“Sutton you know just as much as I do,” she said adjusting her earrings.
“What time is it?” She asked.
“5:20,” I replied.
“Dad’s here!” Gia yelled down the hall. “Come here, Sutton!” She added. I stood up and brought my mom into an embrace.
“You look amazing mom. I love you.” I kissed her on the cheek and strolled down the hall.
My dad was sitting on the couch with Gia. She was holding a bucket with her turtle inside. “Long time no see,” I said, finding a seat on the couch next to my dad.
“Hi, Sutton!” My dad said. He immediately reached into his pocket pulling out his wallet. He slipped a 50 dollar bill out and handed it to me.
“Order something good. Anywhere deliver around here?”
“Luke’s off work at 6 he can pick up from the Burger Bar and bring it here when he comes over.”
“Okay great.” My dad said, fumbling with the buttons on his shirt sleeve. Just then, my mom came walking down the stairs.
“Hi Dean,” she said. “Okay Sutton, don’t forget to check on Aunt Helen. She’s in her room and very grumpy today. If you order dinner just heat up a frozen dinner for her. I love you guys. I’ll be back shortly.” She kissed us each on the cheek and grabbed her purse.
“Love you kiddos. See you soon.” My dad said saluting us.
As my dad started his car and puttered out of the driveway, Gia and I peered out the window. “This is weird,” Gia said, turning back around to watch TV. “Are they gonna get back together?” She questioned.
“No. No. I doubt it Gia. Dad might just have some news about work or something like that. Hey go grab the menu for the Burger bar and I’ll call in our order.”
Gia scurried into the kitchen to search for the menu. I texted Reagan.
SOS. Weird things going on over here in Coopersville.
She texted back immediately of course.
What’s up? Please tell me you didn’t mess things up with Prince Charming!
Lol no, not at all. Luke and I are good. Dad came to visit in between work trips. He and mom are currently out to dinner “catching up”. I replied.
OMG, no way! What does that mean Sutton!? WTF?
Gia ran back in holding the menu above her head. “Got it!” She said. I dialed the Burger Bar to order our food.
A while later, Luke barreled through the front door already shoving fries in his mouth. Poppy followed closely behind him. “So. You’re telling me that your mom and dad are on a date right now?” He found a seat on the couch next to me and handed Gia and me each a styrofoam to-go box.
“A date?” Gia said as confused as ever.
“I don’t even know Luke. Let’s just eat.” I replied. Luke unwrapped a plain beef patty and threw it to Poppy. We dug into our burgers, fries, and milkshakes.
Luke coaxed Aunt Helen out of her room to eat her TV dinner in the living room, while we watched ‘Wheel of Fortune’. A shriek unlike any other made each one of us jump. Poppy even started barking. It was clearly Gia’s voice. She had gone to change into her pajamas. Luke and I hurried as quickly as possible down the hallway. We found Gia collapsed on the floor bawling her eyes out. I saw Theo motionless on the floor in front of her. My heart sank.
“It’s gonna be okay G,” Luke said, pulling her in close. She hugged Luke tight and continued to cry her eyes out. I just stared down at the turtle. My little sister’s whole world had just come crashing down and I needed to figure out how to help.
After a few minutes of hysterics, Gia finally spoke. “I-I-I need to talk to Ronnie.” She whimpered. That gave me an idea.
“I’ll be right back,” I told Luke hurrying down the hallway to get Ronnie’s mom’s number from the kitchen.
“Is everything okay Sutton?” I could hear the worry in Aunt Helen’s voice.
“Theo passed away.” My Aunt Helen shook her head.
“That’s a shame,” she said. I continued to the kitchen and found Ronnie’s mom’s number on a crumpled up piece of paper. I quickly explained the situation and asked if it was possible for Ronnie to come over. I told his mom he was more than welcome to sleep over but that even just having him here for a little while would ease Gia’s pain. She completely understood and even put Ronnie on the phone. I brought the phone down the hallway to Gia.
“Ronnie?” She sniffled. “Theo. Theo. He died, Ronnie!” She yelled dramatically. Ronnie did a lot of talking and he really did calm Gia down. She wiped her eyes and hung up the phone.
“Ronnie’s going to sleepover and Penny is going to come say bye.” Luke lifted Theo off the floor and perched him back on a rock in his tank. The three of us just sat there in silence, arms around each other.
Merely 5 minutes later, Ronnie burst through the door. He was wearing shark footie pajamas and holding Penny in a tub in front of him. He had an unzipped backpack on his back and left a trail of clothes behind him coming down the hallway.
“I got here as fast as I could.” He put Penny down on the ground and put his arm around Gia. “I am so sorry Gia. I’m as sad as you are.” Gia immediately began sobbing again. It broke my heart. Ronnie continued to do his best to calm her down again. “These
