by Kelly Risser
***
“Meara!”
Ula was in the waiting area at the clinic, reading what looked like a science book. I waved at her, and Mom raised her eyebrow at me. “Is that your friend? I forgot her name.”
“Yes,” I said. “That’s Ula. We usually hang out while you’re in treatment.”
“Is she here often?”
“When her mom has an appointment,” I said.
“Oh.” Mom gave me a quick hug. “Why don’t you go and catch up with your friend while I check in.”
“Hi, Ula,” I said. She looked up from her book. Her hair looked especially red against the bright turquoise sweater that she wore. The tattered leather backpack sat on chair next to her. She moved it so I could sit down.
“Don’t you have school today?” she asked.
“No. My mom called me in,” I said. “I just dropped my best friend off at the airport.”
“That’s rough. You okay?”
“Yeah, except my mom was in the hospital over the weekend.”
“Oh no.” Ula glanced over at my mom, who was now reading a magazine and waiting to be called. “She looks good today.”
“Yes,” I said. “I think she’s better.”
When the same grumpy nurse as usual called Mom back, Ula gave me an expectant look. “So what should we do today? It’s a bit cold to go to the ocean.”
“I don’t know. You come here more than I do. Is there any cool place in the clinic?”
Ula wrinkled her nose. “Not likely, although there is a coffee shop around the corner.”
“That’ll work. I can always get hot chocolate.”
“Don’t like coffee?”
“Uh, no.”
Ula laughed. “Me neither.”
We bundled up and walked outside. I wasn’t worried about leaving the building. I knew Mom would call if she got done early.
It didn’t take us long to walk there. The warm and delicious smells inside were welcoming. October was colder here than Wisconsin, because the wind had more bite. My cheeks froze, and my eyes welled up. I was about to comment on the weather to Ula, but one look at her and I knew the cold didn’t bother her. Her cheeks were a lovely pink, and her smile was wide.
“Don’t you love that fresh air?” She bounced a little on her toes.
“Um, yeah. It’s great.”
“So, can I get you a hot chocolate?” She walked to the register. “Do you want anything else?”
“You don’t have to get it, Ula.” I didn’t expect her to pay for me.
She waved me off. “It’s my treat. You’re having a rough couple of days. It’s the least I can do.”
When our drinks were ready, we settled into two plush chairs near an electric fireplace. The heat felt wonderful against my chilled skin. Ula turned her chair so the heat wasn’t blowing directly on her.
“I don’t like to get too warm,” she said. “So, how was your visit with your friend? And, what is her name anyway? I can’t keep calling her ‘friend’.”
“Kim,” I said. “It was great. I told her about my dad, and she was trying to help me figure out what it meant.”
Ula leaned forward, the smile vanishing from her face. “What about your dad?”
I felt my face grow hot. No wonder Ula was confused. I hadn’t told her about David’s visits yet.
“Remember when I told you that I’d never met my dad?” Ula nodded, but didn’t say anything. “Well, I’ve met him now. At first, I thought it was just dreams, but now…”
“Now?” She leaned back in her chair, her eyes never leaving my face.
“Now I know that he’s real, and that he’s here.”
“So, you’ve talked to him?”
“Yes, several times.” I couldn’t figure out Ula’s expression. She looked leery. Why would my meeting my father bother her? Maybe she had a bad relationship with her dad. “Is this bothering you? We can talk about something else…”
“No,” Ula said quickly. “You just surprised me.”
“Tell me about it,” I said. “He surprised me. Popping in and telling me I’m not…” Crap! I almost told her that he told me I wasn’t human. She would think I was crazy. What was I doing?
“You’re not…” Ula prompted me to continue. When I remained silent, taking a drink of my hot chocolate instead, she continued. “What is it, Meara? You can tell me. I promise not to laugh or anything.”
I searched her face. She looked earnest. I trusted Ula. She was there for me when no one else was, and she understood what I was going through. I took a deep breath and then told her.
“He told you that?” Her eyes had gone wide, but her face betrayed no other emotions.
“Yes, weird, huh?”
Ula didn’t say anything. She was staring into the fire. When she turned to me, her eyes were teary. “Meara, I have something to tell you…”
My phone rang. It was my mom. It was a quick appointment, and she was ready to leave. When I hung up, Ula was already standing and zipping her coat. “I’ll walk you back.”
“What were you going to tell me?” I asked.
“It’s nothing,” she said. “I can tell you next time when we have more time to talk.”
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“Absolutely.” She smiled at me, but her eyes looked incredibly sad.
