Free Everything by Jeri Williams Page A

before I come back from my shower? You have that ‘I’m tired’ look.” I winked at him and went to shower. I knew he would be asleep when I got back. Twenty minutes later, when I went back in, he was lying on his back with his arm draped across his stomach and the other under his head, asleep. It never failed. I smiled to myself and went and curled up next to him. He immediately put his arm around me and tucked me to his side, and I fell asleep quickly.
    * * *
    The rest of the week went by quickly, filled with as much time spent with Justina as possible. Since she didn’t have school any longer and her parents hired movers, she had free time. But between Opal duties and school and spending time with Trevor, I had only a few hours a day to spare. Rufus came home, and Opal didn’t have any other major incidents, to my relief and Tina’s dismay, as she was hoping to leave with a nice Opal: The Untold Story story. By the time Friday came around, it was time for Tina to leave so that she could get settled before starting her first day of school on Monday. Aria and I went over to her house to say our good-byes. Trevor opted out, for obvious reasons. Tina didn’t want a going-away party. As she said, this was always going to be her home and this was just a temporary move, as she would be back one day.
    It was a somber atmosphere at the Delgado house when we walked in. The walls were bare and boxes were stacked haphazardly in corners waiting for the movers to start packing them into the trucks. Dr. and Mrs. D were running around doing various things, but each stopped to greet and say good-bye to us. Dr. D was first, hanging up his phone call and coming over to Aria and me with a fatherly smile. He always made me aware he was there if I needed him, but not in an overbearing way. I guess he didn’t want it to seem like he was trying to take the place of my father, which I appreciated.
    “Aria, Dacey, you’ve been great friends to Justina and like second and third daughters to me and the wife. You have to come for a visit once we get settled.” He gave us both hugs, then went back to making more calls.  
    We found Mrs. D in the kitchen packing up the last of the food to take with her in the car in a large cooler. When she saw us, she stood up from what she was doing and came to say her good-byes as well.
    “Girls, dios mío ,” she said, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. “It’s hard leaving your home, and on such short notice too—but it’s also fun! New adventures to be had and new things to explore. I know this is hard for you and Justina to take, Dacey, but you girls will see each other again. You two have a lasting friendship. And I’m sure my husband has extended our offer for you to come and visit once we are settled, yes?”
    “Yes, Mrs. D, he has,” I said somberly.
    “ Aye, pobrecita .” She frowned. “It will be okay. I will let her come to visit. I promise.”
    “That would be great,” I said, managing a small smile.
    “Go, she’s waiting for you.” She gestured up to Tina’s room.
    We found Tina sitting on her bed looking at an old middle-school yearbook.
    “ God , what was I thinking wearing that outfit back then?” She looked up and cringed.
    I walked over and looked at the old black-and-white photo of a not-too-long-ago Tina. Same face, only a little younger with a Boy George hat, her bangs sticking out the front, and some outfit only she could pull off. What was she thinking?
    “You were thinking that since you saw Clarissa Explains It All the night before that you could pull off the same look.” I looked pointedly at her.
    “Oh, yeah,” she mused.
    “Hey, Jussy.” Aria never seemed to call anyone she cared about by his or her real name. It was her thing.
    “Hey, kid.”
    Aria went over and gave Tina a hug so hard that they both fell back on the bed.
    “I’m going to miss you, Jussy,” said Aria in a small voice before giving her a sloppy kiss on the cheek.
    “Ugh!” Justina