“Hi, honey.” My mom’s cheery voice rang through the room. “We’re about to board our cruise and I wanted to call you before we got on. We’ll probably be hard to reach for the next couple of weeks.”
They were always going on some cruise with their friends. They had retired completely last year and were taking full advantage of all their newfound free time.
“I hope you have so much fun.” Mattie waved at me before pointing at the phone.Say something, she mouthed.
I shook my head stubbornly.
“Have you heard from your sister?” Mom asked. “I’ve tried texting her a few times the past week and I haven’t heard from her.”
Mattie glared at me. “You know what, Mom? She’s actually right here. Why don’t you say hi?”
“What? She’s there? In Key Ridge?”
“Frankie’s in Key Ridge?” I heard my dad say in the background of the call.
Mattie pressed the mute button. “Tell them. Just get it over with.”
“Fine. Whatever.” I waved my hand in defeat. It wasn’t like she’d given me much of a choice. They knew I wouldn’t fly here on a whim and that something must be up.
“Mattie? Are you still there?”
I took the phone from my sister and unmuted the call. “Hi, it’s Frankie.”
“Frankie, what are you doing in Colorado?” I could hear the shock in my mom’s tone.
“She’s really there?” my dad asked, his voice muffled.
“Yep, I’m here.” I caught Mattie’s eye. It almost felt like she was enjoying this.
“Did you take time off of work?” my mom asked. The way she said it made it seem like the most far-fetched possibility. And it was. I only took vacations around the holidays and never within the first few months of a new year. That was our busy season.
“You could say that,” I mumbled.
Mattie shoved my leg with her foot.
“Okay, you know what?” I sighed and drug a hand over my face. “Mom. Dad. I was laid off last week. That’s why I’m here.”
“Laid off?” Mom exclaimed.
“Laid off?” My dad repeated the question. He sounded a lot clearer now, like my mom had put the call on speaker and he was now hovered over the phone with her.
“That’s right. I’m currently unemployed, and I needed to get away.” Would saying those words ever get easier? They made me feel like a failure every single time. Even after a week, the wound still felt fresh.
“I can’t believe they did that to you. You were the best that company had,” my dad said gruffly.
My heart swelled a little at his words. He didn’t even reallyunderstand what I did, but I appreciated the sentiment nonetheless.
“They said it was a reduction in workforce. It wasn’t just me. Almost everyone on my team got cut.”Almosteveryone. They’d kept on two people who were more senior than me and then another guy who’d started the same time as me. That bothered me to no end. He wasn’t a hard worker, but hewasa kiss-ass. The pitying way he’d said, “Stay in touch,” while I packed my stuff made me want to wring his neck.
“Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry.” I could picture my mom’s face—eyebrows wrinkled together, a look of concern in her eyes.
“It’s alright. I’m already applying to other jobs. I’ll find something soon.” The confident statement wasn’t quite how I felt, but fake it ‘til you make it, right?
“Are you okay on money?” my dad asked. Of course that would be his first concern. Ever the responsible one.
“I’m fine. They gave me one month’s severance, plus I have savings.”
“I hate the idea of you digging into your savings,” my dad said.
