Page 17 of The Way the Heart Breaks: Jade’s Story

“No homework?”

“I have a Study Hall; everything’s done.”

He winks, “That’s my girl. I’m going to go shower off the day.”

When the timer goes off, I look up from the article “Ten Signs He Likes You (Even if he pretends he doesn’t)” and realize it’s been twenty minutes, and they’re still not home.

I close the magazine, push back from the table, and glance at the clock, then out the window.

“They probably stopped for ice cream,” I mutter, annoyed because yes, they deserve it, but hello, we could have all gone.

The sun starts to dip, light stretching long across the yard. Then the headlights shine as a vehicle pulls into the driveway, but not ours.

It’s Ryan’s dad’s truck.

I frown, stepping closer to the door. No one gets out.

My stomach twists.

I open the door, my dad right behind me now, and we step onto the porch.

Ryan’s in the passenger seat. His hat’s pulled down low, his head bent, his arm wrapped around him, face buried in it.

He doesn’t move.

“Danny?” my dad calls.

Danny turns off the truck and gets out, and then I hear it: the faint sound of sirens in the distance.

Dad moves fast, but I stand frozen. Completely and totally … frozen.

5

AFTER / THE FIRST WEEK

Jade

Aunt Maggie is pulling in, Tessa’s with her.

I run and lean over the porch railing and throw up. They stay.

Uncle John takes my dad to the hospital.

I keep thinking the car will pull in.

It won’t.

I picture my dad there. At the hospital, in a hallway, crying.

I’ve never seen him cry. But everyone is crying.

I still don’t think it’s real. I keep waiting to wake up. I keep thinking this is a nightmare. It is not.

Day 1

Tessa hands me a package of pads. “Just in case.”

I nod.