I nodded. “I get it.”
“Why don’t you start by writing for yourself and see what happens? Just remember, you have to be good before you can be great. And you’re not quite there yet.” He stroked his beard. “How long would you be away for?”
“Two weeks. Tops.”
He chuckled again. “That’s hardly a sabbatical, Emiline.” Then he looked at me over his bifocals again. “I assume this soul-searching can’t be delayed to the summer?”
I shook my head vigorously. “It’s very time-sensitive. I would miss four lectures total, and I could ask Cara to cover for me.”
He nodded. “I wouldn’t normally approve such a request, but if you can indeed get Cara to cover your class, then I can grant you a two-week personal leave of absence. You’ll see to the necessary paperwork?”
“Absolutely, Professor.”
“And you’ll bring me ten thousand good words?”
I should’ve known there’d be a catch. “You want me to work on a short story while I’m away?” I said.
He shrugged. “That hardly seems like an unreasonable request. I am granting you a leave of absence in the middle of the term, after all.”
“Ten thousand good words?”
“You have to start somewhere,” he said.
“Okay.” I stood and shook his hand. “Thank you.”
I raced off to find Cara.
Once I was back at my apartment, I packed a small suitcase and then called Cyndi. After a few moments of small talk, I cut to the chase.
“I want to get in touch with my father.”
She let out a long breath. “Is this about the book Jase wrote?”
“No, this is about me,” I said, and I meant it. “Will you tell me where he is?”
“I’ve never kept information from you. You know that, right?”
“I know. I just never wanted to know the details, but now I do. Have you heard from him or my mother?”
She sighed. “I only know where your dad is. He’s living in Dayton and working as a mechanic. Do you want us to take you out there? We could go in the spring after finals.”
“No, I just want his address. I need to do this on my own.” There were ten seconds of uncomfortable silence. “Aunt Cyndi, don’t take this the wrong way. I love you and I appreciate everything you and Sharon have done for me. You gave me a life I never thought I would have. But I haven’t worked through all of this crap, and I won’t be able to move on if I don’t. I need to do this for myself.”
“I’m not entirely sure what you’re going to get from your dad, Emiline. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I know, but I need to see him.”
“Are you taking Trevor?”
“Are you worried about my safety?” I asked.
“No. Your dad is sober.”
I was completely surprised. Why hadn’t she told me? “I’m going alone,” I said firmly.
Cyndi finally agreed and gave me the address to my father’s apartment and the mechanic’s shop where he worked.
I booked the red-eye for that night and found a cheap hotel, texted the details to Cara, and spent the rest of the day packing. By the time Cara got home from class, I was sitting on the couch, waiting with my backpack and suitcase. I had packed only my laptop, Jase’s book, and a few outfits.
She looked at my stuff, her brow furrowed in concern. “That’s all you’re taking for a two-week trip?”
“Yep.”
“How are you getting to the airport?”
“I’m gonna call a cab in a minute.”
She dropped her stuff on the floor and shook her head. “Nope. You’re not a calling a cab. C’mon, I’ll take you now.”
“You sure?” I asked nervously, though I had been secretly hoping she’d take me.
She laughed. “You think I’m gonna let you have your quarter-life crisis alone? Let’s go.”
I gave her a grateful smile. “Thanks, Care Bear.”
Once we were headed to the airport in Cara’s Jeep, I turned to her. “Please don’t tell Trevor anything. I have a lot to think about. I told him I was going to Ohio because I needed a break.”
“I think he would understand, Emi.”
“I really need some time alone,” I stressed.
“I get it.” She squeezed my hand. “Your secret is safe with me.”
Once we got to the airport, Cara hugged me hard. “I hope you find what you’re looking for,” she whispered. I just nodded, too overwhelmed to say anything.
After we said our good-byes, I walked into the terminal and turned to see Cara waving at me. I waved back until I couldn’t see her anymore, like a little kid, then I got my boarding pass and zipped through security in record time—the one benefit of late-night travel.
When I arrived at my gate, I texted Jase.
Me: Did you watch my aunt’s lecture before you came to get me from the foster home?
Jase: Yes. When you told me you were going to live with her, I looked her up and watched her lecture on resolving conflict in fiction.
Me: Ironic.
Jase: I knew you would be better off with her in California, but I wasn’t ready to let you go.
Me: So you knew you’d eventually turn me in?