Read I Wish for Free Online Page A

the word “wish” around him. “I’m going to make a list of everything we need to do. Then you and I will organize it. So have a seat.”
    “Certainly, Chief.” He perched on the edge of his chair and stared stonily.
    I picked up the pen and frowned at the blank page. Here came the hard part. I had way too many things that needed to be done to this place. So, as much as I might love to indulge a little, I had to reserve most of my wishes for projects that made our home function properly or appeal to prospective buyers.
    It took us about an hour, but we completed a master plan. Twenty-six wishes, scheduled in order from most urgent to least, with cost estimates for supplies. I was excited by how much we had crammed in.
    Grant, however, had this whole dark look going.
    “Landscape the yard? Stain the deck? They’re mostly home repairs.”
    “True. Is there a problem?”
    “Could you not hire a handyman to do these tasks?”
    “I don’t have to. I have you.”
    “I know that, but your list wastes my talents. I’m capable of more.”
    Okay. I’d admit to being curious. “Such as?”
    He rose, paced the length of the kitchen, and then whipped around to give me a frustrated stare. “I could give you a photo shoot and create a portfolio for launching a modeling career.”
    I choked on a laugh. Was he serious? “Not interested.”
    “College essays will be due soon. I could assist you.”
    “I’m a decent writer, so no.” Besides, my current plans included early graduation, a gap semester, and then community college—none of which needed essays. Even my dream college didn’t require much of one. Not that I allowed myself to think of William & Mary as my dream school anymore. The distance was too impossibly far.
    “I could give you ballroom dancing lessons.”
    His words evoked an image of me twirling in his arms as he patiently, expertly taught me how to waltz. Now that was something I would love to try. “You can teach that in one day?”
    “You use a separate wish for each dance you want to learn.”
    Multiple wishes just to learn how to dance? As lovely as that sounded, it was completely out of the question. I shivered with regret. “Nice, but no thanks. We need to stay focused on this wish list.”
    “You might use your imagination. A complete renovation of the kitchen, perhaps.” He crossed to the pantry and flung open the door. “For instance, you could…” He froze.
    Something about his stillness got to me. “What’s wrong?”
    “The pantry is practically bare.” The words were mild, but the tone was fierce.
    Crap. I hadn’t meant for him to find out so soon. “And your point?”
    “Is this all you have? Pasta, bread, and canned fruit?”
    “Welcome to my world.” I tried to smile and failed.
    He spun around to face me. “I don’t understand.”
    “Neither do I.” And I wasn’t just being a smartass. I really didn’t understand how my stepfather could’ve been so irresponsible with our future. Not that anyone expected to die young, but Josh had taken living on the edge to an extreme. He’d been all about having fun and creating his art. It wasn’t until after his funeral that I discovered what a mess he’d left us in. “My stepfather left no life insurance, no savings, and an insane balance on his credit cards.” It would be years before I’d get his debts paid off.
    “What about your mother?”
    “She’s too hollow to work.” Mom had battled depression for years; Josh’s death had only made it much, much worse.
    “Indeed?” Grant strode over to the refrigerator and wrenched open the door. “Only coffee and milk?”
    “My mom can’t function without a caffeine hit.”
    “What else do you eat?”
    “We have a vegetable garden.”
    He closed the door with a soft click and turned, his body crackling with anger. “Why haven’t you said something?”
    “It’s not exactly my favorite topic.” Keeping it a secret had become second nature. No one at school knew.