"I wasn't in Alcatraz. It was literally just four hours of my life spent with some prostitutes and drug addicts. Relax." I smile. Trying to put him at ease even though it was actually the scariest four hours I think I've ever spent. Not because of the women I was in there with (because a few of them weren't that bad), but simply because I didn't like the feeling of being powerless and waiting for the unknown.
"Joanne is probably turning over in her grave."
"You cremated Mom," I deadpan.
"You know what I mean."
My dad tries to hold back a couple more deep coughs, but I can hear the mucus rumbling around in his chest and his skin looks sallow.
"You don't look so good. Let's get you home."
"Yeah, I'm a little tired. I parked over there, hun. Maybe you should drive."
Now I know he's sick. He never lets me drive the Chevy.
"Where's your car by the way?" he asks.
"They put it in some police impound lot that's five miles away. It's closed now, so I'll have to come back and get it tomorrow."
"What a pain in the ass. Do you have to work tomorrow?"
"Nope."
"Good. So, once you pick it up tomorrow, bring it by the shop. I can get one of the techs to fix the light. In fact, I'm going to have them give that car a thorough work up. Not sure how I missed your taillight being out."
I interlock my arm with my father's as we walk side by side to the truck.
"You're not responsible for everything, Dad. You're my superman, but you're notthesuperman."
"When did you find me out?" he jokes.
"So, where's this infamous son of Jack at? Why didn't he come with you?"
He smiles. "I dropped him off at the mall on my way here. The boy needed some toiletries, fresh underwear, and things like that. Had to twist his arm though. He doesn't like to accept help. I can tell it's going to take him some time getting used to kindness. Probably hasn't seen that in a very long time."
Probably not, I think. Even I have to admit that if I had to endure five years of what I just did for four hours, I would be crawling up the freakin' walls.
"Do you think he's dangerous?"
"Anyone has the capability of violence, baby girl."
"I'm not talking in abstracts. I'm asking you if he did time in prison for more than drugs. Five years is a long time for just possession."
"What do you know about any of that?" he asks somewhat visibly shaken. Sometimes he treats me like I'm still a naïve teenager.
"I watch the news, Dad."
"Drug laws are often enforced arbitrarily and vary from state to state. I don't know the details about Stone's case, and honestly, I don't need to know. It's over and he's home. That's all that matters."
Home? This isn't his home.
"Correction, that's all that matters to you. I just spent four hours of my life in a cell with eight lightweight criminals. So, excuse me if I'm not so keen on sharing my house with a potentially dangerous one."
* * *
