I didn’t give the decision much thought. I simply pulled the stone from my dresser drawer and stuck it in my pocket. Every once in a while, I’d wrap my hand around it and feel an instant sense of comfort wash over me. I needed that comfort in a way I didn’t understand. Chris and I talked on the phone for a long time that day and I told him everything that happened the night before. Each time I shut my eyes, I saw Daddy and his chair sailing off the pavilion and my stomach dropped down to my toes. It was the only thing on my mind and it all came spilling out while I talked to Chris. He turned out to be a good listener, although after a while he said he had something to tell me and I realized I’d made the phone call all about me, me, me. “Sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to dump everything on you like that.” “No problem,” he said, “but I think you’re going to like what I have to say. It’s about Tuesday night.” “Oh my God!” I said. “Are you coming to Stacy’s?”
