Page 133 of Chasing Home
The GPS tells me to turn in a kilometre, and I carry on with the random and personal questions while starting to brake. “Are you seeing anyone?”
“Like dating?”
“Yeah.”
“God no. I haven’t been in a relationship in three years. It’s hard to date when your dad is famous.” She winces, adding, “Boohoo, I know. I just mean finding someone who isn’t just interested in getting to know Lee isn’t ideal.”
“I know what you meant. That hasn’t been much of a problem for me, so I can’t say I understand, but I can imagine.”
“Speaking of dating, you and Johnny, right? He’s a nice guy. How is he doing with this?”
“With what? Lee or the fact I’m leaving to go pretty much beg him to love me?” I ask, hearing how bitter and angry I sound and hating it.
“Shit. I guess both?”
“I haven’t seen him since I told him I was leaving. Goodbye in person would have been too hard, so we spoke on the phone before I left to get you.”
“Can I be frank with you, Rory?” she asks, and my stomach twists with discomfort.
“I’d prefer that.”
“Dad . . . he’s not the guy you’re hoping he is. Yeah, he’s our father, but that doesn’t excuse his behaviour and the way he treats people. Take it from someone who grew up with him in her life when I say that he’s not doing this out of the kindness of his heart. He feels guilty for both of us, and if there’s one thing I know about him, it’s that he doesn’t like feeling bad about anything. Once he gets what he wants from us, we’ll be invisible to him again.”
My throat grows tight. “Why are you coming with me, then? You shouldn’t be giving him the satisfaction of spending time with you if he doesn’t deserve it.”
“Because I want to get to know you, Rory. This seemed like as good a chance as any. If you’re going to Toronto, then so am I.”
I don’t realize I’ve pulled over onto the side of the road until a truck whizzes by, spitting rocks at the hood of my car. Once I’ve shifted into park, I pull my foot off the brake and look at Wanda. She’s already watching me softly, patiently.
“I don’t want to go,” I admit out loud for the first time.
She isn’t surprised by that. If anything, she looks relieved.
“I know.”
“Should I call him?”
“Lee or Johnny?”
I almost laugh at how obvious I have to be for her to ask me that. “Lee.”
She hands me her phone, and I take it with shaky fingers. His contact name isn’t dad or father; it’s Riley.
The line rings three times before he answers, sounding annoyed. “What is it, Wanda?”
“It’s Aurora.”
“Oh. Well, what is it? Is there something wrong?”
I bristle at his tone. “I can’t go with you. I don’t want to leave Cherry Peak. It isn’t right.”
“Leaving Cherry Peak is always right. Don’t go back on your decision now.”
“I still want the chance to get to know you.”
“So, you are coming, then?”
I shake my head even though he can’t see. “Can you stay here for a couple of weeks instead? Even for a few days? Just long enough to talk?—”