Chapter Twenty

DERRICK*

A week has passed since Emberly had the miscarriage. Christmas break has arrived, and our parents are due back at any time. The Christmas Holidays seem to be the only time of year; mom and dad make it a point to be home for the entire three weeks Emberly and I are out of school. Then once January fourth rolls around, they are gone again.

Emberly and I are dragging out all the Christmas decorations from the attic. We thought we might surprise mom and have them put up before she and dad got home from Paris. Mom is one of those Christmas nuts that puts Christmas decorations out on November first, right after Halloween has passed. But this year, she wasn't home. Emberly and I have been swamped with school and our sports activities, so we haven't had the chance to put the decorations out. Not to mention any free time we had, we were fucking like rabbits until she had the miscarriage.

Emberly is making it a point to act as if the last three months have not happened, so we have re