I jerked open my truck door glad to be done with the day. My eyes went to a small black box lying on my seat with a note attached. I reached over and picked it up.
Jennie,
It's a phone. You need one. I spoke with your dad and he said to get it for you. It's from him. Talk and text are unlimited so use it as you wish.
Lisa
My dad had told Lisa to get me a phone? Really? I opened the box and a white iPhone complete with a durable case was tucked safely inside. I pulled it out and studied it a moment. I pressed the small round button on the bottom and the screen lit up. My dad hadn't given me a gift since the birthday before he'd left. Before Jane had died. He'd given us matching electric scooters and helmets.
I climbed into the truck and held my phone in my hand. Could I call my dad on this? It would be nice if he explained to me why he wasn't here. Why he'd sent me to a place where I was unwanted? Had he met Somi? Surely, he would have known that she wouldn't accept me. Besides, if she was Lisa's sister then she was my stepsister. Was that why she was so mad? I had grown up with less money than her? God, she was cruel.
I tapped on contacts and saw that I only had three numbers saved in my phone. The first one was Jisoo, then Sandara, and then Lisa. He'd put his number in here. That surprised me.
The phone started playing a Slacker Demon song I'd heard on the radio before and Lisa's name flashed on the screen. He was calling me.
"Hello," I said, still not sure what to think of this.
"I see you got the phone. Do you like it?" Lisa asked.
"Yes, it's really nice. But why did Dad want me to have it?" He hadn't cared much about anything else I'd needed over the years. This seemed trivial.
"Safety measure. All females need a phone. Especially ones that drive vehicles older than they are. You could break down at any moment."
"I have a gun," I reminded him.
He chuckled. "Yeah, you do, badass. But a gun can't tow your truck."
Point made.
"Are you coming home?" he asked. The way he said "home" like his house was my home too made me feel warm inside. Even if he hadn't meant it that way.
"Yes, if that's okay. I can go do something else if you need me to stay away."
"No. I want you here. I cooked."
He'd cooked? For me? "Oh. Okay. Well, I'll be there in a few minutes."
"See you soon," he said and the line went dead.
Here he went being incredibly strange again.
When I walked into the house the distinct smell of taco seasoning met my nose. I closed the door and headed for the kitchen. If this was actual homemade Mexican food then I was going to be seriously impressed.
Lisa's back was to me as I entered the kitchen. He was humming along to a song I didn't recognize playing over the sound system. It was smoother and slower than what he normally listened to. A bottle of Corona was opened on the bar with a slice of lime on the rim. I'd fixed many just like that while working on the course.
"Smells good," I said. Lisa glanced back over his shoulder and a slow smile spread across his face.
"It is," he replied, wiping his hands on the hand towel beside him. He picked up the Corona and handed it to me. "Here, drink up. The enchiladas are almost finished. I need to flip the quesadillas and they need a few more minutes. We should be ready to eat soon."
