Wish, H.R. Davison [historical books to read txt] 📗

time, off researching a new species of bug in South America or a fire ant colony in Africa. I shouldn’t complain, it’s every teenagers dream to have their parents leave them at home alone. Maybe I should throw a party? My dad would never know and it would be a great way to get to know more people. I could invite DJ.

 

“Kat? Hellooooo Earth to Kat.” My dad’s voice interrupts my thoughts.

 

“Oh, sorry dad.” I say scrambling to an excuse as to why I zoned out. “I guess I’m still sleepy. What were you saying?”

 

He starts with the tie again. “I was saying that I need to go back to Mata Atlántico study the species of forcepfly discovered recently.”

 

I start to tune out as my dad drones on about conserving the rainforests. “How long will you be gone?”

 

“Well sweetie.” He stops fidgeting and looks directly at me. I prepare myself for bad news. I hope we aren’t moving there. “I should be home by Christmas.”

 

“Christmas?!” I can’t believe he will be gone that long. What will I do for food or money? Does he expect me to pay the bills? All these thoughts racing through my mind I don’t know which one to ask first. My mind in a jumble all that comes out of my mouth is air as I stand there with my jaw hanging open.

 

“Now honey, if you don’t want me to go you say so right now. I won’t go unless I have your okay.” He wipes his eye as if he is tired. He probably is exhausted.

 

I look at my dad for the first time in months. He has aged since last spring. The wrinkles in his tired face that used to make him look happy when he smiled now just look like deep ravines filled with sadness and despair. Maybe he has been working too hard? Maybe he has met a woman at work? Although there are very few female entomologists, since most girls are scared of bugs.

 

He always said that until he met my mother work was the only thing that made him happy. If this makes him happy then who am I to deny him that? “Sure dad, I will be fine. Go and discover a cure for cancer with your new fruit fly.” I smile at him an attempt to hide my sadness that he will be leaving me alone for months. I have already lost one parent, now I am losing another. Albeit only for a short time, I will still be lonely. I step up on my tip toes and give him a kiss on the cheek. “Now let’s eat breakfast. Pancakes sound good?

 

The tradition of Saturday morning breakfast used to be my favorite part of the week when my mom was alive. She would sing while mixing the batter, my dad would read the paper, and I would pretend to read a book or play on my tablet. I would actually be watching them, loving them, hoping one day to be as happy as them. It must be something special to find your true love. My parents were truly in love. I used to call them Snow White and Prince Charming, because their love life must be a fairy tale. It would warm my heart to know that two people can make each other so happy. Now my heart is heavy with despair. My parents did not get the happy ending they deserved.

 

My dad is sitting at the kitchen table with his briefcase open in front of him, papers spread across the table. Rubbing his temples he says, “Kat since I will be gone so long I am going to hire someone to manage things around the house while I am gone.”

 

He is going to hire someone? Oh no, this will not work. “A nanny?” I screech at him. “Daaaaaad, I am seventeen, almost eighteen. My birthday is in a few weeks! I can take care of things around here.”

 

“Yes honey, I know.” He responds distractedly as he shuffles some papers around in front of him “But this isn’t a weekend trip, or even a week trip. There are legalities, responsibilities I have as a parent. Technically I can’t leave you alone for such an extended period of time since you are still a minor. “

 

“But DAD I won’t be a minor for long.” I plead.

 

“I know sweetheart, and I am sorry I will be missing your birthday.” He says with a hint of sadness in his voice. “But I would feel better if there was someone around, just in case.”

 

Rolling my eyes I turn back to the stove. Just great I will now have some hag watching over me every day. “Ugh.” I say in response. “Is this person going to like… live here?”

 

He opens his laptop and pulls up the University’s website to log in to his work profile. “No honey, they will not be living here. He will basically be a go to guy if you need anything like home maintenance or in case of an emergency. The bills will all be handled through the bank and Andy will stop by once a week to check on things, that’s all.” Gesturing in the direction of his laptop he points at a picture.

 

Leaning closer to the screen I see a listing of faculty assistants. The one he is pointing at a young guy wearing a bow tie with a tweed jacket. His brown hair is down to his ears and an unruly mess swept to one side. “Andy?” I ask, knowing already that is Andy, my new nanny. “That guy is a total nerd. Look at him dad! You want this guy in charge of me?” I say in a huff.

 

Slamming his plate of pancakes on top of his papers in front of him I walk over to my side of the table to pout. This is ridiculous. I don’t need a babysitter. How embarrassing. What if a friend comes over and this guy is hanging out watering the plants? Or what if DJ comes over and thinks this guy is my boyfriend? I can handle this on my own. I will make sure Andy won’t want to be around me. Calculating a plan to destroy Andy I slowly eat my pancakes as my dad goes on about the plans while he is gone.

 

When breakfast is over my dad leaves to go back to the office, promising me he will be home for dinner and that we can spend the whole day together tomorrow before he leaves Monday morning. Looking for a distraction I message Lilli to see if she is free to hang out. I need to start making friends, and it wouldn’t hurt to apologize for leaving her party in such a hurry either. To my surprise Lilli is free and she invites me over to her place to chill.

 

Hanging out with Lilli is more fun than I thought it would be. She is so upbeat and happy. We spend most of the time out by the pool relaxing and getting to know each other. I tell her about my mom, and what happened at the party apologizing profusely for leaving the way I did. She listens to everything with a solemn face. When I am done she nods her head once and says “That sucks” before moving on to another topic. I am taken aback by her honest response. I am so used to the phony sympathy.

 

After a few hours together I learn a great deal about Lilli Amadori. Her family is rich, not just we have some money rich, but filthy stinking rich, but they live a modest lifestyle in a suburb. I wonder why. I finally work up the courage to ask her about DJ.

 

“He is a man whore.” She tells me while stuffing Doritos in her mouth. I am a little jealous she can eat whatever she wants and stay as small as she is. If I ate like that I would be as big as a house. She continues. “We dated for like five minutes last year.”

 

“Why, what did he do?” I can’t stop thinking about him. He does come across as a player. But, he was sweet to me. I can’t believe that he would be anything other than the caring guy from the party. Maybe that was just an act though.

 

“Do? Oh well he didn’t do anything.” She replies with a quizzical look on her face. “We just broke up. I mean it may have been because he caught me with Ian…” She ends with a high pitched giggle.

 

“You cheated on him?” I ask her appalled. How could she let DJ go? He is one of the best looking guys I have ever seen.

 

Talking around a mouthful of Doritos Lilli giggles. “Well technically no. I had sent him a text before I went out with Ian, it’s not my fault he left his cell phone at home. He was never around.” She pleads. “He works out so much you would think he was training for a marathon. I just never saw him and honey I NEED attention.” She finishes with a shrug.

 

“I see.” I tell her. He works out a lot? That would explain why he is so fit. Why his shirt seemed to fit his body like it was painted on. I wonder what his strong arms would feel like around me. A blush creeps up my neck into my face as my heartbeat accelerates.

 

“Kat if you want to find out for yourself be my guest.” Lilli says “It’s no skin off my back. We will still be friends. Truth be told, DJ is actually a sweetie, but I have to say he is a jerk because he is my ex. You know what I mean, right?”

 

“That is reassuring Lilli.” I say. It is like she read my mind. Are my emotions that apparent on my face? I need to stop thinking about him so much. It is not like I am some boy crazy teenager. I have dated boys in the past. I even dated one seriously for a year before my mother died.“Because I kind of agreed to a date with him.” I admit to her looking at my shoes to hide the burning in my cheeks.

 

Lilli jumps up from the lounge dusting Doritos crumbs on her red shorts. “When?” She practically squeals. “Where are you going? What are you wearing? Oh my goodness I will have to help you, you are such a mess! Look at what you are wearing now. What size are you? A two? A four? I bet I have some clothes that will be perfect.” She grabs my hand and drags me upstairs to her room before I can even reply to one of her questions.

 

I spend the rest of the day modeling outfit after outfit for her until we settle on the perfect one. I am utterly exhausted by the time I drag myself to have dinner with my father.

 

The evening is mild at home. My dad and I eat silently, falling into a rhythm we have created with each other over the past few months. Watching old movies on the couch late into the night I think about how much I will miss him while he is gone. I cuddle up on the couch next to him snuggled under a blanket. “I will miss you daddy.” I mumble as I fall asleep.

 

DJ