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“A black one.”
The universal, unhelpful description from people unfamiliar with guns. I was able to piece together a few more questions to get a better picture of the situation.
I looked at the boys sternly and said, “For now, stay on the school grounds. Don’t risk going down to that hoop. We’ll figure out how to fix this. Is that understood?” I was satisfied as all three boys nodded.
Chapter21
AFTER DINNER, Iwas dragging and ready to turn in a little early.
Brian caught me in the hallway. He looked ready for bed too but said, “Hey, Dad, you got a second?”
“Of course.”
“Eddie told me about the trouble they’re having. I could go with them one day after work and hang out at the park where they keep seeing the bullies.”
“You’re a good big brother, Brian. And I certainly appreciate the offer. But it’s better to just stay away from the park for now. I don’t want any of you mixed up with boys who carry guns. Plus, if you did something to help your brothers, someone might try to turn it around on you. You don’t want to mess with your parole. You’ve done everything right since you got released. You got a good job. You’re even taking a class at City College. I wouldn’t want to screw that up for anything in the world.”
We didn’t often talk about Brian’s stint in prison. He knew he’d made a mistake. Trying to fit in by selling designer drugs. Making a few extra bucks. But he’d gotten swept up in the excitement. He was lucky he hadn’t been killed.
I still didn’t know if his release was directly related to influence from the mayor. The mayor had said he would help after I found his missing daughter. But the mayor of New York was not known for keeping his word. Regardless, not long after I found his daughter, I got a surprise call that Brian was being released. Now it felt like a hole in my life had been filled.
A few minutes later, I was easing my head down onto my hypoallergenic, memory foam, oversized pillow. And it felt like I was using a drug. My body instantly relaxed and started to sink into the mattress.
Mary Catherine had the thermostat turned low and the room was already dark. It was perfect. Then she slipped into the bed with me and slid close, draping her arm across my chest and resting her head on my shoulder.
She said in a low voice, “Tell me about the best part of your day.”
I said, “Our first basketball practice went really well. Fiona has some serious skills. I think her talk about a scholarship isn’t too far out of line. I also think Sister Elizabeth put some of it in her head. But I liked coaching.”
Mary Catherine squeezed me.
I turned to hold her as well. “How about your day?”
“I was doing research on fertility treatments.”
“Did you learn anything new?”
“Are you kidding me? I have about five hundred more questions since reading a few articles. I can’t believe how complex the process can be. Or how it can wreck your body.”
“I thought it was pregnancy that can wreck your body.”
“So then it’s a double wreck.” She giggled then.
I lay there and held her, feeling her steady breathing and heartbeat against my body.
She propped herself up on her elbow and looked at me. “Be honest with me. How do you feel about the prospect of another child in this home?”
I considered the question as well as the tone in which it had been asked. All I wanted was to be supportive. “I think it would be great. But I need you in my life, healthy and happy. If this treatment is dangerous, then I want us to both think about it carefully.”
“You say the sweetest things without letting me know how you really feel.”
“What can I say? It’s a tough question. But I’ll think about it seriously.”
“That’s all I can ask.”
“Would a new baby speak English or Irish?”
She laughed and punched my chest playfully.
