Chapter 13. Learning To Better
Anda.swallowed hood “Walthere’s the other thing, bax I’ll
sate tonka. You said your’d arrange
“Yes, Door contained. Mives will have someone prah by the endot the work, you’ll be Inleted and prepared den all you need to know, to make it
She wkled, though he would’t be able to see her. “Wight. Then I’ll dome paul”
“pood,” Dauen replied, has some tim. “We’ve on a tight timeline. The Masses a
The thought of meeting the Maxwells, sowa’s family, expecting a woman she was nut and that too sa shostly quickened Andy cats heartbeat. “I will be ready,” she sudd, more for her
wing suspicious. The issue we can time inwand, the better,
will keep in touch when more details are available,” Paren concluded the call “Take pooleate of your self, Andea,”
She set the phone down on the bellbeside her, sting into it as if it held all the answers to this imposslide situation she was in. I was going so fast the reality o peally sunk in jinst a little deeper with each passing me.!
y of what she committed to I was prising into a role, littaa lile not how Once it pot paling, there would be no turning back Andrea pose, went to the window, and stamped out into the duck, pilet street. The weight open her shoulders was that of her family, bet milan’s illness, her deal with Baren. All she had wanted was to be in control of her lite to make choses that were hers, But this fe like being swept up in a stoom she couldn’t escape from.
Yet deep inside, she knew she could never back out now. Not when he mother’s life was hanging precatiously in the balance.
“Thope I am strong enough to this,” she whispered to the night, het reflection stating back from within the glass. And for the first time in her life, she was not so sure if she did believe it Dounes that evening was pretty quiet it anything, all that could be heard in the room was the soul clashing of utensils against the plates as Andina sat across the table from her father, mone speaking a wordt the other, while he sat at the head and exchanged tesken between them with direct eye gazes.
Her mother spoke to the list tune “What is going on with you two?” she said melodious soft yet perquisite. “Theng’s a heaviness in the alt. You pays are opset about the test results,
wrong” she said. The lie tasted bitter na
and in an instani Andiga looked up to meet her concerned gaze. She loved a smile to mask the brewing stom inside of her. “Ke, Mom, nothing’s wat her tongue
Het mother frowned. “You sue? You both look like the weight of the world tests on your shoulders.” She took a small, soft bath. “I’ll be fine, you know Don’t stress too much about me The words of her mother reached andiea’s heart be a painful tourniquet. She knew her health was a constant preoccupation for them, but it did not have anything to do with the present tension and the tests. She was just about to say something when, with her father standing up and speaking in measured tones, infinitely calm, he said.,
I wanted to tell you something,” he said, Lring historkdown and laying his hands together in front of him on the table. “I put Anders into a special program. She is going away for a little
e to study. It’s something we both thought would be good for her.”
Andrea was taken aback by the sudden declaration from her father. She stared at him, ber brain in a heap of confusion until her mind clicked, and she knew what he was doing covering for her, explaining away he disappearance at some future time in such a way as not to raise suspicion. Without batting an eyelid, Andrea nodded, falling into the story with ease.
“Yeah, it a— something that’s been on my mind to a while,” she said, trying to make her tone light “thought perhaps this would be a line opportunity for me to, you losow, try something
Her mother’s face gentled, the to
furrow of concern yet to clear her eyes. “Studying But you never said anything about it. Where would you go?
Andrea seemed not to want to answer more, but her father interposed himself with oll–smooth ease. “It’s still in the finalizing stages, but it’s a very prestigious spot. She’ll be away for several months, maybe longer, depending on how things go
Her mother looked back and forth between the two of them, knowing something wasn’t being said, but she let it go “Well, if that’s what you want, Andrea,” she whispered the love in her eyes almost a living thing-“just make sure it’s something you’re doing for yourself, not because you feel like you hang 50,”
Andrea swallowed the lump in her throat, fully aware of the weight of the deception, yet the necessity. “I will, Mom. I promise.“.
Her mathan smiled weakly, the weariness of her struggle etched on her features. “Good That’s all I want to bear just don’t forget to call me every now and then.”
“I won’t,” Andkea whispered, knowing all too well what she was stealing herself and her heart heavy with it,
The rest of the meal was spent in comparative silence, though the tension between Andes and her Lather had changed. Now they were on the inside of the lie together, protecting her mom hom the truth. Einishing up, Andrea shot a look me at her dad in silent thanks to the cover.
Her mother leaned back in her chair and stood the universal sien that dinner was complete. “I’m going to rest for a bit. You two try not Andrea and her father stood up both took the time to watch her mother slowly leave the room. When she was gone, Androa turned to him, and between them was a silence of understanding. Thank you,” she said sodily.
not to be so
so somber all the time. Things will get botter.”
Her father asked at her, his faceable.” may not agree with what you’re doing, Andrea,” he said slowly, “but I won’t let it tear this Lamily apart. Not while your mother’s going through this
Andrea nodded, the weight of his wat de setting upon her. She had made her choice on the was no going bac
Andrea stood in the now–silent dining room, her father’s words still hanging in the air. It was all so overwhelming the deceives, the uncertainty, and the great responsibility taken upon her shoulders. Her father quietly stated gathering dishes, his face distant and in deep thought.
Dad,” she whispered, her feet moving toward him. He tried to he, his face screwed up in indecision–mix of bafflement and resignation
“I know you don’t like this,” Andrea added, “but
trying to do what think is Light. I was to help Mom, and i just can’t sit and let things go bad when there’s something I can di “
