Page 42 of Nicks and Cuts

He tried not to stare at his phone as he waited for the dots to appear as Riley responded. He didn’t know what kind of answer he was hoping for. He didn’t want Spark to be sick, and he didn’t want his parents to be liars because if they were, how many other things had they lied about that he’d never questioned, simply reacted to?

In that moment he decided that he didn’t want to know. He’d done the best he could with the information he had at the time.

She had some kind of benign lump, all good now but she needs meds for her kidneys.

“Shit. She does need meds…”

“What does she need?”

“Don’t know yet.” He was going to have to ask outright about the cost because his sister probably didn’t know what meds Spark needed.

Are they expensive? Mom asked for 500 a month.

WTF…it’s like 50. I paid this month already because I paid for the surgery. I told them to leave you to get settled.

They paid a surprise visit.

Shit, I should have told you about the surgery but since she was fine, I didn’t see the point. It’s not like you’ve been living at home. If she was sick, I’d have called so you could come back and say goodbye

He stared at his phone, not sure what to say to his sister or Dante.

Don’t worry about Spark, okay. I have it covered and I’ll have a go at Mom and Dad.

Don’t bother.

But she would because Riley was scrappy; she’d always been fighting for her share. Sometimes it had been the two of them against their older siblings, and sometimes it had felt like the two of them against the world.

Spark can come and live with me if that’s going to be easier. Or if you want me to pay for a couple of months let me know.

Want to buy some specialty kidney dog food?

I can do that.

Riley sent him the link.

He’d send her a couple of bags.

Maybe I’ll come and see you and bring her with me.

Just don’t arrive unannounced

Haha…I would never as I want you take time off to spend with meeeee.

Shannon laughed and glanced up at Dante. “Riley says she might bring Spark to visit, and that meds are not that expensive.”

“It seemed like a lot, and I saw plenty of horse vet bills growing up, and horses are expensive. Like car repair expensive.”

“Is that why you don’t have any?”

“They were a reminder, and I didn’t have the capacity to look after myself and them. There have been times that I regret selling them, but also, six horses is a lot of work, and while I can ride, it’s not really my thing.”

“So you were the odd one out?”

Dante paused. “I guess I was, but I never felt that way. They just accepted that I had other interests.”

“You’re lucky.”

“Mom would have loved you. You’d have been able to compare who saw the most terrible thing over dinner while the rest of us made gagging noises.”