Page 49 of Everything Is Probably Fine

Lorna never does smoke weed again. But Kristen will smoke enough for them both.

She wakes the next morning to the sound of Mom and Kristen fighting.

Chapter 14Lorna Is Thirteen

Just before new year’s eve, lorna’s dad comes to take them to dinner. He’s brought Christmas gifts—hair clips and earrings for Kristen, a cardigan sweater and a deck of playing cards for Lorna. Why do her parents think she’s a kid?

Kristen is sullen during dinner. When Dad asks what’s wrong, she accuses him of not caring about her and Lorna. She tells him she fights with Mom all the time. Dad tries to defend himself, but Kristen is in a mood and calls him stupid.

Lorna loses her appetite at the Spaghetti Warehouse, a first in her lifetime.

When Dad drops them off, Kristen goes in with a curt “See you,” but Lorna hangs back, standing between the car and house.

“Dad, can I ask a favor?”

“Sure, Lolo. Anything. You know that.”

She doesn’t know that. He’s hardly ever around. She doesn’t quite know how to ask.

Dad is bundling her gifts and leftovers to hand to her. “What is it?”

“Can I come live with you and Trish?”

Something comes over Dad’s face. Like he suddenly doesn’t feel well. “What?” He lets out a forced laugh. “Why do you... Why?”

“Because Mom and Kristen really do fight all the time. Kristen runs away a lot, and she got kicked out of school again.”

“Again? No one told me that.” He frowns in the direction of Nana’s house, as if he’s trying to decide whether he should go in and say something about that.

“I just think I would be happier if I lived with you. I hate all the fighting.”

Dad turns his attention back to her. He looks stricken, like she imagines people look when they are having a heart attack. “Oh, Lolo,” he says after a moment. “Oh, baby... that’s not a good idea.”

“Why not?” she asks, but her heart is already sinking. Maybe she hasn’t explained it enough. “I won’t bother you, I promise. And I’ll keep my room clean.”

“You would never bother me, Lolo, but we have Baby Allison now.”

Lorna panics. “I can help with Allison!” She grabs his hand.

“And another baby on the way. It’s not that I don’t think you would help, it’s just that... So let me talk to your mother and see if we can’t make things better here.”

“No!” Lorna cries. She feels sick, like she’s made a terrible, terrible mistake. “She’ll be mad.”

He doesn’t argue. He squeezes her hand. “Why don’t we revisit this when you’re older?”

“What does age have to do with it?”

He peels her hand off his. “Lolo, you know I would take you in a heartbeat if I could.”

“But you can, Dad. Why won’t you?”

“You’re misunderstanding my situation. Look, I’ll call you tomorrow, and we’ll talk,” he says.

He won’t call her. He never does. “Dad, please—you don’t know what it’s like.”

“Listen, honey, whatever it is, it will pass. You’re young and sometimes problems feel much bigger than they are. I have to go now. I’ll call you. Love you!”

He is walking backward. He opens the car door and waves at her over the top, then drives away.