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“What are you guys up to anyway?” Gabby looked from John to me, arching an eyebrow. “All of a sudden you’re hanging?”
“I’m running down some things for my beloved brother.” I wanted to change the subject. “Gab, I visited Joe Ferguson today and I’m worried he’s ill.”
“I’ll call him tomorrow, thanks.”
“I even went back to our old house.”
Gabby’s eyes lit up. “Aw, what was it like?”
John looked over. “Still a dump?”
Gabby winced. “John, that house was nice. I loved it there.”
“I loved it, too.” I felt a warmth return. “It looks the same, but you should see the mountain laurel beside the doorway. They trained it to go over the door like a trellis.”
Gabby smiled. “That must look pretty.”
John rolled his eyes. “It was just an azalea.”
I looked over. “No, it was a mountain laurel. I remember Mom telling me, it’s the state flower.”
“Oh please.”
“It was,” I said, sounding like a kid, even to myself. I didn’t know why I cared.
Gabby started to go. “TJ, come with me. I want to put my office back together.”
John turned to the door. “Me, too.”
“Me, three,” I said, an old joke. They walked ahead and I followed them down the hall, looking at their backs. It felt horribly comfortable, tagging along.
It really was time to grow up.
•••
“I’m sorry, Gab.” I put an arm around her as we surveyed the damage. All the sculptures she loved had been broken, and her kachina dolls were torn to pieces. Her books were strewn on her kilim rug, and photos broken on the hardwood.
“Really, who would do this?”
“I don’t know.” I hated lying to her.
“It’s definitely malicious.” Gabby gestured to her broken ceramic vases on her windowsill. “I got them from Greece. I mean, why destroy them?”
“It’s terrible.” I wondered what she would do if she knew the truth. She wouldn’t want Connor or anybody to get hurt, but she wouldn’t keep her mouth shut, either.
“TJ, I know my Holmesburg case doesn’t generate fees, like whatever John has you doing, but I want to file the Complaint this week. Can you put it on the front burner?”
“Sure.”
“I called the other three plaintiffs on your list, and they can see you tomorrow morning. Can you do that?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
“Don’t ditch me for John.”
“I won’t.”Or at least, not anymore. “I’m on it.”
“Thanks, let’s clean up.” Gabby headed for the door. “I’ll go get Fantastik and paper towels.”
