He was a stranger to us all. Anthony’s secrets were still mine to keep. But, with time, they’d all surface. I’d make sure of it.
“Mo–” I sighed, quieting her. It didn’t matter what line we were on. Her silence was requested before she said too much about a situation she knew too little about.
“Where’s my father?”
“He’s in the garage working on that machine he calls a car.”
I wasn’t appalled by her response or the hour my father was working on the 1970 Chevy Chevelle I’d given him as a birthday gift and something to keep him occupied during the early years of his retirement. I didn’t want him to stop when I forced his retirement. I wanted him to slow down. To live his life freely. To travel. To laugh. To move as he pleased.
“He’ll expect a word.”
Before I could end my statement, I could hear the home alarm sound in the background.
“Garage door open.”
“Joseph.”
“Yeah, Doris?”
“It’s Josiah–”
Shuffling followed. I waited, ear pressed against the phone, as my father gained possession of the phone.
“Siah… Is that you, Son?”
“Yes.”
“You hanging on in there?”
“I’m well, Pops.”
“Good. We’re going to get you out of there, alright?”
“Keep working on your Chevelle, Old Man. I’ll be home soon.”
“Say what, now?”
“Rest your worries, Pops.”
“That’s an impossible request.”
“I used to think the same about the ones you gave me, but impossible wasn’t allowed in my vocabulary. If you think you get a pass because of the circumstances, you’re wrong. Chin up, Old Man. I’ve got this. Kiss my mother’s cheek for me.”
I didn’t hesitate to end the call. If my mother returned to the line, I’d be holding the phone much longer than I intendedto. The next number was on the screen much sooner than I’d anticipated. My nostrils flared with contempt as I placed the phone up to my ear. Anthony’s death felt too much like the death of the bond between Janeese and I.
The phone rang.
So did the chambers of my heart.
They rattled against my chest.
I pulled in large breaths and released them slowly.
“Hello?”
I ground my teeth against each other. Pain riddled her voice. Disparage gripped her bubbly nature by the neck and squeezed the life out of it. Janeese was forever altered. Janeese was forever changed.
“Jenny–” I cleared my throat.
