Page 72 of This I Know
Avery nods. “It was. It wasn’t easy. But the hospital offered us some good support.”
“Oh, really?” says Mrs. Kramer. “That’s interesting. How so?”
“Well, they provide me with lots of follow up services. Like counseling and physical therapy.”
“Ah. Physical therapy would be important, I’d imagine.”
My plate is almost empty. I’m running out of food to pick at to pretend to keep myself occupied. This can’t happen. I better get some more.
“Very,” says Avery. “My last appointment is next week, actually.”
“Oh, so you’re all better, then?” Mrs. Kramer uses her teeth to slide a clump of potatoes off her fork.
“I’m pretty much healed up, yeah.”
“That’s so nice. Isn’t that great, Bill?”
Bill nods in reply. “That’s great. You’re a tough girl to get over all that.” He looks at me, then back at Avery. “I’m glad they caught the guy.”
“Me too,” Avery says slowly, as though sensing the tension again.
She’s almost done with her food, and now she pushes the remaining bits around with her fork. I wonder if I should offer her more. Sounds like she could use the distraction, too.
But before I can, she says, “Excuse me.” She sets her napkin down and pushes her chair out as she slips away from the table. She heads toward the bathroom without another word.
I should make sure she’s okay.
Just as I’m about to push my chair back, too, I feel hands on my shoulders. They hold me down.
“Ethan,” Mr. Kramer says into my ear. “Won’t you stay with us for a while?”
I swallow, dry and hard. “Sure.” I slide my chair back into place. The sound it makes as it scrapes against the wood floor, the same way it did for Mrs. Kramer, makes me feel as though I should apologize.
Mr. Kramer resumes his seat at the head of the table. He’s no longer interested in eating, and he doesn’t seem to care this time that Mara and his wife are both watching him in confusion, their faces stunned. All he’s interested in is me.
“Like I said,” he begins, “you look awfully familiar.”
I give a light laugh, and I cringe as I hear the sound of my voice shaking nervously. “That familiar?”
He nods. “I swear I’ve seen your face before.” His arms are crossed. He glares at me. “Where might I have seen your face? Can you tell me?” He grins an evil grin. “Please.”
I should leave. I should just get up and go. But no. No one can intimidate me into doing something like that to Avery. She’s the innocent one here; she deserves an explanation.
“Bill…” says Mrs. Kramer, leaning her body forward across the table.
My heart’s racing again, even faster than before. Why am I letting him do this to me? Why am I putting up with this? I’m not going to get up and leave not only because that would be too hard on Avery, but because I shouldn’t have to. I didn’t do anything wrong. My dad is the one to blame, and last time I checked, I’m not him.
So I lean back in my chair. “I don’t know where you might have seen my face, Mr. Kramer. But I’d like to know.” I cross my own arms. “Can you tell me?”
Mr. Kramer examines me for a moment, a look of shock on his face. A smile almost breaks at the corner of his mouth, then disappears as quickly as it came.
“Boy,” Mr. Kramer says, “I don’t know what you’re doing with that poor girl, but you’d better get yourself out of this house.”
I swallow. I may be trying to act tough, but I wasn’t expecting that. That breaks everything down. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“Bill!” Mrs. Kramer presses her palms against the table.
