Free Just Like Fate by Cat Patrick, Suzanne Young

want to
like Deb, but she’s really nice.”
“And closer to your age.” I look sideways at him, and he
laughs.
“She’s thirty, Coco. Not twenty. And she teaches anthropology at Clinton, so don’t try to outsmart her. She’ll be on to
you.” He elbows my side before leading me across the walkway.
As I get to the door, my heart pounds with an uncertainty
I haven’t felt in years. Not since I waited on Gram’s porch that
day. This time I let my mother handle the details, and she and
my father had a long talk about my future—even if she made
it clear my stay here would only be temporary. She called my
current state of mind a “phase.” I couldn’t bring myself to pick
up the phone and talk to my dad; I didn’t know what to say.
Now I’m regretting it. I feel like a foreign exchange student
coming to live with a new host family.
I take one last look at the street behind me and then ring
the doorbell. Teddy kicks my foot lightly, reminding me that
I’m not alone in this. But he’ll be back at his dorm tonight
while I’ll be sleeping in the house of a practical stranger who
my father happens to be married to. And is trying to have a
baby with. Gross.
The door opens and there’s my dad, with his dark hair
graying at the temples, wearing a warm smile and a sweater
too heavy for being inside. He looks the same as always except
maybe, if I’m honest, happier.
“Hi, guys,” he says in the voice that used to read me Goodnight Moon . He and Teddy do one of those back-smacking
hugs, both of them beaming. I watch, smiling politely. When
Dad’s eyes fall on mine, I see relief. He reaches out and pulls
me into his arms.
I stand there, awkwardly, until I pat him on the back.
“Thanks for this, Dad,” I say. “I really appreciate it.”
He nods and I think he’s afraid his voice will crack if he
talks, so he soundlessly waves me and my brother inside. Teddy
takes my things upstairs as I follow my father, getting the first
look at his house. It’s weird—there are pieces of furniture from
my childhood strewn about an entirely new home. The leather
recliner, the painting of the Italian villa over the fireplace.
And to my surprise, there’s a picture of Gram along with
other family photos hanging on the wall near the dining room
table. I spin back to my father. “Where’s Debra?” I ask.
“She has classes today, but she wanted to be here to welcome you. She’s making a special dinner tonight.” He looks
so hopeful.
“I, uh . . . I told Teddy I’d go with him to his dorms to
hang out for a little bit. Is . . . that okay?” It feels strange to ask
his permission to go out.
“Oh. Yeah, of course. Here, let me show you around first.”
My father seems a little bummed that I’m not going to eat
Debra’s dinner, but still he’s lively as he gives me the tour of the
house. Even though I’m only thirty minutes away from where
I used to live, the entire vibe is different. We walk from the
living room double doors to the backyard, which is huge, tree
lined, and covered with bright orange and yellow leaves. The
kitchen is big and airy, and there’s a dark den that reminds me
of old dudes smoking cigars. I decide after having only seen
the main level that although my father’s house is a mansion to
me, it still manages to feel homey.
On the way to the second floor, my dad tells me about
my new school—which I’ll start on Monday. For a second, I’m
surprised at the idea. But then I remind myself that I’m not
at sleepaway camp. I’ve changed my life. I’m not exactly sure
how I feel about that yet.
“This is your room,” he says, sounding both excited and
afraid.
He pushes open the door, and immediately I smile. There
isn’t a penguin in sight. The walls are a soft brown, the curtains luxurious with long panels of red and gold. My bed is a
queen, overflowing with decorator pillows and satiny sheets.
This is a grown-up room, and I’m absolutely beside myself at