn’t have to sit in the waiting room.”
    â€œWell, we wouldn’t want Her Highness to be uncomfortable now, would