“He had a small life insurance, Marnie. After the funeral expenses, it’s almost two-hundred-thousand dollars. It’s enough for you to finish medical school, just like he dreamed.”
“Thank you, Vic. Thank you for being such a good friend to him.”
“That was the easy part. You brought him so much joy, Marnie. He talked about you all the time. Loved you as his own.” She nodded, smiling through the pain. She knew that was true. Hal showed her that every day.
Staring at the headstone, she shook her head.
Hal Bankston
Friend to all
“No,” she whispered. “I want that redone. It should readThe Greatest Father.”
“I’ll take care of it, honey,” said Vic hugging her.
Hal had so many friends from work and the neighborhood, they were pouring into the apartment for hours, all day and all night. Marnie was exhausted.
What she knew for certain was that she would be Dr. Marnie St. John one day, in honor of her father.
CHAPTER THREE
Mitch couldn’t seem to get out of his funk. He’d been to The Well a few times but barely looked at anyone there. He was present, but not entirely. His mind a million miles away for some reason.
“Mitch? Mitchell!” yelled Brooks.
“What? What the fuck do you want?” he growled. Brooks laughed at him, shaking his head.
“Listen, we have to meet up with the guys to do something for Mama Irene. But after that, do us all a favor and go get laid or something.”
“I don’t want to get fucking laid,” he frowned.
“Yes, you do. You just want it to be with your dream woman. I get it. I would want that as well. Just stop being such a dick to everyone.” Brooks walked away and Mitch just shook his head.
He met up with the guys and they were given their assignment.
“Explain to me again why we’re moving all this shit?” asked Mitchell.
“Because Mama Irene said it needed to be moved from the storage room at the clinic to the Sugar Lodge. It’s the last load. It’s just a bunch of old file cabinets and they want them placed in the attic space away from dampness.”
“Isn’t the attic damp?” Mitchell asked his brother.
“No. Grant put an HVAC system up there a few years ago. Now they can store anything up there and it’s safe.”
“Fine. But there has to be something else we can be busy doing afterwards,” he growled.
“Stop your fucking whining,” said Leif. “We all have to move this shit. No one is above the job.”
“I didn’t say that,” said Mitchell turning to face the other man. The toe of his boot caught at the corner of a file cabinet and he felt himself tumbling forward. Before he could catch himself, he slid along the corner of the cabinet.
Immediately Mitchell felt the sting of metal slicing into his forehead. When he landed, he heard the others cussing as he tried to regain his vision.
“Fuck! That hurt,” he yelled.
“Stay still, dumb ass,” said Leif. “Shit. Go get medical.”
Brooks took off down the hallway and Leif and Brix held Mitchell to the floor as he kept trying to get up.
“Stay still! Fuck me. You know head wounds bleed like a bitch and this is a good one,” said Brix.
