#Wattys2015 The Ghost of James Fitzpatrick

Chapter 29

Frank and Linda Netherby had likened the raising of good kids to growing a tree. All Sarah and Josh had required as children was nourishment, sunshine and pruning.

As parents, the Netherby's had often cast sidelong glances toward one another over the years watching other people's idiot kids stretch their branches in every direction and many times, at a cost to those around them. It had gratefully been a smooth and effortless path thus far, with only minor bumps and pebbles in their way, but Linda sensed something unseen had stepped out of the shadows and onto their path.

Her husband Frank would not be home until late Friday night and a talk with their daughter was in order. So far, Linda had mentioned none of her concerns with Frank, but today had been a game changer.

Sarah's teacher had emailed her that Sarah had walked out of class at the onset of her math test. That act was shockingly 'un-Sarah' like and deeply concerned her mother. Linda headed to her daughter's room armed with arguments, but when she opened the door to Sarah's bedroom and found her daughter crying by herself on a pile of pillows by her window, Linda knew that whatever or whomever had come in to their daughter's life had brought with them anguish she had not seen before in her happy daughter.

Her anger immediately fell away. She crouched down next to Sarah and said nothing as Sarah cried into her mother's shoulder. She wrapped her arms around her daughter and waited for her to calm down.

"I don't know what to say mom," said Sarah. "It's such a mess."

"Is it a boy Sarah?" ventured her mother. Sarah laughed and cried at the same time as her mother pushed the sweaty hair from her face.

"Oh my gosh, mom you have no idea," began Sarah. "I've wanted to tell you so much, I honestly don't like keeping things from you or dad, it's just...so ridiculous, and I don't know where to begin or what to say. You'll think I've lost my mind."

"Sarah, listen to me," said Linda as she looked right into Sarah's eyes. "Are you listening?" Sarah nodded. "I'm forty four years old, and I've known a lot of people in my life, and you, Sarah Netherby, are one of the sanest people I know," said her mother very seriously. "Let me help you."

Sarah's eyes were puffy and her nose was red, but she looked squarely at her mom.

"It's pretty crazy mom," said Sarah smiling.

"Try me," replied Linda.