with a real winner of an idea this morning,â she began, toying with one of her curls, her lips slowly curving up in a smile.
âWhat is it, Sal?â King asked.
âWell, it concerns all of us. And I think itâs real important. Especially because two families of two have become one family of four. . . .â
I wish sheâd get to the point, Wedge thought. He had taken a piece of bread from the bread box on the counter and was using it to soak up the syrup that was left on his plate. He was paying more attention to his sticky creation than to his mother, but when she finally announced what she had been working up to, he heard every horrible word.
âSince I donât have to be back to work for a week, I thought it might be nice if Andrew and I took a little trip togetherâto the Dells or to Madison or somewhereâto really get to know each other. And then, Wedge, you can be alone here with King. Weâre going to have a whole lifetime together, so I think a week separated like that would be good for us. All of us.â
Sallyâs voice trailed off in Wedgeâs mind, while his pancakes turned to rocks in his stomach. He thought he might cry if he wasnât careful. It was bad enough to have a pair of scarecrows for a new father and brother, but to be alone with one of them for a week would be unbearable.
âCould we go camping, Sally?â Andrew asked, twirling his fork in delight.
âSure, sweetie,â Sally answered. âWell, Wedge, Kingâwhat do you think?â
âThatâs what I call a short honeymoon,â King said, laughing. âBut I can teach Wedge all about miniature golfâhow to run a course. Weâll have a great time. Right, son?â
Wonderful, Wedge thought. He rose from the table and ran to his room. He was speechless. Speechless because he didnât know what to say. And because he was afraid that if he opened his mouth, nothing but a sob would come out.
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2. The Box
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W edge locked his bedroom door (thank goodness he didnât have to share his room with Andrew) and lay on his bed, his head buried beneath his pillow. âIâm not going to cry,â he repeated over and over to himself. âIâm not going to cry.â But it did no good. And once the tears started they flowed free and easy. If body size has anything to do with the amount of tears a person has stored inside, Iâll be here forever, Wedge thought absently. Maybe Iâll even drown.
His drifting thoughts of self-pity were interrupted by a brisk knocking on the door. âWedge? Open up, honey. Come on, Wedge. Letâs talk. Please?â Sallyâs voice coaxed.
Part of him wanted to ignore Sallyâleave her behind the locked door along with her stupid ideaâbut a larger part of him needed her. Needed her now. Wedge walked to the door, wiping a few tears aside on the way. âWedge,â she said, motioning with her arms for him to be hugged when he opened the door. âOh, Wedge.â
They worked their way over to Wedgeâs bed. Sally pushed his hair out of his eyes and rocked himâback and forth, back and forthâas best she could. She hadnât done this in years, and she knew she couldnât do it very long, considering Wedgeâs weight and her slender frame.
âI just canât be here with him . For a week. Alone .â Wedgeâs voice was squeaking. âI just canât. Donât make me, Sally.â
âWedge, honey, his name is King and heâs your father now,â Sally said gently. âYouâve finally got the one thing youâve always wanted.â
âI want my real dad.â
âOh, Wedge, letâs not start this again. Weâve gone over it too many times already. Youâve never really had a fatherâand now you do. And King loves you and wants you to love him back. Letâs be happy. Itâll be okay. I promise.â Sally
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