The next evening, Peter and Sophie sat Daisy down in Peter's office to give her the news.
"Whoa, wait a minute. Let me get this straight. I have to go home - not for a weekend like all the others, but for a whole week!" Daisy exclaimed angrily. Going home was one thing, but for an entire week was another. She sat down and folded her arms defiantly. Peter and Sophie looked at each other. They expected this sort of reaction.
"Daisy, I know you're shocked, but you've gotta do this. You haven't seen your dad since the funeral, practically. You need to spend time with him and understand some things," Peter began.
"What's there to understand? Despite what he says, he's still an alcoholic, he could care less about me." Peter and Sophie looked at each other again. "What? What is it? Is there something you're not telling me?"
"Well, Dais, the reason why your dad wants you to come home this week is, because AA and his therapist are having family meetings. AA is on Tuesday, his therapist is on Thursday morning," Peter said.
"What? You're kidding, right? Why do I need to go with him?"
"Well, because its family time. It helps the person a lot to know that they have somebody who loves them and supports them. Relationships strengthen, you'll get to see how your dad is coming along, a few other things. Sophie and I agreed that it would be good for both of you if you went."
Daisy jumped up. "You don't know what's good for me!" she exclaimed, then ran out of the room. Sophie sighed and started to go after her.
"Soph, wait. Leave her be for now. I have something I need to tell you myself. I'm not sure you'll like it."
"Judging by the sound of your voice, I don't think I will, either." She sat down on the couch next to Peter.
"Well, I have to leave tomorrow, for New York, for two weeks."
"What? What for? And so soon?"
"Well, I got a call this morning. I have to go up there for a few meetings about the school, and I'll go to a counseling workshop. I don't know why its such short notice, but I leave tomorrow afternoon. Roger can help, as well as Frank and the others. I'm really sorry to spring this on you so quickly, Soph, I really am."
"Well, its bad, but not as bad as you made it out to be. Two weeks isn't that long, right?"
"Nope, not too long. I better go pack, I'll be back by group."
The next morning, the whole group gathered by the picnic tables. "I'll be gone for two weeks, you guys. Listen to Sophie - or any adult - and don't try anything funny. I'm only a phone call away and anyone can call me about any misbehavior." Peter put his bags in the truck. Frank was going to take him to the airport. "Bye, you guys. See you in two weeks." The group waved at him as he drove off. After the car disappeared, Sophie clapped her hands.
"Okay, everyone. Get to class!" There was some grumbling as they headed for the lodge. Daisy hung back, still upset about going home to her dad. Shelby waited for her to catch up, but Daisy didn't offer any explaination for her attitude. Shelby knew, in due time, it would come out, so she walked along silently with her friend.
The next day was horrible for Daisy. Sophie took her into Peter's office again after school. For a brief moment, Daisy thought that her dad changed his mind and wasn't coming to get her, or that he got the dates wrong.
"Daisy, I know you're not going to like this, and I don't either. But your dad called this morning. He's coming to get you tomorrow afternoon. Not on Sunday."
"What? Why!" Daisy said, shocked.
"He said he wanted to spend a day with you alone before going to the meetings. The drive is a day and a half anyway, and he wanted to spend Monday with you."
"But I'm spending Wednesday with him! And three days in the car! I don't need to go up earlier to spend a day with him!" Daisy exploded.
"I know, Dais. I tried to tell him that, but he wouldn't listen. He's your father, Daisy, and despite what you believe, he still loves you. You two have things you have to settle."
The news was too much for Daisy to handle. She surprised herself and Sophie when her eyes started to water. Embarrassed, she wiped them away.
Maybe this isn't good for her, Sophie thought. "Daisy - we're only a phone call away if something goes wrong."
"You're right. I do need to go. I don't want to, but I need to. If I ever want to get on in life, I need to resolve some stuff between us. But just because I'm going doesn't mean I'm ready to forgive him," Daisy said softly.
"You don't need to forgive him right away, Daisy."
"I know. I just don't know if I ever will."
Sophie couldn't think of anything to say.
"Well, I better go pack," Daisy said solemnly.
Daisy slowly made her way back to the dorm. Thankfully, nobody was there. She pulled out her suitcase from under her bed and began to throw some clothes into it. Feeling helpless, tears began to fall down her cheeks. Just then, Shelby walked into the dorm. Perfect timing, Daisy thought, and wiped her eyes quickly.
"What are you doing?" Shelby asked.
"What does it look like?" Daisy snapped.
"Whoa, okay. I just asked a question."
"Packing."
"I can see that, but why?"
"I'm leaving."
"What? When?" Shelby was shocked. She thought Daisy was going away - for good.
"Tomorrow afternoon."
"Daisy, you can't leave!"
"I have to. My dad needs me to go with him to some stupid family day AA and therapy meetings. I'll be gone a whole week!"
Shelby sighed with relief. "Oh, only a week."
"Only? I don't even want to go back. I hate my father!"
"Well, think of it this way - its only for a week, not forever, and up until a little while ago, you lived with him your whole life."
"I know..."
"And besides, it may not be as bad as you think."
"Trust me. It'll be bad."
"Well, you can always call."
Daisy closed her suitcase. "Thanks, Shel. That means a lot."
By that evening, the whole group had found out. They were all supportive, especially Ezra. It was times like these when Daisy valued their friendship the most. The whole night he didn't leave her side. Their support was the only thing that was making her trip bearable.
The next morning, during group, they used the stick again.
"Okay, we all remember how to do this? Toss the stick at someone. Topic is 'I hate' - no 'I hate somebody.' Be realistic, and say whatever comes to your mind first," Sophie instructed. She tossed the stick at Auggie.
"I hate the fact that my brothers were the ones who were always pressuring me." He tossed the stick to Juliette.
"I hate how my mom always pressures me to be different than I who I really am." She tossed the stick to Daisy.
She held the stick for a few seconds. "I hate that my mother was never a real mother." She tossed it to Shelby. But before Shelby could say something, a secretary came in.
"Sophie, phone for you. It's an emergancy."
"Okay. Hold on you guys, let me go take this call." Sophie followed the woman into the office.
"No, not in here, in Mr. Scarbrow's office."
"Okay, thanks." Sophie made her way into Peter's office. She picked up the phone and pressed line 1. "Hello, Mt. Horizon High School. Sophie Becker."
"So thats what you call that place you 'work,'" came the snide voice from the other end. No mistaking it, it was Sophie's mother.
"Um, hi mom. What are you calling about?"
"Well, I actually wasn't going to call you, but your uncle Dan said I had to. Sophie, your sister died this morning."
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