Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
We walk silently side by side until we get back to the truck, where she grabs her bag before we make our way into the house.
“Do you want a snack?” I ask, and she shakes her head. “Great.” I walk to the kitchen while she unpacks her schoolbag and places some papers on the island. Then she turns and walks to dump out her lunch box, something I think she did with her mother.
“I’m going to make some chicken tonight,” I say, opening the fridge and pulling out the chicken. “Is that okay?” I look over and see it’s almost five thirty.
I go about cooking dinner while she starts doing what I think is homework, but I have no idea because she hasn’t told me. “I’m going to take a quick shower,” I tell her after I put everything in the oven. “I’ll be back.” She nods, and I look up at the ceiling, not sure how much more of this I can handle. I just need her to talk to me, even if it’s to tell me I’m a fucking asshole. I’d be good with anything right now.
I shower and slip on a pair of shorts with another T-shirt before running my hands through my hair. When I walk into the kitchen, the timer beeps, telling me the chicken is done. I open the oven door, taking out the sheet pan with chicken breast cut into cubes, onions, peppers, broccoli, and seasoning on it. I put it on the stovetop before walking over and grabbing a pouch of rice from the pantry and popping it in the microwave. I plate the chicken and veggies while I wait for the rice to be done. “Wash up and get ready.” I look over my shoulder at her. She puts all her papers back to the side before getting off the stool and going to the bathroom to wash her hands.
Placing her plate down at the stool she has sat in since we got here, I then set mine in my place before grabbing the forks and some lemonade and water before sitting down. The meal is me looking over at her as she eats. I don’t even fucking know if she likes it or not. It could be the worst thing she’s ever eaten, and I wouldn’t know. Her plate is almost finished when she pushes away from the counter and cleans her place. It’s been over two weeks now, and I’m at my wits’ end.
“When are you going to stop this?” I ask, pushing myself away from the counter and standing up. She jumps back a bit. “It’s been two weeks now. I know it can’t be easy.” I look at her. “Trust me, no one in this world knows what you are feeling right now but me.” I grab my plate. “Except you aren’t alone. I’m here, and I’m trying, Lucy.” Her bottom lip quivers. “It has to stop.” My voice rises, and instead of taking a second and calming down, I go on. “I don’t know what else to do.” I throw my hands up and exhale. “Go take a shower and get ready for bed.” It’s the only thing I can say to her, and she runs out of the room to her bedroom, slamming the door while she does.
“Well, that worked out amazingly.” I put my hands on my hips and look up at the ceiling. “Give her time,” I mumble as I clean up dinner, putting away the leftovers. I then start to make her lunch for tomorrow. I cut up some strawberries and then add some blueberries and raspberries since it looked like she finished it all at school.
I don’t even know how much time has passed by the time I look up and see it’s almost dark outside. “Great,” I scold myself, “she is probably never coming back out of her room again.” I walk toward her side of the house, listening at the door but hearing nothing. I lift my hand and knock on the door. “Lucy?” I say, waiting but I don’t even know for what since she isn’t talking to me. “I’m coming in.” I push open the door and find her bed empty. Looking around at the bathroom door, I see it open as well. “Lucy?” I shout her name, looking around to make sure she isn’t hiding when I see the window. My body turns ice-cold when I run to it and see it is open. “Oh my God.” I run out of her room and out the front door, shouting her name. “Lucy!” I yell at the top of my lungs. “Lucy!” I run to the side to see if I can see if she’s in the back before I spot the door of the barn open. Rushing over to it, I pull it open, seeing that the night lights are on. “Lucy, are you in here?” I run down and look into the stalls at the same time. “Lucy.” I stop when I hear whimpering at the back where the crawl space is. “Lucy, are you in there?”