My phone begins ringing in the middle of my thoughts.
“Hey, Kels,” I say into the phone.
“Ughhhhh,” she groans before giggling. “What a freaking week this has been.”
I laugh. “Same here. What’s happening on your end?”
“Full moon. What else?” she teases. “But also, there’s been an outbreak with at least three cattle farms in the area, and it’s spreading rapidly while also having owners losing their shit on me.”
“Oh no, do you know what it is?”
“I’m not positive. I’ve tested for a lot of different things, but nothing is coming back conclusive. They’re all using the same feed, though, and that’s where I’m leaning.”
“You can send some samples to me if you want.”
“I’m already labeling it as we speak,” she giggles, something she does a lot when she’s overly stressed. “It’s the real reason why I was calling. Not everyone can say their college roommate and friend has a Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence, and I need your expertise, you know? Also, not many other people understand what it’s like to have these crotchety old farmers screaming at them.”
“I lived that my entire life,” I joke.
“I remember the stories,” she laughs. “How’s it going in Billings?”
“Not as exciting. I did just get a voicemail from my father telling me that he needs me.”
“What the fuck?” she gasps.
“My sentiments exactly.”
“Did you call him back?”
“No, I was listening to the voicemail on repeat, trying to figure out what to do next.”
“You should call him.”
“I haven’t talked to him in five years, and before that was five years.”
“You’re due then,” she says lightly. “And I understand that. I do, but…maybe it’s time.”
“Kels,” I start.
“No, you know that I had a similar relationship with my sister, and then…she died in a freak car accident, and I regret our silly little tiff every single day of my life. I understand why you’re upset with your dad and that there’s nothing silly about how he’s treated you. It’s downright wrong. Your feelings are beyond valid, but…maybe you should call him back and see what he needs. You didn’t answer your mama’s call, and that still bothers you, Sutty.”
I let out a long groan.
Kelsey sounds like Mama. She would tell me to do the same thing. She was always asking me to extend the olive branch to him, but the one time I did at her funeral, he lit that bitch on fire.
“I’m not saying that you need to help him, but it’s not going to hurt to just call and see what he needs,” she continues.
I groan again.
“Are you still there, or has some grumpy child taken over the phone call?” she teases.
“Fine. I’ll do it right now before I talk myself out of it. Be prepared for a ranting phone call.”
“I’m proud of you!” she calls out before I hang up.
I let out another groan and take a few minutes to gather the courage I need to hit the call button on the voicemail.
The last thing I want to do is speak to my father in any capacity. He’s not a nice man, and I only have one memory of him ever telling me he was proud of me, and it was when I was five and lassoed a horse that got out. I don’t know if he’s ever told me he loves me.
