Free The Gossip File by Anna Staniszewski Page B

she’s sort of taken over?”
    He blinks at me. “Taken over?”
    â€œYeah. I mean, look at how she was telling your stories for you on the way here.”
    Dad smiles. “Roo, that’s just how she is. She loves telling stories.”
    â€œNo, it’s more than that. She has this list of stuff the two of you have to do, but what about me? I mean, I’m only here for a couple weeks, and you’re spending more time with her than you are with me.”
    â€œI was afraid this might happen.” He lets out a long, tired-sounding sigh. “It’s normal for you to be jealous. You two just need to get used to each other, that’s all.”
    â€œDad, that’s not it! You should hear what the girls at work say about her, and there’s this notebook at the café that says she’s not as perfect as she seems, and—”
    â€œEnough, Rachel,” he says. “Ellie is a sweet woman. I don’t want you saying anything else about her.” He puts down the ice-cream scoop. “Maybe this trip was a mistake. You weren’t ready to see me with someone else yet.”
    â€œWhat? No, that’s not it.”
    â€œRoo, it’s okay. I understand. In your place, I’d probably feel the same way. But let’s try to make the best of it, okay? Can you do that for me?”
    I can’t believe it. Has my dad heard a single word I’ve said? I don’t know where my old dad went, the one I could talk to about anything, but he’s clearly not here with me right now.
    â€œFine,” I finally say, because he’s waiting for an answer. “I’ll make the best of it.”

Chapter 14
    That night, I can’t fall asleep. Not only do I keep thinking I can hear the ground groaning under my bed—a sinkhole brewing under the building, waiting to slurp me up—but I can’t help wondering if coming to Florida was a huge mistake. Maybe Dad is right. He doesn’t have time for me, and my dream of going to Disney feels like it’s never going to come true. We’re practically down the road from Epcot, and I might never actually see it. Even if we do go, how can I enjoy myself and find a way to reconnect with my dad when Ellie keeps getting in the way?
    Finally, even though it’s late, I call Marisol, hoping she’s still up and that her phone ringing won’t wake up her parents.
    â€œRachel? Are you okay?” she whispers when she answers it.
    â€œI…I don’t know,” I whisper back. “I tried to talk to my dad about stuff tonight, but he got all defensive and said me coming to visit was a mistake.”
    I hear Marisol suck in a breath. “He said that? That doesn’t sound like your dad.”
    â€œNone of this sounds like my dad! I don’t know what happened to him. I’m not even sure he wants me here.”
    Marisol chuckles. “Are you kidding? He’s been saying for months how much he wants you to come visit.”
    â€œThat’s the thing. He’s been saying it, but he hasn’t been acting like it. He’s barely spent any time with me, and when he and I are together, it’s like we don’t know how to talk to each other. He’s not the same person he was a few months ago.”
    â€œOr maybe you’re not,” she says.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œThink about everything that’s happened since your dad left. There’s no way you’re the same person that you were then. And maybe he’s been through stuff that’s changed him too. You guys just have to get to know each other again.”
    â€œIf he marries Ellie, that might never happen. You should have heard him today, Marisol. If Ellie proposes, I know he’ll say yes.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” she says, and I’m shocked to realize that even she’s stumped by the whole situation. The fact that Marisol, who always has an encouraging word or bit of