Change of Plans

Chapter 3

"Camille are you even listening to me?" Kate asked. She snapped her fingers to get my attention and let out a frustrated sigh when I looked at her.

"Huh?"

"Are you listening to me?" she repeated.

"No," I answered truthfully. I tried to pay attention to what she was saying but my thoughts kept drifting back to the events of the previous day. I kept thinking about the fact that the woman who had more or less abandoned my dad and me, was back in my life.

Shaking her head, Kate began again. "Your father listed your mother as your legal guardian in the event of his death."

I nodded. There was no use fighting the inevitable. 

"Your father's assets, such as the house will be yours on your eighteenth birthday, but until then your guardian, who luckily for you is your mother, has full control."  

Yeah, luck, that's what it was. I stared at the wall, my mind swirling with questions. What was going on in my dad's head when he'd made that decision? I barely knew her. Maybe he'd thought that he was doing the best thing for me but it felt wrong. "So, what's going to happen now?" I asked.

"That's for your mother to decide, dear, but things are going to change regardless," she cautioned.

"What do you mean by that?"

"You'll see," she said, standing and holding out a card to me. "This has my home, office and cell numbers on it, call if you need anything".

I took the card but I doubted I'd ever use it.

"I know that this is hard for you to believe right now but it's all going to work out, you'll see," she repeated with a smile.

I stared at her and remained silent. This lady is obviously off her meds if she really believes that.

"I'll see myself out," she offered.

I must have fallen asleep because when I opened my eyes the lights were on and a blanket was wrapped around me.

"April?" I called out but was greeted by silence. I checked the time and saw that it was already 8 pm. I had slept for more than 9 hours. I groaned, blaming it on the fact that I hardly slept at night anymore, so I was almost always tired during the day. "April?" I called again, getting no response.

I went into the kitchen and poured myself some water. There was a note on the fridge: Gone to dinner with J and his sister, be back later. Don't wait up. (And yes, I've called my mom). Love you— A.

"Well, that's that," I murmured. I had the house all to myself for the first time since my dad died and the loneliness hit me in waves of pain. Who knew that being alone could hurt. "Oh Dad," I wailed into the silent house. "What am I to do without you?"

I played with the rim on my glass and trotted to my room. I stepped out onto the balcony and sat on the carpeted flooring, staring at the sky.

Ever since I was a child I'd always loved looking at the stars. It gave me a strange comfort whenever things fell apart. It was my blanket of stars that got me through all those times of loneliness when I was new to town and had no friends and when I was much older and everyone else that I knew was busy going on dates and having the time of their lives, I was at home on my Saturday nights staring at the sky, wishing that I was anywhere but there.

The sky looked so peaceful with a few stars shining bright, contrasting with the turmoil that I was feeling as I gazed up at it. I sucked in a breath and the tears silently flowed.