Chapter Thirteen

After a silent ride home, Alex was the first out of the car, barely waiting for it to stop. She went upstairs. There was no way she could look at her mom right now.

Her room was the same dark tomb. The curtains were pulled tightly closed, like she had left them. It was the complete opposite to Aunt Sophie’s airy, sunlit rooms. She pulled back one of the curtains, letting in a sliver of sunlight.

It didn’t help. Alex stepped back out into the hall, her eyes drawn to Adam’s door. Automatically, her feet padded along the corridor towards it.

Passing by her parents’ room, she stopped. There were hushed voices coming from inside. Her dad must be home.

Alex grabbed the doorknob and was about to open it when she paused. Something wasn’t right. Their voices sounded strange. She pressed her ear against the space along the frame.

“Douglas, what are you doing here? I thought we agreed—”

“I’m only picking up a few things.”

“She’s here!”

“What? I thought she was at your sister’s for the month.”

“Something happened. She’s okay now, but—”

“What do you mean, she’s okay now?”

Her dad’s voice was getting louder. Alex winced—another fight.

“Watch the tone, Douglas. She had a little accident and hit her head. We ended up at the hospital overnight, but—”

“You should have called me, Colleen!”

No wonder Dad wasn’t at the hospital. Mom didn’t even call him! Alex couldn’t believe it.

“I’m sorry, but I had other things on my mind, all right? Anyway, I thought you were in Toronto at your brother’s.”

Her mom’s voice had risen too. Alex knew where this was going. They’d be yelling at the top of their lungs any second.

Alex knocked and turned the knob at the same time, stepping into the room. “Dad?”

Her mother and father were glaring at each other from opposite sides of the bed. Her dad was holding a shirt and there was an open suitcase on the bed.

“Munch, are you all right?” He grabbed her in a fierce hug. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there.”

“Dad, you’re squishing me!” Alex wiggled in the stranglehold. It was good to see him. She decided not to remind him, for the hundredth time, to stop using the munchkin nickname he’d called her since she was a baby.

“Sorry.” He released Alex gently. “Your head…” He touched the bandage, inspecting her wound. “What happened?”

“Kind of a long story. But I’m okay, really.” Alex gestured to the suitcase. “You never told me you were going to Uncle Raymond’s.”

Her dad glanced towards the doorway. “You heard that?”

“Yeah. How come you didn’t take me?”

“It was a last-minute thing. Plans were already made for you to go to your aunt’s, so…”

“That’s right,” her mom said.

Her dad tossed the now crumpled shirt on top of the pile in the suitcase.

“You’re packing, not unpacking? Are you going away again?”

“Uh…I thought I’d do a Yarmouth run. I’ve missed so much time at work…”

Alex brightened. “Yarmouth? Then you can come back down to Aunt Sophie’s with us tomorrow. It’s on the way, right?”

“I have to work, sweetie. It’s probably best if you both go back like you planned.” Her dad avoided her gaze as he bent down to zip his suitcase closed.

“Dad, tomorrow’s Saturday. You never work on the weekends.” Alex plunked onto the bed. “You can come for the weekend and work on Monday.”

Her dad stared down at her upturned face. Finally, he cracked the teeniest of smiles. “All right, Munch, if that’s what you want.”

“Douglas, I don’t think—”

“It’ll be fine, Colleen.”

“Fine…yes, I’m sure.” Her mother’s lips were pressed tightly together.

As her parents stared wordlessly at each other, Alex felt a shiver run through her. Things didn’t seem fine…not at all.