AllFreeNovel
Share Us
* * *
I try to guess our destination based on the turns Holden takes, but we’re quickly past the immediate town and driving on back roads I don’t recognize. The radio playing quietly in the background and the distant hum of road noise are the only sounds.
Holden doesn’t ask why I’m skipping class for the first time ever.
Doesn’t bring up going back to Pembrooke this weekend, which I still haven’t given him a final answer on and am even more conflicted about after getting Regan’s text.
Doesn’t wonder if I’ve heard from Sydney or my mom.
Everything gets left behind us, only a comfortable silence filling the truck’s cab.
We drive for almost an hour before Holden turns off the highway. There’s no chance I’m not missing my afternoon class too, and I can’t bring myself to care. I don’t email my professor with a made-up excuse or text anyone asking them to take notes. I pretend there’s nothing I had to do today and nothing I need to worry about.
I’m not expecting to see the water appear ahead. But it’s suddenly there in a shimmering blue spread, the surface a few shades darker than the sky.
Holden parks in the lot beside the dock and glances over at me. Grins, at what I’m guessing is a startled expression.
I glance at the sign that readsLake Champlain Ferry.
“We’re going out on a boat?”
“Yep. Come on.”
Holden’s excitement is obvious and genuine as we approach the boat. There are only a few people in line to board ahead of us, tourist season probably at its tail end. He shows the attendant something on his phone screen and then we’re ushered onto the metal walkway that connects the dock to the boat. It creaks ominously as I head toward the deck, water sloshing the shore beneath the silver rungs.
Once on board, I turn toward the left, figuring the front will offer the best view. Holden is right behind me.
We stand at the railing, looking out at the water and the greenery lining the lake’s shore. Here and there is a splash of autumn color, a few patches of leaves losing chlorophyll early.
There’s commotion on the dock as the crew prepares to depart. I rest my elbows on the railing, looking out at the water. If I had to describe a place that brings me peace, I’d say the animal shelter. When I’m there, I feel like my actions matter, like I’m making a difference. The scratch of excited paws against linoleum, the smell of the cleaning supplies used to sanitize everything, the feel of soft fur, it all soothes me.
I know Holden finds that feeling at the old court.
But this is pretty nice too.
I feel more myself than I have in a while, which is ironic considering skipping is a very uncharacteristic thing for me to do.
It probably has something to do with Holden.
He speaks first, once we’re far enough from the dock I can’t make out anything distinct on the shoreline. “So…remember that conversation we had about telling each other things?”
“Yeah, I do.” My eyes remain on the water. The surface is sparkling in the sunshine, the view only interrupted by the strands of hair blowing across my face in the breeze. “It’s stupid.”
“I doubt that.”
I say nothing.
“We don’t have to talk about it, Cassia. Just tell me.”
My eyes find his. “You were actually listening, huh?”
“It happens occasionally.”
I scoff, but I’m smiling. “Regan texted me, asking if I knew about the divorce. I saw it right before class, and that’s why I skipped. Going didn’t feel…important. I feel guilty for being gone. And I’m…angry at my parents, which isn’t fair. I get ending a marriage isn’t something you plan on. But when I talked to my mom, she didn’t want to talk about it. I have no clue when my dad is going to move out, when they’re going to tell my siblings. I haven’t talked to my dad at all. It’s all so uncertain.”
“They’re probably trying to figure things out for themselves.”
“Yeah, I know. But they’re upending our lives. The least they could do is figure out how to tell us.”
