Page 67 of Shattered

“Please have a seat, Josh. I’m going to use the restroom and track down our waiter.” He walks off with confidence rolling off his suit covered body.

I sit across from Kate. “How are you?”

She lifts a shoulder, letting it fall quickly as her blue eyes that match mine narrow in on me. “Not great, as you can probably imagine.”

“Why not?”

“Since you showed your face at my house, my parents have done nothing but argue. My family might be splitting up because of you.” Her tone is harsh and shrill.

I let my eyes fall to the table between us. “I’m sorry. It was never my intention to cause problems with your family.”

“Why now? Why show up now?” Anger is etched on her round face. She looks so young and innocent. So much unlike me.

“My mom was sick. She was dying and we couldn’t afford the experimental drug she needed. I knew I was grasping at straws, but I had to try. I wanted to save her.” I hope she can hear the pain in my voice. She’s my family now. The only family I have since my mom passed. I need her more than her young mind can realize.

“Your mom died?” Her voice has now softened as realization washes over her.

I nod.

“Do you have any other family?”

“Nope. It’s just me,” I say, tearing a paper napkin to shreds.

Her hand covers mine. “We’re family.”

And like that, she accepts me.

For the next three days, they stay in New York, and we spend every waking minute together. When they leave, we exchange numbers, promising to talk at least once a week.

When I first met her, I thought she was going to be the tough one to crack, but she opened up to me like nobody ever has. We talked about her school, her best friend that has the weirdest name I’ve ever heard, and what she plans for the future. I’m in awe of her. She’s young and still thinks everything is within her reach, and with her daddy’s money, it might be. But I make sure to keep my current living situation under wraps. They don’t need to know that I’m homeless and living out of a tent.

I don’t want them to think I want anything other than love and understanding from them. I don’t want to be another person holding out their hand.

Over the years, Katie and George make the trip every year. Every year, I’m surprised by how much my little sister has grown.

We always try to do something fun and special. We go to baseball games, concerts, and plays. She’s one of these typical teenage girls that is obsessed with selfies, so she’s constantly trying to take my picture. I’m not big on pictures, so in every one, I find a way to hide my face. A giant foam finger covers my face in the picture from the baseball game, my hand covers my face at the play, and I hold a cup of beer over my face at the concert. After years of doing this, she’s finally figured out not to take my picture.

But each and every time they come to see me, Katie begs me to move out to California. I always promise her I will think about it, but never seriously do. I’m lucky if I have a buck in my pocket on most days, and that won’t get me across the country.

I don’t think about it seriously until years later, after my friend Dalton dies, leaving me all his money. I have more money than I’ve ever seen in my life. And with him gone, the advertising business doesn’t have the same appeal. I decide this part of my life is done. It’s time to move on.

I move to California and Katie is beyond excited. When I get all my belongings settled into my apartment, I call her up and set up a time to meet. We have a lot to catch up on. We’ve talked a lot over the years, but I still feel like I don’t really know her. I’m looking forward to spending many years becoming as close as a brother and sister can.

I’m sitting at an outside coffee shop when she runs up. “I’m so excited you’re finally here!” she screeches.

I stand and she pulls me in for a hug. “I am too. Where’s this best friend you wanted me to meet?”

She rolls her eyes. “She had to work. She’s responsible and won’t call in.”

I laugh as we take our seats across from one another. “So completely unlike you in every way possible.”

She points her finger at me. “Exactly.”

The waitress comes over and takes her order. When she walks away, I ask, “so what’s new?”

A wide smile covers her face. “I’m going to spend the summer in Miami,” she cheers.

“Are you serious? You finally got me here and now you’re leaving?” I’m just teasing with her. I love how free she is. Nothing holds her back.

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