Free Clouds In My Coffee by Andrea Smith Page A

girl—Angie...Angie Linton—from your class...they found her dead!”
    “Dead?” I shout loudly, my voice echoing in the crisp, dark night. It’s Christmas Eve. Things like that aren’t supposed to happen on Christmas Eve. “No.”
    “Yes, honey. She committed suicide. One of the regulars was coming in just as I was leaving tonight and told me. His brother is a first responder and called him with the news just before he left the house to come down to the bar. I guess her parents are heartsick over this…I mean, who wouldn’t be? They didn’t see it coming at all! ”
    But who would?
    She was supposed to be getting help, wasn’t she?
    What could’ve happened?
    “I need to tell Erik,” I say finally, when my mind processes what she’s just told me. “He’s friends with her family, you know?”
    She nods. “Don’t stay long, Cece. I need you home...with me.” And that’s when I realize Mom is trying to imagine how she would’ve felt if it had been me.
    “I won’t, Mom.” I cross the road and head back to his house not at all sure how he’s going to react when I tell him that Angie Linton is dead.
    Suicide.
    I can’t believe it.

Chapter 15
    December 25, 1973
    Dear Diary,
    Angie Linton is dead. It’s Christmas Day and I can’t stop thinking about her. I told Erik last night and he didn’t believe it. He called a buddy of his and found out that she got home from wherever she was just two days ago. She seemed fine. But last night her parents came back from church services and found her in her car in their garage. She’d left the engine running. No note. No nothing. It makes me wonder about that song Marshall dedicated on the radio last night. Had he heard about it already?
    Mom and I open our gifts first thing. She’s outdone herself with me this year. Clothes, records, boots and a new winter jacket. She loves the new purse, gloves and earrings that I bought for her.
    “I’m going over to Erik’s!” I call out.
    “What about breakfast?”
    “I’m having breakfast with him,” I reply, anxious to get over there to see how he’s doing. I mean, I know he loves me and all but still, it has to be a shock to him.
    Erik’s dad lets me in the house. His face is solemn and I know Erik’s told him. I doubt if Erik even slept last night. He was really tripping about the news.
    “He’s still crashed,” Brett says, shaking his head. “What gets into teenagers these days? Like what in the hell was Angie thinking doing that to herself—to her family?”
    I shrug. “I don’t know Mr.—Brett,” I reply. “It’s a shocker, for sure. Erik mentioned that she had some drug problems though.”
    “Yeah, yeah, I know, I mean come on? That rehab place should’ve known if she wasn’t ready to come back. What the hell? They’re supposed to be the experts on this shit, right?”
    “I guess.”
    “I mean, that girl spent a lot of time here, I got to know her. I never would’ve guessed…”
    And he stops, realizing what he’s just said. “Hey, sorry, honey. I know you don’t need to hear all of this. I didn’t mean to make you feel...uncomfortable.”
    “No, it’s fine. Erik and I were broken up and it’s not like I didn’t see her coming and going and all. I’m just worried about him.”
    “Yeah, well, you know, I’ve got to get going. Donna’s having us for dinner and it’s a two hour drive. I’ve got presents for the grandkids in my car, so you and Erik join us as soon as his ass is up, okay?”
    “Sure,” I reply, knowing that Erik won’t want to go anywhere today. He may not even want me around. He can be pretty intense at times. Life hits Erik hard, but that’s just who he is. He’s deep and emotional. That’s one of the things I love most about him.
    His dad leaves and I go down the hall towards Erik’s room. I love his room. It’s the bigger of the bedrooms in their mobile home and his dad was cool enough to let him have it a couple of years ago when Erik got really