Even Through the Storm

13. The Call

The next day, Ash and I are sitting in the living room playing with my step-brothers-to-be. Cassie and Dad are wedding planning. Asher's new phone, that he bought earlier today with his Rad Threads money, rings. "It's Nicole," he says.

"What?" I ask.

"My sister, Nicole. 513-438-6723. That's the number she gave me if I ever wanted to get in touch with my father."

"Well, what are you waiting for? Answer it!" He walks downstairs and I follow him.

"Close the door." I close the door behind me. He answers the phone and puts it on speaker.

"Hello, is this Asher?" His face goes white.

"Yeah. Nicole?"

"Ash, hey! Um, Dad said you called him a few days ago and said you wanted to meet him. He said he'd be back by sundown, but he never came back." Asher starts crying. I walk over to him and place my hand on his shoulder. "Do you know where he is?"

"He's in jail."

"What?"

"I said that your dad is in jail!"

"Woah, calm down. What happened?"

"He tried to kill my mom! He tried to kill me! I called the police. He's at the Foghill Police Department. If you want to see him, go ahead. He's all yours."

"What? You did what?"

"What did I do? What did your dad do?"

"Ash," I say. "It's okay."

"No, Lo! It's not okay!"

"Asher, who is Lo?"

"Lo is my girlfriend. Lo is who I'm staying with because my mother is in the hospital. Lo is here because your father tried to kill me!" He hangs up the phone and throws it onto his air mattress. I hug him.

"Ash, I'm sorry. I thought talking to her would help. I'm sorry."