Page 48 of Play Book

My dad had washed his hands of them, and while I understand him giving up on Carly, how can he abandon Allison?

“She doesn’t even know me,” I say finally. “Carly wrote me out of her life nine years ago. I send money for Allison every once in a while, but she never replies or thanks me. I only know because the checks get cashed.”

“Carly’s been in rehab,” Megan says. “Mandated by the courts. Ally was with a friend’s parents for a while, but once Carly passed, they said they couldn’t afford to take her permanently.”

I sigh. “What do I have to do?”

“Can you come to Peoria to get her?”

I blow out a frustrated breath.

I haven’t been home in a long time, but it doesn’t appear I have a choice.

“Yeah. I’ll try to find a flight out tonight.”

I disconnect and shake my head.

I need to talk to my dad and then to Coach Vanek.

I’m also fighting the very unfamiliar urge to cry.

The last time I cried was at my mom’s funeral.

That was also the last time I saw Carly.

This really sucks.

The first thing I notice when Allison walks into the room is her black eye.

The second thing I notice is how old and tattered her clothes are.

And the last thing I notice is the scowl—one that’s exactly like her mother’s.

She’s Carly’s mini-me, and it’s a little eerie to look at her.

“Why does she have a black eye?” I demand, turning to Megan.

“I don’t know.” Megan looks concerned. “Ally, what happened to your eye?”

“Nothing,” she mutters.

“Did one of the kids at the house hit you?” she presses, putting her hands on Ally’s shoulders.

“I got hit in the face in PE at school,” she says, shrugging her off.

Megan looks doubtful but doesn’t push it.

“Hey, Ally.” I take a step toward her. “I’m your uncle. Canyon.”

She looks up with a bored expression. “Good for you.”

“Ally, be polite,” Megan admonishes her.

“Why?” She glares at the older woman. “I don’t know him. I don’t want to live with him. He’s a stranger to me.”

“Yes, but your mom left his name in her papers,” she says with more patience than I could muster up if it had been me. “He’s your family.”

She snorts. “No such thing. Mom is my only family. Her family abandoned us.”

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