Page 49 of Ghost in the Night

“I know Robby’s probably just a kid to you … but he’s had it pretty rough. You see, his father passed away when he was four. Ever since, it’s really been us two. Not muchfamily left to account for. Which is why chosen family is so important. They say, what God takes away, he replaces three times over. So not only does Robby love having Al around, he loves having you here too. He’s never had family this close before, and he’s just in heaven. But you leaving like you did today not only hurt your father, it hurt Robby too.”

I hold in a groan. I knew she was about to lecture me about Dad. I just knew it.

“So, with your husband gone,” I say, feeling bold, “are you trying to replace him with Dad as your new husband and me as a stepdaughter? Is that why you had Dad get rid of our place?”

She laughs, rocking back. “Girl, I did no such thing! In fact, I told your father he should talk to you about it first, but I think he was scared. The landlord was coming down heavy on him. He didn’t know what to do. They were working on trying to evict him, throw y’all out in the street. He didn’t want you to worry about that. Especially after you both lost your whole world.”

“Oh,” I mumble, thinking of what Truth and Kiki said, how I should take it easy on my dad.

Lena reaches over and holds my hand. “Your dad and I … well, we’ve been friends for a long time, and we’re still figuring things out. Your father is a really special person, and so are you. But I don’t want to get in the middle of what you and your father got going on. All I’m saying is, kids at school teased Robby bad ’cause he’s real smart. So bad I had to pull him out. He’s used to being left out or blown off, but not by family. And you are family to us, no matter what happens between me and Al, you understand?”

I nod with a sigh. “I understand.”

“Now, Robby may think he grown in the head,” Lena says, leaning back, “but his feelings ain’t grown. He’s been through a lot. Lost someone special to him he ain’t been able to replace. And you know all about loss, don’t you?”

I think of Grandma, holding back tears. “Yeah. I do.”

With a deep breath, I knock on Robby’s door. It’s wallpapered with posters and pictures fromRobotMagazine. Something I didn’t even know existed.

“Who is it?” a little voice says.

“It’s me.”

I hear a couple of sniffs and a whole two minutes pass before he unlocks the door. Robby’s face is all puffy, his eyes red.

“Hey,” he croaks.

The guilt feels like a heavy stone weighing down my stomach. “Can I come in?”

He shrugs, scurrying back to his desk. I’ve never been inside Robby’s room before. It’s like an equipment warehouse. There are gadgets, robot parts, and wires everywhere. Crazy complicated LEGOs, computers, video game consoles, TVs, tools … You name it, he got it.

“Whoa,” I mutter.

At his desk, he tinkers with a clear plastic ball that looks like the inside of a remote control.

“What’s that?”

“It’s the Sphero Bolt,” he mumbles, hitting some square buttons on his iPad. “I’m programming a new game for a competition.”

“This is fire,” I say, sitting on his plaid bed, grabbing alarge Rubik’s Cube off the windowsill. “Hey, I’m sorry I ditched you today. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings like that. I was just … Well, doesn’t matter. I’m sorry.”

He shrugs, keeping his back to me. “It’s okay.”

“Nah. It’s not. Friends don’t do that to each other. Neither do family.”

His back straightens and he whips around quick.

I smile. “Listen, I don’t got a lot of experience being a big sister. But I know I’m not supposed to hurt your feelings. I’mma do better.”

Robby twiddles his thumbs. “Mom said you were upset about moving to Savannah.”

I breathe in deep again, and it pains my chest. “I am. But that don’t mean I should’ve taken it out on you. Just ’cause you’re mad about one thing doesn’t mean you should take it out on anyone. My grandma used to say that.”

Robby nods. “My mom says that too.”

I rub my hands against my shorts. “So … we good?”

Robby blinks, the smallest smile showing. “Yeah.”