The Day He Came Back

“Yes,” he said as he gazed out the window.

I knew he was looking for her, waiting impatiently for Raven to return as he always did. I looked down at the age spots on his knuckles. Reaching over, I placed my hand on top of his.

What am I gonna do with you?

Wheeling the cart, Raven finally approached. She’d leaned her arms against the handle to push it because her hands were occupied; she held two ice cream cones.

She flashed a smile, and suddenly everything was better. My father’s eyes glowed with happiness at the sight of her. He rolled down the window, and she handed him one of the cones.

“Is this what you wanted, Mr. M?”

“Yes.” He smiled.

“It’s your favorite, butter pecan.”

My father began devouring it. She came around and handed me the other cone.

“I thought you could use some cheering up, too.” She smiled.

She knew how devastating that scene in there had been for me.

The ice cream was cookies and cream—my favorite. She remembered.

This time the ache in my chest had nothing to do with my father.***After we returned home, Raven took Dad upstairs.

When she came down, I was sitting on the patio.

She noticed me and came outside, taking a seat next to me.

Squinting from the sunlight, she asked, “You okay?”

“Yeah.” I exhaled. “That was…just really hard to see.”

“I know.” Her long hair blew in the breeze. It had the same blue tones I remembered when the sun reflected on the black.

“You have amazing patience with him.”

“I’ve gotten used to things. That wasn’t always the case. So don’t feel bad for your feelings. They’re totally normal under the circumstances.”

“You know, earlier today, before you got here, I brought up the subject of him moving to London. He got upset and shot it right down. I know now that I can’t make him go. He broke his ass all of his life and deserves to live and die where he wants. I won’t force it.”

Raven looked relieved. “I think that’s wise. I’m glad you see it that way now.”

“I don’t know what I was even thinking.”

“You were thinking what anyone in your position would be. It would make your life a lot easier. You had to at least consider it, if he’d been willing.”

That put my mind at ease. I’d been feeling guilty that my wanting to move him was purely selfish. As strange as it was to have Raven here, I didn’t know what I’d do without her.

“Today I had a thought that I’m too young to lose the only parent I have left,” I told her. “Then it occurred to me that you were a lot younger when you lost yours. It’s not easy.”

“No, it’s not.”

We sat quietly for a while, taking in the warm Florida breeze.

I finally asked, “How long do you see yourself doing this job? It must get tiring.”

“I don’t plan to leave.”

“How can you be so sure of that?”

“Because I don’t want to leave, and I owe your father a lot. It’s my honor to pay him back the only way I’ll ever be able to.”

“What if you get married and have kids? You can’t work these hours. It’s a long day.”

“I’d make it work.”

So she isn’t married with kids.

I thought maybe my question would spark her to talk about her relationship status, but she didn’t say anything else. I had to wonder why I was still so damn curious. Does it really matter?

Then she changed the subject. “What exactly is going on with Weldon? No one seems to know.”

“Ah. The question of the year.” Thinking about my brother always made me a little angry. “Well, while I started a tech company overseas, my lovely brother decided to give up his law degree for a life of surfing and drinking out in California. He’s making us proud.”

“Are you kidding? Weldon? He was such a goody two shoes, always trying to please your mother. Are you in touch with him?”

“Only to make sure he’s still alive. In his defense, he went off the rails after Mother died. He took it the hardest of everyone. So I’ve cut him some slack, perhaps too much. A trip out west to stage an intervention is next on my list when I can manage to break away from the job again.”

“It’s not easy for you, Gavin. You’re the glue that holds your family together.”

I chuckled. “I’m not sure anyone’s holding anything together around here, except you.”***Later that evening, when I looked at the clock it was about an hour before Raven’s shift would be over. She was upstairs in Dad’s room, and I heard her talking to him, so I knew he wasn’t sleeping.

We’d made a lot of progress in our ability to get along today, and I wanted to do something to further break the ice. Remembering the days I’d played music to send her messages, I took out my phone and pulled up “Ice Cream Girl” by Sean Kingston. I blasted it. Even if she couldn’t hear it or didn’t get what I was doing, I suppose I was entertaining myself after a long day.