Free Mr. Wrong by Taryn A. Taylor Page A

She stalled, not wanting to make her friend sad on such a happy occasion.
    Genova wiped her face and nodded in understanding. “It’ll work out, Sara. I know you’ve been worried lately. But Jonathon and you are meant to be together. I can feel it.” She hugged herself and spun in a circle dramatically. “Just like Kevin and I are meant to be together.”
    Sara smiled in agreement. “Absolutely.” She thought about Martha and Larry and the sad look on his face when Martha had talked about this same thing.
    Sara stood and hugged Genova, again. “I’m going to go get ready to watch Rob play tonight. I’m so totally excited for you guys.”
    Genova waved at her and picked up her phone. “Kevin is coming back; we already called our parents, but there are so many details to work out.” She turned toward the kitchen and put the phone to her ear. “Hey, Mom . . .”
    Sara ’s phone buzzed in her pocket. It was her brother Mark’s number. She flipped it open. “Hello.”
    “You’ve got to come. The doctor says it could be any time. Dad’s been asking for you.” His voice was rough. She could picture him pacing out in front of their house with the big rose bushes behind him.
    Sara inhaled, feeling the familiar fear grip her chest. “What’s happened?” She knew the situation was bad—it was always bad right now.
    “They put him on morphine. And you know when that happens it means the end is near. Are you there?”
    “Yeah, I’m here. I’ll leave tomorrow morning. I’ll see you guys Sunday afternoon.”
    “Okay. Love you, sis.”
    “Love you too.” Sara sat on her bed to steady herself. She had known this was coming, but she realized that she wasn’t prepared—not really. She didn’t know how long she would have to be gone. She got a notebook and started making a list of everything she needed to pack and all the professors she needed to email.
    “ Sara, is everything okay?” Genova stood in the doorway with her jacket on.
    Blinking rapidly, she tried to contain the emotion in her voice. “Umm. My brother called, they’re gathering the family.” Sara felt like a robot. She stood and got a bag from under her bed then opened her dresser and started throwing things into the bag.
    Genova sat down. “I’m sorry, what can I do?”
    “Nothin g, thanks.” Sara tried to think of the best way to be efficient right now. She opened her laptop. She needed to email her article for the paper too. She was relieved it was done. “I’ll leave in the morning. I just need to get things organized right now.” She turned back to her dresser, thinking she might need extra clothes if she stayed longer.
    “ Sara,” Genova said, standing and touching her shoulder, “are you really okay?”
    Sara looked into her friend’s eyes, seeing pity and sadness. She pushed her hand away. “I’ll be fine.” There was no time for this. The semester had just started, and she needed to be able to focus. How would she keep her scholarship if she couldn’t focus?
    Genova sighed. “Sara, do you need to borrow some money?”
    Money. That was something that she hadn’t thought about. Her checking account with two hundred dollars in it. Maybe one of her brothers could give her a loan to get her through. “I’ll be okay.” She turned to Genova, not wanting all of this to weigh on her big day. “Really,” she said, trying to sound convincing. “It’s okay.” She pasted on a big smile. “Look, go do what you had planned; we’ll talk later.”
    Genova didn’t look convinced.
    “Really, I have to get this stuff ready ; we’ll talk later.” She couldn’t take a heart-to-heart right now, she needed to focus.
    “I’ll stay and help you.” Genova took her jacket off.
    “No.” Sara walked Genova to the door. “I’m fine. I’ll see you in a little bit. Have fun.” Pushing her out, she closed the door quickly.
    Her father was an efficient person. He would want her to be efficient right now. She turned back to her