The Gossip File (13 page)

A week and a half after I first arrived in Florida, it feels like my vacation is finally starting. As I wait at the resort for my dad to pick me up, Carrie keeps me company. We watch people splashing around in the pool. Kai sits at the smoothie stand as always, but instead of looking bored, he looks sad. I bet he misses Taylor already. I hope one day she'll be able to come back here. After all, the resort has given Ellie more than a few chances. Maybe they'll give Taylor a second one.

“So I wanted you to be the first to know,” says Carrie. “I got rid of the Gossip File. I snuck up to the sinkhole when no one was looking and threw it in.”

“Really? But you guys were so into it.”

She shrugs. “Yeah, until it got you into trouble. Besides, knowing that Ellie started it totally weirded me out. It seemed wrong that it should still be around, especially if she's thinking of leaving the resort.”

“I think you're better at making up games, anyway,” I say. I'm definitely better at being me than at pretending to be some imaginary girl named Ava. I think we all let our melted brains get the best of us this past week.

“Go easy on Ellie, okay?” I add. “I know she's kind of intense, but she means well.”

Carrie laughs. “Sure. You know, I think that festival kind of knocked her down a little. She seems more like an actual human now. It's nice.”

Just then, Dad pulls up.

“Have fun today,” Carrie says. “You earned it.”

I give her a hug and then jump into the car.

“Next stop, Epcot!” he says, smiling. I keep expecting him to be depressed now that he and Ellie have broken up, but so far he seems okay. Better than okay, in fact. Maybe deciding to be friends really is what they both wanted. That makes me feel a little less bad about driving them apart.

As we go through the gate to Epcot, it feels like I'm really in heaven this time. There are no fountains or interconnecting pools, but I don't need all of that. Not as long as there's a giant, shiny golf-ball building in front of me, and I have my dad next to me.

Even the lines for the rides don't dampen my mood. And the weather…well, it's not exactly cool, but either I've gotten used to the humidity or it really is better today. I feel like I can finally breathe.

As we wander around, Dad and I make up wacky stories about the people we see around the park. “Now that lady was definitely raised on a reindeer farm,” Dad announces, pointing out a woman whose braids look a lot like antlers. We both laugh so hard, we're practically crying.

All the awkwardness between us is gone. It finally feels like I have my dad back.

As we wait in line for our next ride, Dad turns to me with a serious look on his face. Suddenly, my good mood dims. Uh-oh.

“Roo, I've been thinking about what comes next for all of us,” he says.

“What do you mean? I thought you said Ellie was going out to Arizona with Caleb.” Oh no. Has he decided to go with her or something?

“She is,” he says, “but I've realized that with her gone, there's not much keeping me in Florida. I like it here, but…maybe it's time to start thinking about coming home for real this time.”

I stare at him. “Home? As in my home? Our home?”

“It wouldn't happen right away,” he says. “I'd have to keep working and saving up so I can afford my own place near you and your mom. But I'll only come back if that's what you want. Like you said, Roo, a lot has changed since I left. I can't expect to come home and think that everything will be the same.”

I look at the ground, my head swimming. Of course this is what I want, isn't it? I've been dying for my dad to come home for months! But for some reason I'm not jumping and shrieking like I thought I would be. Maybe part of it is that my dad's talked about coming home before, and nothing's come of it. But it's more than that, I realize.

When my dad first left, I felt like my entire world had disintegrated around me. I thought the only way I could ever be okay was to bring him back. But somehow I managed to keep going without him and, bit by bit, to even be happy again. Of course I want him to come home, but I don't need him to. Not anymore. Either way, I'll be all right.

“I do want you to come home,” I say slowly. “But if you decide to stay here, I'll understand. As long as we promise not to let things get messed up between us again, okay?”

He gives my hand a squeeze. “I promise, Roo. I've already missed too much of your life. I don't want to miss any more.” He smiles. “Once I'm back, maybe we can even find a Korean restaurant or two to check out.”

I give him a long, long hug, like I'm making up for all the hugs we've missed over the past few months. “That sounds perfect.”

As I finally let him go, I'm grinning so hard that my face actually hurts. I loop my arm through Dad's and drag him toward Future World.

Okay, so this wasn't the perfect trip I pictured when I was a kid. Mom isn't here, though she hates theme parks, so she's probably happier sitting this one out anyway. And Dad and I might not have checked off every theme park in Orlando, but just being here today is enough. Everything feels exactly the way it should.

And maybe someday, Evan and I will come here together. One thing is for sure. When I finally see him at the airport when I get home, I know the first thing I'm going to do. And it won't involve ears.

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Eternal thanks to my family and friends, and to my EMLA, Sourcebooks, and Writers' Loft clans. I'm particularly grateful to Ray Brierly and Heather Kelly; without their help, this book would still be a vat of incomprehensible goo.

Anna Staniszewski lives outside of Boston with her wacky dog and her slightly less wacky husband. She was a Writer-in-Residence at the Boston Public Library and a winner of the PEN New England Discovery Award. When she's not writing, Anna teaches, reads, and avoids cleaning her house. Visit her at
www.annastan.com
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