I shrugged. “I’m just as surprised as you were.”
She paused. “Wait, you didn’t know?”
“Not even Cecilia knew. We woke up this morning and the sign was out there. She’s freaking out so badly that I didn’t have the heart to leave her for school today.”
“Have you heard from your father at all since…?”
I shook my head slowly. “No. We’re not really sure he’s the one who even came by to do it. She’s been calling around all morning, trying to figure out where the hell he is.”
“Has she tried the hospital?”
“I think she’s doing that now.”
“So, for all you know—”
“Dad’s contacted a realtor to take over the sale of the house.”
I leaned back into the rocking chair and closed my eyes. The wind felt nice. The harshness of the sun seemed to have finally abated. If the wind blew just right, I could smell the sea, its saltiness wafting in from a coastline I hadn’t visited in months.
But, other times…
Is it Rae that smells like that?
“How are you doing?” I asked.
She scoffed. “Some question for you to ask.”
“I’m serious.”
I opened my eyes and looked over at her.
“How are you doing, Rae?”
She shrugged. “As good as I can be.”
“Are you sure?”
“No, I’m not sure. All right?”
The harshness of her words wasn’t like her. And I wondered who else had taken the brunt of her anger when it should’ve been me.
“Sorry. Sorry, Clint.”
I shook my head. “No need to be sorry.”
“So what are you guys going to do? I’m sure your father can’t just sell the house like that.”
I shrugged. “Honestly? It won’t shock me if he tries anyway. I think this is payback.”
“Payback for a fight he started?”
“How did you know he started it?”
“Your father is always the one to start shit.”
I snickered. “True.”
“Would he really do that to you guys? Just sell the house and leave you homeless or something?”