When I got home, Dad had a change of clothes waiting for me on the porch, knowing I would need them. I felt horrible for having yelled at him like that. After looking to make sure no one was watching, I quickly slipped into the clothes.
Inside, Dad was sitting in the living room, waiting for me.
"Hey," I said, folding my arms across my chest.
"Feel better now?" Dad asked, turning off the game.
I nodded sheepishly. "Dad, I'm so sorry I yelled at you like that. Please, forgive me."
He stretched out his arms and stood, and I quickly closed the gap between us. "It's okay, honey. I know you're hurting." He patted my back, letting me cry on his shoulder. Then he pulled back a moment later. "Jess, tomorrow, if you'd like to stay home from school to visit Dakota, you can. But it may be good for you to start trying to... get back into your life, for lack of a better word."
