Free Winter's Tide by Lisa Williams Kline

the one I always slept in. I didn’t feel like talking to her at all. I still couldn’t figure out why Grammy had asked Diana to look after Jelly rather than me.

7
D IANA
    I couldn’t wait to meet Jelly. As far as I could see, Jelly and the golf cart were the only good things about this whole awful trip. I started to unpack, keeping one ear open for the front door and the jingling of dog tags.
    â€œI can’t believe Mom took my phone,” I said to Stephanie as we put our things in the low chest of drawers against the wall.
    Stephanie’s dark hair swung forward as she leanedover the drawer, arranging her shirts. She straightened and put her hair behind her ear, but she didn’t answer me.
    I couldn’t stand thinking about the hospital. The smells and sounds in there drove me crazy. And all those sick people! Sick and weak. I thought about the way Grammy looked, and I shoved the image out of my mind. She’d been nice to me on the cruise, but I couldn’t think about that. I just wanted to get away. If only Dad had let me come down to Florida. Somehow, tomorrow, when they went back to the hospital, I was going to have to get out of it. Maybe they’d let me stay home and take care of Jelly since Grammy asked me to.
    â€œThat’s pretty weird that Grammy asked me to take care of Jelly,” I said to Stephanie while I was waiting to shove my jeans into one of the drawers.
    Still no answer. Just careful folding and arranging her pink girly things. Well, fine, don’t talk. I don’t care.
    The front door shut. Jelly must be here! I dumped the rest of my jeans and sweatshirts on my bed and ran out into the living room.
    And there, with Norm, was a fat, little brown dog. He had the sweetest eyes, shiny and brown, in a Chihuahua face that looked like a seal’s. And a long, low Dachshund body. As I skidded to a stop and knelt to pet him, he let out a growl.
    â€œWatch it, Diana!” Norm started.
    Before I could draw back, Jelly nipped at my hand with his sharp little teeth.
    â€œWhoa!” I backed away, but Jelly still sat there with one paw up, his ears laid back, and his lip curled. The canine tooth showing was curved and yellow.
    Mom was right behind me. “Be careful, Diana. He doesn’t like you.”
    Doesn’t like me? Since when did a dog not like me? I sat down Indian style on the floor in front of him.
    â€œHey, what’s the matter? I won’t hurt you. I love dogs. See? I’m okay.” I held my hand out a few inches in front of his snout for him to sniff. He made a noise between a growl and a whine and snapped again, this time grazing the tip of my finger.
    I yanked my hand back, rubbing my finger, tears springing to my eyes.
    What was this all about? I didn’t get it. Animals always liked me. That was what I lived for, animals gathering around me and giving me their unconditional love. What was going on?
    â€œI tried to warn you about him,” Norm said. “He likes things on his own terms.”
    â€œGoodness, Diana,” said Mom. “Get away and give him a chance to adjust. Maybe you came on too strong.”
    And then I heard Stephanie’s voice behind me. “I just got a text from Mama. Matt woke up.”
    â€œOh, that’s wonderful news!” Mom said. “What a relief! Did she say anything else about how he’s doing?”
    â€œJust that he’s awake and in a lot of pain.”
    â€œPoor boy,” Mom said.
    â€œYeah,” Stephanie said. I glanced at her, wondering if she was glad Matt was in pain.
    Stephanie came and stood beside me and Jelly. “So Jelly doesn’t like you, huh? He only likes Grammy. He adores Grammy.”
    I crossed my arms over my chest. “He just has to get used to me, that’s all.”
    With a dry chuckle, Norm hung the leash on its hook by the front door. “Good luck with that.”
    I stood up, keeping my eye on Jelly. He watched me