She said she was coming, but she used the word “fine” as if she were granting a massive favor. They did not arrive at the school until 11:31. I saw our black SUV pull up to the curb through the large glass window of the office.
Rick was behind the wheel, and Meredith was in the passenger seat wearing dark sunglasses. Chloe was in the back seat with her earbuds in and her face illuminated by her phone. I stood up too quickly and felt my balance waver as the room tilted.
Mrs. Gable half-rose from her chair to help me, but I told her they were here and pushed through the door. Outside, the freezing winter air hit my face and caused me to shiver violently. The walk to the car felt like I was crossing a vast, endless desert.
The passenger window rolled down halfway as I approached. Rick leaned over and asked if I was really trying to pull a fast one to skip out on the day. He didn’t ask how I was feeling or what was wrong.
I tried to answer him, but my stomach clenched so hard that I could only manage a sharp gasp. Meredith turned in her seat and told me to get in the car because I was letting the cold air in. I opened the back door and climbed in next to Chloe.
The movement sent a bolt of agony through my side that was so intense my vision flashed white. I gripped the back of the seat in front of me and fought the urge to vomit. Chloe pulled one of her earbuds out and complained that I smelled like sweat.
I leaned back against the seat and breathed as heavily as a marathon runner. The interior of the SUV smelled like vanilla and fast food, and the combination made my nausea even worse. Meredith twisted around to look at me and asked what the problem was.
I told her that it hurt really bad and pointed to the spot on my lower right side. Rick glanced at me in the rearview mirror and asked if we were doing the appendicitis act now. I told him I didn’t know and that I just needed help.
He turned out of the school parking lot and told Meredith that my father used to do the exact same thing. Rick loved to bring up Harrison Fletcher whenever he felt like he had me cornered. He treated my biological father like a genetic flaw that I was failing to overcome.