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“Why would you?” he challenges.
A question I’ve been avoiding asking myself. I sigh and sit on the couch, patting the cushion next to me. My brother sits and leans his elbows on his knees. No matter how many carbs I stuff him with, his lanky form remains.
“You left that life behind for a reason, V. I’m afraid you’ll be sucked back in.” His concern is palpable.
“Sucked back into running a company for my father only to learn he’s stealing from his trusting staff and clients? Impossible. Our father is on the kitchen counter.”
He twists his lips at my morbid joke. We both look at the urn, standing sentinel next to the coffee pot.
“I didn’t know what to do with him,” he says.
“I don’t either. Throwing him out with next week’s trash seems harsh, but sprinkling him around a park is too good for him.”
“We should bury him next to Mom. Maybe you can look into that on your trip.”
“He’s the reason Mom’s dead, or have you forgotten?”
“I haven’t forgotten,” he snaps.
“I know. I’m sorry.” I put my hand on my forehead and take a deep breath. Tears heat the backs of my eyes, but I don’t want to do this now, so I won’t. “I will if I have time, okay?”
“Thanks.”
“Hey, did you reach Dee?” I elbow him. His shy smile tells me he did.
“She’s back on the wagon. Living with her sister. The irony, right? We’re both living with our sisters. She said she’d like to come visit. Atlanta can be…Atlanta. I thought if she came here I could take her horseback riding.”
“That’s sweet.” I mean it. But… “Is that a good idea since she’s so new in her sobriety?”
“People can disappoint you at any time. New or not.”
Sage wisdom from my brother. You heard it here first.
A knock at the door draws my attention. Nate at my screen door fills me with all sorts of muddy emotions. I’m drawn to him and afraid to be drawn to anyone. I want to run into his arms, but don’t want my brother to know how nuts I am about Nate this soon.
I wave him in.
“Viv. Walt,” he greets. “Nice place you have here.”
“It’s usually cleaner.” I stand and swipe my palms down my skirt, uneasy about him seeing my house. I don’t know why. Nate hasn’t always lived in a decadent house filled with modern furnishings. I’m not ashamed of my place. Then it occurs to me I’m uneasy because he and Walt are in the same room. They’ve each expressed concern about the other. The last thing I need is a Popeye/Bluto-style confrontation.
“Viv and I were talking about burying Dad,” Walt says. “If you find the time during your trip to stop by Fein Village.”
I send a murderous glare to my brother. Nate’s reaction is calmer than mine.
“I’m sure we can fit that in. Do you need to bring him?” Nate nods to the urn on the kitchen counter. Look who’s Mister Observant.
“I wouldn’t want to make the flight weird,” I hedge. I’m not sure I’m ready to travel with my father. Or visit my mother’s final resting spot for the first time in years.
“It’s a private jet. We can fit one more.” Nate lifts my bags. “I can come back in for it, unless…”
“I’ll take him.” I march to the kitchen, steel myself with a deep breath, and lift the urn holding my father’s ashes. Then I’m out the door, embarking on a very different trip than the one I anticipated.
