The Planet Among the Stars (Completed)

Chapter 13

Shaun got out of the hospital this week. His dad needed a few more weeks. There had been no word from Shaun's mom at all. The doctors had contacted her but she hadn't responded.

My phone began ringing, I picked it up and answered.

"Hey, is this Lodi?" Shaun's voice echoed.

I spoke, "Yeah. How are you?"

"I'm feeling a lot better. I'm staying at my grandma's for now since mom hasn't answered. Dad's doing better too. It's just weird..." his voice trailed off.

"That your dad's feeling better?"

"No. That he and I talk. It's just not normal. The only person in my family I talked to for more than 20 seconds was Abby. But..."

"What?"

"Well, he keeps trying to ask about mom. It's as if he's trying to make up for leaving me behind to suffer her abuse."

"Maybe he is."

"Yeah..."

"You know," I said softly, "after you fell asleep before the fire, your dad tucked you in and told me if I ever became a parent, that I should be better than him."

Shaun whispered, "Wow."

"He loves you, Shaun. I don't think he should have left you to suffer your mom's abuse, but he loves you."

"He almost died for me..."

"Yeah..."

"Wait Lodi, I'll be right back."

I heard some voices in the background.

Shaun came back on, "Lodi, grandma wants to know if you want to go out for dinner with us after we visit dad."

"I mean- sure! Let me ask my mom." I ran out of my room, "Mom?"

"Yeah honey?" she answered.

"Um, Shaun's grandma wants to know if we could go out to dinner with her and Shaun."

"Actually I wanted to ask her some things so that would be perfect!"

"Okay!" I hopped onto my bed and grabbed my phone, "She said yes!"

"Awesome," Shaun said, "Okay I'm about to leave for the hospital. My grandma will text your mom the details. I'll see you tonight."

"Yeah see you then."

I ran over to my mom, "Mom! Can Abby come with us to dinner, please? We'll be really really good!"

Abby echoed me, "Yeah! Really really good!"

My mom smiled, "Just make sure your parents say yes."

"Okay!" Abby said. She called her dad and who said yes and we ran back to my mom.

"He said yes!" I announced.

"Alright! When your dad gets home we'll go!" my mom said.

"YAY!" Abby and I cheered. We ended up eating outside as the sunset. Abby and I tied in spotting Venus first that day.

I walked into the restaurant to find Shaun and his grandma had already found a table to sit at. My mom and dad began talking to Jane.

"So how's your dad?" I asked, feeling slightly awkward.

Shaun put down the menu he was holding, "He'll be able to come home sooner than we thought."