Read Talisman 01 - The Emerald Talisman for Free Online Page B

few moments of silence.
    “Wait,” I said hoping he’d help me fabricate a story first. There had to be a way to cushion the blow for Dad and for me.
    “Wait? Are you kidding? We can’t lie our way outta this one, Julia. Your car is out of gas somewhere on the road and you’ve probably got a broken foot. We are going to be at the emergency room all night. We have to tell him.”
    Why couldn’t he be away on business?
    “Don’t get mad at me,” I said with a huff. “It was an accident.”
    He just glared and snapped his mouth shut while his anger flared.
    “Could you just wait until we get there?” I asked softly. “I don’t want to hear your conversation. Okay?”
    He glanced over at me with surly eyes for a second.
    “Whatever,” he said, while he shrugged.
    Maybe if I wasn’t around, Luke would be more inclined to smooth things over. One could hope.
    We came around the corner and the red emergency signs came into view. I braced myself. There was no way to avoid this dreadful place now.
    To our surprise, the waiting room was deserted. The doctor pronounced I only sprained my ankle and the rest of my bumps and bruises weren’t serious
    As we drove home, I prepared myself for the lecture ahead. After seeing Luke’s reaction, I could imagine Dad’s. Luke called Dad, like I asked, once we arrived at the waiting room, but I hadn’t asked the details yet.
    “What did you say?” I said, while studying my purple toes peaking out from under the ace-bandage neatly wrapped around my ankle.
    “I told him what happened.”
    “Is he mad?”
    “What do you think, Julia?”
    I looked out the window and bit my lip. It was a stupid question. Whether I wanted it or not, I was going to get a verbal beating in the next few minutes and I totally deserved it.
    “What should I say?”
    “Just say you’re sorry and don’t make any excuses. He hates excuses.”
    I took a deep breath. Luke specialized at staying out of trouble, but I never got away with anything. Maybe that was a good thing. It certainly kept me honest.
    We pulled into the driveway and I saw the silhouette of my father standing at the doorway with his arms folded across his chest. I’d hoped the wait would help calm him down, but I hoped in vain. I crawled out of the cab of the Blazer, with Luke helping me. He handed me my brand new crutches and I hobbled the walk of shame slowly past glaring eyes into the house. I went directly to the couch and awaited my punishment.
    His infuriation bowled me over and all I wanted to do was go to my room. The intensity told me I was going to be grounded for life. I looked down at the dingy carpet and waited, in deafening silence, as he paced back and forth.
    “Say something, Dad,” I finally said.
    “I’m just so upset with you, Julia. I’m afraid of what I would say.”
    I hung my head lower and waited. In all actuality, he really didn’t need to say anything. But I knew if he could just talk to me, it would help his frustration go away sooner.
    “I just don’t know what you were thinking, walking alone in the woods. In the dark,” he said slowly, controlling his anger. “I can’t believe you’d be so careless.”
    “I know, Dad. I’m sorry,” I whispered as I glanced up at him through my bangs.
    “Nobody knew you were out there.”
    I looked down again as I felt wave after wave of frustration and horror. I cringed. This was the one time I wished to be normal. Feeling my dad’s disappointment with me was by far worse than any other real punishment I could have experienced.
    “If that boy wasn’t there . . .” he exhaled sharply and stopped.
    I gulped back my tears and glanced up at him with his arms folded, towering in front of me, his body tense.
    “Julia, I could have lost you tonight, do you understand?” he said just above a whisper.
    The cushions squeaked when he sat down next to me. All I wanted was for him to put his arm over my shoulder, but the lecture wasn’t over.
    He struggled to