“My God, Lola. How are you doing with this? How is Tully handling it?”
“He doesn’t know…and I guess I just want to…hold on to this news by myself for a little longer.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m just not ready to deal with it,” I whisper. “I’ll get there. I’m just not there yet.”
“That’s understandable. You do what you have to do to be okay.”
“Thanks. It does help to tell you.”
“Maybe it’ll help to tell Tully too.”
“Maybe.” I sigh and look at the time. “I think I’m gonna try Dad. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
“Okay. I love you. Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re pregnant.”
“Trust me. It keeps shocking me too. Please don’t say anything to Mom yet. Or anyone.”
“I won’t. Promise.”
I get off the phone with her and immediately call my dad. To my surprise, he answers.
“Looooola,” he sings.
“Dad?”
There’s a lot of noise in the background.
“Where are you?”
“I’m…out.” Histis drawn out.
“Yeah, I can tell.” I laugh quietly. “Are you okay? Are you drinking?”
“You heard the news,” he says.
“Yeah, Isla told me. It was quite a surprise.”
“Your mom is fed up with me.” His voice cracks, and thesound of him crying is even more surprising than Mom kicking him out. He must really be drunk. “I think we might lose the house.”
My mouth falls open. “Dad! Why?”
In the background, I hear a loud machine go off. Maybe the loudest bar ever.
“I’ve gambled it away,” he mumbles.
“What did you say? It sounded like you said you gambled it away,” I say, sitting up straighter.
“Yep.” Hisppops. “Thasss what I said.”
“Dad. What happened?”
“Gotta go, sweetie. Gotta win it back.”
“You’re at a casino?”
“Wish me luck. I need 300,000 dollars.”
