I groanwhen my phone dings with another message from my brother. I know if I don’t call him, he’ll eventually call me, and if he does it at the wrong time, my secret will be out.
Fortunately, the couch in Sage’s office has an Indian throw on it that his mom got for him on one of her travels. It’ll do as a setup.
I sit down and press the video call app, positioning the phone so Garrett can only see me and part of the couch, especially the throw.
“He shows signs of life,” Garrett says with contempt.
He’s wearing a suit, as always. I don’t remember when it was that my brother became so uptight, but I still have memories of us playing in our local park, sliding down the tall metal slides and pushing each other on the swings.
“Hi, Garrett. Did you want something?” There is no point beating around the bush with him. Together with his newly found love of expensive suits, my brother has also decided I’m not worth the family name, so I long ago stopped trying.
“When are you coming home?”
“Why? Do you miss me?” I ask, letting the sarcasm drip from my voice.
“Mom and Dad haven’t stopped talking about you. As understanding as they’ve been about you going off to live your hobo life, they think it’s time you come home and do something with your career.”
I reach out for a stress ball Sage has on his desk and squeeze it hard because, sadly, for all the advances in technology, I still can’t reach through the phone and squeeze my brother’s neck.
“Iamdoing something with my career,” I say, biting the inside of my mouth until I get the coppery taste of blood.
He raises his eyebrows. “You are? Please, do send me an invite for your next exhibition. Shall I book a flight to Delhi? Or are you heading west? Thailand? Laos? Malaysia?”
“Look, I’m busy. Tell me why you’ve been incessantly calling, or I’ll have to go.”
He narrows his eyes, and the skin on the back of my neck stands at attention.
“Where are you? That doesn’t look like the derelict shack you were in before.”
“We haven’t spoken in over six months, Garrett. People move.”
He seems to accept what I’m saying.
“Anyway. Like I said, Mom and Dad keep asking about you.”
“I’ll call them soon,” I say, hoping it reassures him.
“So you’re not coming home?”
“No…not yet.” Or ever. At least not permanently, but I’m not ready to have that conversation, and it certainly isn’t one I’ll have with my brother.
He sighs and rubs his eyes. When he looks back toward the phone, I think I almost see a remnant of my big brother. The one I used to look up to. But it’s not there. The corporate world sucked him in, and he loves the money too much to ever allow himself to be human again.
“Okay. Just call them.” And without another word, he disconnects the call.
My throat feels tight, and I get angry with myself because I shouldn’t let it affect me. My brother and I have grown into two different people, and that’s okay. It happens.
I need to get back to the store. My lunch break is already over, and Sage will be wondering where I am.
I snort to myself. My family is also wondering the same thing. If they find out I’m back in the states, they’ll have me home in less than twenty-four hours.
It’s better that they think I’m still in India. That way I can buy a little more time.
Sage is at the checkout desk talking to a customer when I get back out on the floor.
A lady by the craft-books section waves to get my attention, so I head over to her.
“Hi there, how can I help?”
