Page 79 of Castle's Cards

“I’m not pregnant. Or, I don’t know if I am. Carter found the pregnancy test on our bathroom counter, but I haven’t taken it yet.” I bump her shoulder playfully. “Besides, you’re one to talk. When did you and Nate break up?”

“Last week. I think he likes someone else. I broke up with him, though.” Izzy looks at me. “You’re not the worst sister in the world. I’m sorry for saying you were. You’re a great sister.”

“So are you.” I ruffle her hair. “Let’s promise to not keep secrets anymore.”

“Deal.”

I lean over and hug Izzy, squeezing her tight. She giggles.

“You’re grounded, by the way,” I whisper.

“I know. I thought I might be.”

“What did you think, Dad?” I ask as we drive to the movie theater. The day after Izzy’s run away stunt, I got the call that Dad’s compassionate care release was approved for only one day, so I had to unground her.

“Can’t believe what passes for quality cinema these days.” Dad shakes his head and Izzy giggles. We started off our day by grabbing breakfast and heading to the movies together.

“You should have seen Beverly Hills Chihuahuas. You would have hated it. Although the comedy wasn’t as raunchy.”

“Yeah, was that appropriate for you, Iz?” Dad asks.

Izzy sighs in exasperation.

“Dad! I’m seventeen.”

“But you’ll always be my baby girl.”

I peek at him in the rearview mirror when we pull up to a stoplight. He somehow looks even thinner than he did only a few days ago. The cancer is consuming him faster than I can even register, and I hate it. He’s disappearing before my eyes.

“You know where I’d really enjoy going?” Dad asks after coughing into his sleeve. The clothes he’s wearing are not only dated by almost ten years but also several sizes too large for him now. We’ve been getting funny looks from people everywhere but to Dad’s credit he doesn’t even seem bothered. Although I guess he’s probably not concerned with that sort of thing anymore.

“Where?” Izzy beams up at him. She’s been ecstatic since we’ve picked him up, practically glued to his hip. I don’t blame her. Part of me feels guilty, knowing that I got so much more time with him than she did. I shouldn’t feel bad for being born first, but I can’t help the way my brain is making me feel. Despite all that, I can’t stop myself from piping up.

“I know where.”

“Take a guess.” Dad grins at me.

“McFreezie’s.”

“Ding ding ding. We have a winner.”

Dad smiles as I put on my blinker. The conversation continues as I take us to the ice cream parlor. It feels like only seconds pass before we arrive.

It’s weird, how when you want something to last forever, it goes by in the blink of an eye, but when you want things to hurry they seem to last a lifetime. What I wouldn’t give for this day with my dad to last a lifetime.

“Looks exactly the same,” Dad comments as we get out of the car.

The three of us pile into the shop and stride up to the counter. I admire the flavors but don’t bother looking at any. I already know what I’m getting.

“Welcome to McFreezie’s, where the ice cream is McFreezin’. What can I scoop for you today?” the worker asks enthusiastically.

“Two scoops of Cotton Candy,” I smile.

“Me, too,” dad says.

“Make that three,” Izzy pipes in. I blink in surprise. Dad is apparently equally as surprised because he turns to look at her.

“No Rocky Road?”

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