Sea Read Free Page B

you about the trip.”
    My insides twisted into a sticky web. “That looks like light reading,” I said, trying to stall him.
    “The book isn’t light reading; that’s the point,” he said defensively, his face half shadowed in the light. “These ugly things are really happening in the world, and if I can, I’m going to do something to help. If I can’t help stop it, I’ll do something to help heal the wounds. That’s what Team Hope was ... is ... all about.”
    “Team Hope? That’s what you’re calling your group now?”
    “Yes. We changed it ... in honor of your mom.”
    I didn’t know what to say. His international work was the reason she was gone.
    My stomach clenched as I connected the dots.
    That was what my birthday morning was all about: Dad? Check. Tom? Check. And ... they needed a third person now.
    Vera.
    It was obvious who Vera was replacing.
    My stomach seized. “Whatever.” I spit out the word, spun around to flee.
    “Sienna, stop.”
    “What!” I snapped. The circles under his eyes were darker than usual, but this time I didn’t feel bad. I was tired too. We were all tired.
    He moved toward me, setting his hand on my shoulder in his robo-Dad way. But I shrugged it off.
    “Listen, I know you’re still mad about your birthday and I want to apologize. I thought if I surprised you with the ticket, you might not be as adverse to coming along-okay, that’s a lie.” He chuckled a little, making me want to scream. “I knew you’d say no and I really wanted you to say yes.”
    I didn’t answer. He was supposed to know better than to act like this. He was supposed to be an expert! My eyes stung with frustration.
    “I’m sorry, honey. Being a dad of a teenage girl doesn’t come with instructions,” he said.
    Neither does being a daughter of a widowed psychiatrist, I wanted to retort, but instead I said the worst thing I could think of. “How could you even think of bringing her in place of Mom?” My words cracked like a whip. As soon as they were out, I wanted to suck them back in. Wanted to take back the whole stupid week. The whole last three years.
    Dad just stared at me.
    He scratched his beard, avoiding my eyes. “That’s not ... ,” he started to say but let his words trail off. “Wait. Just wait.”
    As I stood in the doorway fuming, Dad reached under his desk and held up a DVD. “I have a proposition for you.”
    The cover of the box was a faded photograph of three little girls standing in front of a massive gray wave. “What’s that?”
    “A documentary shot at the orphanage we’ll be volunteering at. Look, I know you’re angry, but I want this trip to be your choice. I’m not going to force you to go. Watch this DVD and decide for yourself.”
    I didn’t trust him a bit. “What’s the catch?”
    Dad’s face relaxed. “No catch. I’m sincerely sorry for how I acted.” He raked his fingers through his thinning hair. “How this all seems. I’ve been a mess, and I can’t apologize enough. You’re fifteen years old now, so I might as well be honest with you.” He sighed. “I hate my practice. I hate listening to spoiled women whine about their rich husbands spending too much time on the golf course. I can’t even bring myself to fix the stairs, Sienna. I’m sure you’ve noticed.”
    I grunted in agreement.
    “See? The house is a wreck. It’s falling apart. And as dear as she is, your grandmother drives me crazy. I’m just ... I’m just lost.” He sighed again. “Do you know what I mean?”
    I nodded. I knew exactly what he meant.
    His voice picked up, as if energized by my understanding. “I need to feel useful again, kiddo. I need to help people with real problems who actually need my help. This trip is something I have to do. And I really want you to come along. If you would just think about it? Please?”
    When I squinted, the broken pieces of Dad’s face blurred and he looked like the dad who taught me to surf, to ride my bike. He looked like