Chapter7
“Keith.”
At the sound of Dora’s voice, Keith startled and quickly hid the plushie.
behind his back.
As Dora approached, his guilt deepened. He was terrified she’d think he hadn’t accepted her. Terrified she’d believe he still couldn’t let go of Linda.
Dora’s expression was calm and unreadable. She said lightly, “No need to hide it–I saw everything.”
Keith lowered his eyes like a child caught doing something wrong.
Slowly, he pulled out a stuffed raccoon. “Linda used to love this toy. She always kept it by her pillow and slept with it every night. I never thought. she wouldn’t even want this anymore.”
“She’s let go of far more than just this.”
That offhand comment from Dora landed like a blade to the heart. It stung–and only through the pain did Keith begin to see things clearly. With a quiet sigh, he asked, “Do you want to take it?”
He looked down at the raccoon in his hands, his fingers tightening as he hesitated, torn between emotion and resolve.
After a long pause, he suddenly tossed the toy back into the cardboard box, then forced a smile. “Forget it. It’s not worth anything.”
Dewey stared at the discarded raccoon for a long time. He had always liked it. But it used to be Dora’s favorite, and even though he liked it, he’d never dared to touch it.
2017
Chapter
Now, the thing she once cherished was just a piece of trash. Keith must be heartbroken.
“Hey, look!” he said, grinning brightly. “Dora bought me candies! Want one?” He held out the skewer. “Something sweet always helps when you’re sad.”
As he was touched by Dewey’s thoughtfulness, the tight knot in Keith’s. chest loosened a little. He smiled warmly, crouched down, and took a bite of the first sugar–glazed strawberry.
“It’s sweet. Really good.”
*****
The small fan squeaked and groaned in the summer night. The house had poor soundproofing–Dora could clearly hear her parents, Chris and Alberto, talking softly in the living room. From outside the window came. the occasional noise of neighbors from nearby apartments.
She wasn’t used to this kind of environment. After living in the quiet of a villa neighborhood, the noise and unfamiliar bed made it hard to sleep. She lay there for a long time, eyes drifting across the ceiling, the faint scent of detergent clinging to the bedding.
Suddenly remembering she hadn’t told someone she’d left the Hendrix family, she picked up her phone and sent off a message.
Sleep barely came that night.
By morning, she could hear the muffled voices of Rhoda and their parents outside.
“Dora’s not up yet?”
“No. I heard her tossing and turning all night–probably not used to the bed. You two should get her a better mattress. There’s ‘buy now, pay later‘
2018 C
Chapter?
11
online. My scholarship comes next week–we can pay for it then.”
“Rhoda. you’re one of our two daughters. We know you used to spend your own allowance buying things for Linda. You’ve really been through a lot. Keep your scholarship money–Dad can handle the mattress.”
“He’s right. Rhoda. You’re my daughter too, and I want you to be able to dress up and look nice. Here’s your allowance for the month–hold on to it. And take this 100 dollars too, buy yourself some new clothes”
“It’s okay. Mom. You keep it. I have a part–time job in the cafeteria, so I don’t need to spend my own money on meals–and I’m making a bit too. It’s enough. Dora’s still getting used to everything–try to improve the food a little. so she eats better.”
Though they spoke in hushed voices, the house was small, and the walls. thin–Dora heard every word.
By the time she got dressed and walked out of her room, Rhoda and Alberto were already gone.
“Mom, where did Dad and Rhoda go?” she asked.
Chris handed her a cup of water. “The new semester’s starting soon. Rhoda’s at university in another area. She wanted to go back early and tidy up her dorm. Your dad’s driving taxi today, so he gave her a lift to the
train station.”
Train rides for long–distance trips were exhausting, but they were cheap. Morning tickets were even cheaper. Clearly, Rhoda was trying to save every cent.
And yet someone so careful with money didn’t hesitate to spend over 300 dollars just to buy her a softer mattress–so she could sleep more comfortably.
Dora’s brows knit slightly. Something about all this stirred a strange, unsettled feeling in her chest.
“What do you want for breakfast? How about some pasta?” Chris asked as she headed into the kitchen.
“I’ll eat whatever you make,” Dora replied casually, heading into the bathroom to wash up.
By then, Keith and Dewey were already up.
The four of them gathered around the coffee table and ate pasta together.
