Page 71 of Castle's Cards

“McFreezie’s. Been there?”

“Our dad used to take us there.” Izzy turns to look at me. The mention of her dad fills me with nerves. That’s not what we’re supposed to be talking about, but I know she will find out eventually. Addy has to tell her. She can’t let their dad die in prison without saying anything.

I shake my head. I can’t be the one to tell her about that. This conversation needs to be only about the thing Izzy knows.

“It really sucks to have to change schools in the middle of the year, doesn’t it?” I ask. Izzy stares at me, as if her gaze can make me back down from the conversation. When it’s evident that I’m not going to let it drop, Izzy sighs and uncrosses her arms.

“What would you know about it?”

I laugh.

“A lot, actually. I got in trouble a lot in school. You have no idea how many private schools I bounced around in due to getting kicked out.”

“That’s different, though,” Izzy insists, sighing. “I didn’t do anything to deserve this. It’s like I’m being punished for being poor.”

I frown and focus on the road. As much as I don’t want to encourage that line of thinking, that’s kind of how it is.

“I know. It’s not fair, and you are being punished for something that you have no control over. But don’t take it out on Addy. It’s not her fault, either. Believe me, she doesn’t want this to happen any more than you do. Unfortunately, life is unfair that way, and these things happen.” I smile.

“Besides, you were about to be shipped across the country to live with your mom. At least going to a new school in Chicago you’ll still be able to see your friends. Across the country you’d have to settle for video chats and texting.”

Izzy smiles. “OK, so maybe you do have a point.”

“Yeah. So cut your sister some slack. She has a lot on her plate, especially with everything going on with your dad,” I say, then blink as I realize my mistake. Izzy whips around to look at me, her gaze sharp.

“What do you mean by that?”

“By what?” I reply breezily, trying to play it off. Izzy narrows her eyes.

“‘Everything going on with your dad.’”

I wave as if it’s insignificant.

“I just mean how it affected her. You know, she was really close with your dad before he went to prison, and that situation added a lot of challenges to her life. It still affects her.”

How much of that is true, I’m unsure. But some of it is bound to be. Izzy stares at me, attempting to gauge whether or not I’m being honest. While she doesn’t seem completely certain she nods and directs her attention out the windshield.

We pull into the parking lot of McFreezie's, the giant neon ice cream cone on the front of the building lighting up against the night sky. Izzy grins and leans forward, my faux pas seemingly forgotten.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been here. I can’t wait to try some Rocky Road.”

“Hey, that’s my favorite, too.”

“Of course it is. It’s the best.”

Izzy unbuckles her seatbelt and hops out of the car. I follow her lead, ready to indulge in something sugary and delicious.

“The Elise Castle Foundation is the one, I’m sure of it. I mean, it’s straightforward about who it’s named for,” Joey says, pointing at the option on the screen to illustrate his point.

“I’m just worried that it’s too vague. People won’t know what it’s about,” Lewis shakes his head. My head swivels between the two men. We’ve been discussing the name for the foundation for the last half hour and haven’t gotten any closer to naming it than we were before the meeting started.

“What about the Elise Castle Foundation for Cancer Treatment?” I suggest. Lewis strokes his chin as Joey grins.

“That’s perfect! Best of both worlds.” Joey’s voice echoes through the empty room, bouncing off every wall.

“No…” Lewis starts. Joey groans and interrupts.

“Man, I’m starting to think that you just like being a contrarian.”

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