Page 54 of Kaine

Chapter Twenty-Three

HER

“It started about 6years ago, when I got the job at the library. I’d moved to Manhattan from Harrisonburg, Virginia. Gabriel was in his senior year in high school and nothing was working for him. Lucinda, the girl he’d been dating since freshman year, broke up with him. He alienated himself from his friends and skipped more classes than he attended. Picked fights, with other students as well as the faculty. Eventually he got kicked out of school. We’d grown up living with our grandparents. They gave him an ultimatum; he had to get a job, get into a community college, or get out. I don’t blame them, they’d been through a lot with him, with both of us. Anyway, he started working at the local movie theatre. And it was good at first. But after work they’d all go out, and eventually, he started showing up late and missing shifts altogether. He got fired and was kicked out of our home. He moved to the city to stay with me, but it wasn’t long before he would go missing for weeks and then months on end. He’d come back now and then, usually with that he was going to get well, then disappear again. I’ve tried everything. But nothing’s worked. So now, I just hope. Hope that I never get a call to tell me he’s gone for good.”

I don’t look at Kaine the entire time I tell him about Gabriel. I don’t want to see the judgement on his face, to see him think less of me for letting this happen to my own family member. I stare out the car window, where he led me so we could talk and pick at my nails. But I know, the entire time, he’s watching me.

“So, how did you find him?” Kaine asks when he realizes I’ve come to the end of my story.

“He called me this morning, said he needed help. Gave me the address and then, I guess, just passed out.”

“You say you lived with your grandparents?”

“Yeah, we were raised by our mother until Gabriel was about 4. She died from complications with her hysterectomy when she was 29 years old. We don’t know anything about our father. Her parents took us in after that. They were great, are great. This isn’t their fault. They did the best they could, knew how to do.”

“And now?”

I shrug. “The truth is, I’ve been here before, too many times. He tries, I know he does but nothing has ever really stuck. We can’t afford much. Sometimes I wonder if a proper rehab stint would help, but it’s out of our capabilities.”

He doesn’t say anything. He must be trying to think of a way to extract himself from this mess. As if me invading his privacy last night wasn’t enough. Now he’s seen me and Gabriel like this, it’s the last he’s every going to want to do with me. I don’t even know what he’s doing here or how or why. But having a moment to talk to someone just now, it’s given me the strength to get through the next few days with Gabriel, and it seems, again, I owe him.

“So, thanks for the chat, but I guess you better go now.” I push on the car door, but he reaches across me and pulls it shut again.

“Just... just stay here. Just, don’t move. I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going?” I call after him, but he’s already out of the car and running back towards the building.

I start to push on the door again but this time his driver speaks up. “Ma’am. I suggest you do what he says. Please.”

It surprises me so much that I obey.

I lean forward staring in the direction he went in, not knowing what to expect.

It’s not even a minute later when I see Kaine emerge from the building, and he’s not alone. In his arms, he’s carrying my brother. Gabriel’s body is limp, his eyes are closed, but he’s there. In Kaine’s arms, where I’ve been before.

The driver quickly jumps out of the car and opens the back door for his boss.

Kaine ducks under the door frame and lays Gabriel on the seat next to me, making sure his limbs are tucked in before closing the door and climbing into the front seat.

“Take us home, please, Henry.”

“Right away, sir.”