Fear of Falling Read Online Free Page B

won’t hear.
    Zoe just stands there making vague signals at me with her eyes. Oh, yeah—guess I better introduce her to my father.
    â€œZoe, this is my dad, Charlie Hutchinson,” I say. “Dad, this is Zoe Hopkins. She works with me at the Dr. Mac’s Place clinic.” I wrote to Dad about working at Dr. Mac’s Place, but he never answered. Maybe he never got the letter. If he did, does he remember? I can’t tell from his reaction.
    â€œWell, hello, Zoe, how are you?” He’s all smiles, reaching out to take her hand, winking at me like she’s my girlfriend or something. “Are you learning to ride, too?”
    â€œYes, sir,” she says. Not yeah or uh-huh like most kids around here would say. She smiles politely and shakes my dad’s hand. She’s very sophisticated that way. Her mom used to take her everywhere in Manhattan, so she’s used to talking with important grown-ups, like casting directors and chefs of fancy restaurants.
    I can tell she’s a little suspicious, though. Everybody at Dr. Mac’s Place knows about the situation with my dad, but Zoe probably relates to it more than anybody. Her dad split when she was really little, and she never hears from him at all. She says she doesn’t really care. I’m not sure I believe that part.
    â€œWell, I’d better get to work. It was nice to meet you, Mr. Hutchinson,” Zoe says. “See you later, David.”
    Dad and I stand around awkwardly again. Trying to think of something to say, I blurt out, “Have you seen this horse, Dad?” I walk over to the stall where King’s Shadow stands with his head out the door. His charcoal coat gleams as if he’s just been groomed. “Isn’t he awesome?”
    Dad gives me a lopsided grin. “Glad you like him, son. He’s mine.”
    I whirl around. “Yours? But he’s been here since—” I don’t finish the sentence. I don’t say yesterday. I don’t say, What took you so long to come see me?
    Because I just realized, he didn’t come here to the stables to see me. He came here to see his horse.
    Now I feel really crummy and confused.
    Then Dad says, “I’ve decided to move back to Pennsylvania,” as casually as if he were ordering a cheeseburger.
    Suddenly it’s like I’ve had the wind knocked out of me. I should be shouting hooray or something, but instead I feel scared. Scared of what? I’m not sure. Scared of getting my hopes up, I guess.
    â€œDoes Mom know?” I ask.
    Dad looks away, shrugs, starts to speak—
    Just then two minivans pull up, and a crowd of grown-ups and kids pile out. Mr. Quinn calls out my name.
    The trail ride. I almost forgot why I’m here.
    â€œMr. Quinn needs me to help tack up,” I explain to Dad. “Are you sticking around the stable for a while, or going over to the house?”
    Dad shoves his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket. “Nah, I got a room at a hotel.” The surprise on my face must show, because he adds quickly, “I got in late. Didn’t want to impose on your mom…you know.”
    No, I don’t know. Why wouldn’t he want to stay in his own house, with his own family?
    I don’t want to think about what that means.
    â€œDavid!” Mr. Quinn hollers.
    Dad shoos me off. “Go ahead. Don’t worry, I’ll be here awhile,” he assures me.
    I head into the barn, and I have to admit I kind of welcome the distraction. It’ll give me some time to get my head together about seeing Dad.
    As I lead the last horse out of the barn for the trail ride, Mom and Ashley pull into the stable yard to pick me up. Boy, are they in for a surprise.
    â€œMom!” I call over the clopping hooves. “Guess what?”
    I look around the yard for Dad. But I don’t see him anywhere.
    I search the barns and the practice ring.
    My father has disappeared again.

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