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The blood seems to drain from her flushed face. She looks pale. “That is not his child,” she bites out.
“Okay?” I say in disbelief. “But you could have fooled me since she looks just like me, Mom. We could be twins. It’s scary how similar we look.”
She turns her head and looks away, taking a big gulp of her wine.
“You are going to throw away your life. I won’t have it, and neither will your father,” she says, ignoring the bomb I just dropped. I can’t tell if she knew or suspected or is just in plain denial.
“Where is he?” I ask. Looking around, I realize I haven’t seen him.
“He’s on a trip,” she says ominously, looking away again.
“What kind of trip?” I push further.
“Does it matter?” she questions.
“Um, because he’s my dad, and he’s gone?” It’s strange that she came back from their trip alone, and he’s gone again suddenly.
“Don’t worry about it.” She turns to walk away with her glass, leaving me standing in the kitchen. She stops at the doorway and turns. “Stay away from that woman and her trash kids.”
I’m curious, so I look through papers on top of her desk in the kitchen and find a few rehab pamphlets. Wow, I think he actually went to rehab. Maybe there’s hope for our family after all. Now if only she could go, too. And if only I could just get out of here and not have to be around them anymore and go live my life with SJ.
now
After work, I get to the cabin when I pull in to see SJ’s truck already parked. Relieved that he’s already home, I look in the mirror to see another truck pull in behind me as I get out. It’s Evan, and SJ is in the passenger seat. “Hey, how’s it going?” SJ looks like he’s passed out in the seat next to him. My heart clenches. “Is he okay?” I ask as I peer in. I’ve never seen SJ pass out from being drunk before. I only saw him drink a handful of times in high school, and it was usually just a beer here and there at his dad’s shop. Seeing SJ in this position worries me because this is not like him at all.
Evan nods grimly. “He will be. He’s just really drunk.”
“What happened?” I cringe. This isn’t like SJ at all. And it brings back memories of seeing my parents drinking constantly. I think that’s why he and I never bothered with alcohol much. We saw firsthand with my parents what it feels like to be around a drunk.
“They don’t want me to be the coach, Callie,” SJ says, obviously drunk.
“Let me get him inside for you, and I’ll explain,” Evan says, helping SJ out of the truck.
He guides him inside the house, and SJ turns, spinning. “I’m so sorry, baby.” SJ slurs his words, his eyes glassy and unfocused as he tries to look me in the eye. “I didn’t mean to get this wasted. I just wanted to unwind and take the edge off after a really shhhitty day. God, you’re so pretty. How are you mine? What did I ever do to deserve someone as perfect as you? Mine. Mine, mine, mine.”
Heat fills me hearing this, but I say nothing as I follow them inside while Evan gets SJ to the couch. We get him settled and step into the kitchen.
Evan turns to face me, running his hand over his beard. “We were at McGuiness having drinks when he just fell apart. He’s pretty upset about losing his coaching spot with the kids.”
“Is he still not allowed to volunteer?” I ask. “I thought Coach was going to still let him.”
“The board is standing their ground and saying no.” Evan shakes his head. “That’s why he’s upset. He loved working with the kids.”
“I’m not good enough. I told you,” SJ slurs from the couch. “Wasn’t back then, and still not now. I can go serve our country and almost die, and I’m still not good enough.” He sinks farther down on the couch. “I’m dizzy,” he mumbles.
“How much did he have to drink?”
“A lot,” he says. “He got really upset and just kind of lost it, venting. Honestly, Callie, he needed this. He needed to get all of this off his chest tonight with people who love him in a safe place,” he adds.
“Did you find out anything about why the board rejected him?” I ask.
“Your dad,” SJ mumbles. “He hates me, always has. That’s why he made me leave.”
The room is so deadly silent you could hear a pin drop. It’s as if my heart has stopped beating, my breath held captive. Even the ticking of the clock on the mantel has ceased to make noise. My whole body is still. I haven’t even blinked. Evan’s gaze falls to my confounded, open-eyed stare, and if I could read his mind, I swear we would be sharing the same thoughts right now. A puzzle piece I’ve been missing for twelve years has just been found. Sliding into place and completing what was once an incomplete picture. Everything is starting to make sense to me at long last.
“What the hell?” I whisper to Evan. “Made him leave?”
Evan’s eyes are wide, and he looks at SJ and back at me. “What does he mean by that?” he demands.
