Talisman 01 - The Emerald Talisman

missing Nicholas’ arms around me. But I felt a searing pull. Something cried out inside me, warning not to let him go.
    I bit my lip and felt my eyes grow wet, unsure if I should make Luke stop the car. The further we drove, the more agony I felt. I finally turned around to get one final glimpse of him. But no one was there.

4 - WAITING
    “ A re you in pain?” Luke said after looking at me, noticing my tears.
    I was, but not from my fall. I didn’t know how to explain it to him without sounding boy-crazy. And frankly, it confused me how my body reacted after the separation from Nicholas. This had never happened before.
    “A little,” I fibbed.
    “I’m glad I was the one who was home and not Dad. He just left to take Jo home because he didn’t want her to walk. If he saw you . . . with what happened with mom . . . ”
    He let out a loud gust of air and became silent.
    I imagined the scene and shuddered.
    “When Dad found me on the doorstep, I wasn’t injured and I was five . It’s nothing like before.” I defended rather gruffly.
    Luke glanced over at me and tilted his head, pursing his lips. I knew I grasped at straws speaking of technicalities. The scene would have been close enough to bring back the bitter memories. I turned to look out the window and wished I could open the door and jump out. His unspoken guilt-trip started to bother me.
    “I should call him and let him know,” Luke said in a low murmur after a few moments of silence.
    “Wait,” I said hoping he’d help me fabricate a story first. There had to be a way to cushion the blow for Dad and for me.
    “Wait? Are you kidding? We can’t lie our way outta this one, Julia. Your car is out of gas somewhere on the road and you’ve probably got a broken foot. We are going to be at the emergency room all night. We have to tell him.”
    Why couldn’t he be away on business?
    “Don’t get mad at me,” I said with a huff. “It was an accident.”
    He just glared and snapped his mouth shut while his anger flared.
    “Could you just wait until we get there?” I asked softly. “I don’t want to hear your conversation. Okay?”
    He glanced over at me with surly eyes for a second.
    “Whatever,” he said, while he shrugged.
    Maybe if I wasn’t around, Luke would be more inclined to smooth things over. One could hope.
    We came around the corner and the red emergency signs came into view. I braced myself. There was no way to avoid this dreadful place now.
    To our surprise, the waiting room was deserted. The doctor pronounced I only sprained my ankle and the rest of my bumps and bruises weren’t serious
    As we drove home, I prepared myself for the lecture ahead. After seeing Luke’s reaction, I could imagine Dad’s. Luke called Dad, like I asked, once we arrived at the waiting room, but I hadn’t asked the details yet.
    “What did you say?” I said, while studying my purple toes peaking out from under the ace-bandage neatly wrapped around my ankle.
    “I told him what happened.”
    “Is he mad?”
    “What do you think, Julia?”
    I looked out the window and bit my lip. It was a stupid question. Whether I wanted it or not, I was going to get a verbal beating in the next few minutes and I totally deserved it.
    “What should I say?”
    “Just say you’re sorry and don’t make any excuses. He hates excuses.”
    I took a deep breath. Luke specialized at staying out of trouble, but I never got away with anything. Maybe that was a good thing. It certainly kept me honest.
    We pulled into the driveway and I saw the silhouette of my father standing at the doorway with his arms folded across his chest. I’d hoped the wait would help calm him down, but I hoped in vain. I crawled out of the cab of the Blazer, with Luke helping me. He handed me my brand new crutches and I hobbled the walk of shame slowly past glaring eyes into the house. I went directly to the couch and awaited my punishment.
    His infuriation bowled me over and all I wanted to do was go to my room. The intensity told me I was going to be grounded for life. I looked down at the dingy carpet and waited, in deafening silence, as he paced back and forth.
    “Say something, Dad,” I finally said.
    “I’m just so upset with you, Julia. I’m afraid of what I would say.”
    I hung my head lower and waited. In all actuality, he really didn’t need to say anything. But I knew if he could just talk to me, it would help his frustration go away sooner.
    “I just don’t know what