Page 18 of A Wolf After My Own Heart
Pouting a little. “What?”
“Your folks are dead,” Ox said gently. “You know this.”
“They aren’t dead.”
“Sally.”
“Theyaren’t.” To Lila: “See? This is the problem.”
“I’m lost,” Lila confessed. “Also, do I have to be here for this conversation? I feel like I don’t need to be here. I also feel the convo doesn’t need to be held in my house. If anyone’s wondering.”
Ox sighed. “Understandable.”
“Which part?”
“Look, Lila, I know I’m not exactly an invited guest—”
“Neither of you are,” Lila pointed out.
“—but could we just sit down and talk about this?”
“Maybe over pizza?” Sally added hopefully.
“You ate all the pizza.” But Lila shooed them both out of the baking soda–laden kitchen and into the living room, and she wasn’t sure why. She knew this was idiotic.Well, I’m intrigued. Sue me.
Ox and Sally settled on opposite ends of the couch, glaring at each other. Lila stood before them and, from long habit, absently made sure she had a clear shot at the door. “Okay, so, I’m probably wondering why I called you here today.”
“He just needs to leave me alone!” Sally burst out, then followed up with an angry forearm wipe to the nose. “I’m not bothering him, I’m not botheringanybody.”
“That’s not true at all,” Lila pointed out.
“It’s not about bothering,” Ox said. “You can’t be on your own. You’re too young.”
“I’mnoton my own. My parents arealive!”
This child, Lila thought, speaks in italicsallthetime.
“Sally, I’m sorry to have to say this to you yet again, but the…bodies…”
Wait, a pause? Why is he pausing? Is he about to use a euphemism? Or lie?
“…were identified. There’s no doubt. Your parents are dead. Their DNA was all over the… They’re gone.”
“You wouldn’t even let me see the bodies!”
“Of course I wouldn’t let you see the bodies!” He shot to his feet, paced a few steps, then plunked back down on the couch. “I’m not taking you to a crash site hundreds of miles away where you have to wade through loads of debris while trying to get a look at what’s left of your poor parents! No one anywhere thinks that’s a good idea. You could travel the globe, taking a poll, and every single person would talk about what a terrible idea seeing a crash site is.”
Crash site?“Crash site?”
“Their Cessna went down two days ago.”
“Oh.” To Sally: “I’m sorry.”
“You just have to take our word for it, Sally. Why would we lie? D’you think wewantto haul kids into the system? We don’t, I promise. Seeing the bodies,Jesus.” Ox sounded equal parts exasperated and horrified. “But my point is, you’re not alone. There’s a whole system in place to help you.”
Sure, your folks are toast and they’ve forfeited their frequent flier miles and you’re all alone in the world, but cheer up—social services exists!Lila began to get an inkling of the dilemma—on both sides.
But at least Ox hadn’t simply tried to grab the kid and leave and screw explanations to clueless civilians. So he was either a thoughtful individual who abhorred violence, genuinely cared about Sally, and preferred to talk things out, or he didn’t want a bullet in the kneecap. Either way: here they were.
