––––––––
Dr. Green told me the plan. “First things first, gathering information. Anything you need to be aware of from us, we’ll let you know. We may try a few things, and some may be best if you don’t know they’re coming,” he said over the phone before he hung up.
It wasn’t the first time they’d sprung something on me. I trusted them now, only I hoped they tried it sooner rather than later. Waiting was horrible.
I wished he had told me I didn’t have to stay. It was difficult to find the strength to even want to try.
I resigned myself to doing as he suggested: Take it easy. Rest. We’ll find a plan.
I filled the bath without getting in and moved things around to make noise like I was really washing. I needed time to myself to think, to rest, and figure out what I needed to do next.
My stomach growled. I hadn’t eaten. I was pretty sure the others hadn’t eaten much either. I drank water from the tap. I didn’t want to go downstairs and look for food.
I tied my hair up in a clip and put on the old clothes that didn’t fit, but were bulky. I hid the phone again in my pocket.
I waited.
Hours ago, I had been waiting for an Academy council to decide my fate, whether I would join or not. We were given time to sort out my situation, a task that could possibly take as long as they had while they were on assignment.
While it had been decided I’d join, Carol’s arrival was changing everything I’d thought would happen. My lungs filled with the dense, moist air within the bathroom. My body rested, but my mind was wild with questions and concerns.
Would I ever be out of the trouble my father had started before I was born?
When a half hour had passed, I went with the first step in this plan. Information gathering and securing myself in seclusion in the attic room. I disliked the idea of sharing space with Jimmy or Marie, and I wasn’t sure it would be safe to stay with either of them.
The vacuuming continued, but from the sound of it, she was in the kitchen, running the vacuum over the tiles. I wondered why she wasn’t sweeping instead.
I left the bathroom, standing in the upstairs hallway. I tiptoed to the back stairs. I didn’t want to talk to Jimmy yet. He was nice, but I wanted to focus on my task.
Downstairs, the living room was empty, and the carpet was all perfectly vacuumed. Carol was in the kitchen, running the vacuum over the edges of the tile. I waited until she spotted me. I kept my eyes lowered, hoping Dr. Green was right to talk to her about this.
“Sang?” she asked. “Did you need something?”
I gathered some courage and spoke softly, looking at her nose to avoid looking at her eyes. “Um, I was just thinking. The attic space in my room...”
“Oh, yes, I saw it. What of it?”
That made me uncomfortable. How much of it did she see? “I was just thinking, if you wanted, I could stay in that space. It’ll give Jimmy some room, and each of us a bit more privacy.”
Carol raised an eyebrow. “Privacy? Do you mean Jimmy...did he say anything to you that you feel you need more privacy?”
Since Marie said he’d been snooping, I suspected she thought I’d caught him doing so. I shook my head and waved a hand. “No, no. I know it’s a little odd, but I don’t need much space, and since it’s winter, it’ll be easy to keep the attic warm, at least for now. I’d still have to cross into the bedroom to get out, of course, but it would work for me for a quiet place to sleep and study and keep my clothes. I don’t have many. He can have the closet.”
The negotiation seemed simple. Her son got the bigger bedroom, while I got a small space. To me, it seemed reasonable.
Carol tilted her head, the fluffy hairstyle floating around her face. “You’re such an odd child. Why would you want to sleep in an attic?”
Why would she want to live here in another woman’s house with two girls who weren’t hers? “It’s cozy,” I said. “Once my things get back from camp, I can use my cot and sleeping bag. You can save money and not have to purchase another bed.” I wasn’t sure what angle to suggest, so I was willing to suggest anything.
If I was in the attic, I wouldn’t have Jimmy looking over my shoulder if I used my phone, or even a laptop, to communicate with the boys anytime I wanted. One of them could sneak in on occasion, if needed. It made me nervous to think Luke or someone would climb up, as Carol would probably not hesitate to call the police on them.
Carol studied me with a tilted head, shaking it. She wasn’t totally convinced.
Her hesitation made me wonder if maybe it wasn’t such a good idea. Had she not seen the carpet and how it now resembled more of a small room than an actual attic area?
The doorbell rang.
My heart pounded. Someone was dropping off my stuff from camp. I had been hoping she’d say yes to this before that happened.
“I’ll get it, dear,” Carol called out in a sweetened tone. “Don’t worry about a thing.” She eyeballed me quizzically but then urged me to get out of her way while she went for the door.
No word from my father in response. Where was he hiding out?
He must be terrified of Carol finding out the truth about me.
I followed Carol to the door. She fiddled with the door locks, trying to unstick one of them.
Jimmy appeared at the top of the stairs. I wondered if Marie could hear this. The front doorbell wasn’t commonly heard in our house.
I held my breath, my heart beating wildly. This was such a risky move. Memories of my stepmother came to me, and I thought how it would never work with her. I had no idea who Carol was or how to act around her, and I felt we were pushing it on day one.
Carol finally opened the door and peered out. She was standing in the way, and I only barely caught a glimpse of one of the guys. “Hello. Can I help you?”
“I’m sorry to interrupt, ma’am,” Dr. Green’s voice floated to me. My breath shortened. I wanted to see him desperately, and peeked around Carol just to see his shoulder and arm. “I was just delivering Sang’s camping supplies. Her friend called to tell me they needed a ride and they had her gear. Did Sang get sick? She’s back early.”
“Who are you?”
“I’m Sean. Sang and I are...friends at school.”
I grimaced at hearing him. He wasn’t lying, but I wondered why he was saying this. Was it too awkward for a teacher to be delivering a student’s camping gear?
Carol finally opened the door more, looking back at me with a suspicious eye. “Sang, do you know who this is?”