One Summer

15

One day later, Jack found it, a house owned by an elderly couple who had moved to an assisted-living facility. They couldn’t sell their home because it needed a lot of repairs. And with dozens of homes in default on their street, it was difficult to sell anyway. Jack called the Realtor and offered his labor for free to fix up the place in exchange for staying there at no cost. Since the couple wasn’t making any money off the house anyway, they quickly agreed. It wasn’t perfect, but he didn’t need perfect. He just needed his kids under the same roof as him. Jack moved his few possessions in the next day, after signing a one-page agreement. He made some quick cosmetic changes and bought some secondhand furniture.

Now it was time.

Using his credit card, he booked his plane tickets, packed his bag, and left for the airport. He went to collect Mikki first, because he knew if he went to the sisters’ homes first, they would be on the phone to their mother before he’d even left their driveways.

He landed in Phoenix, rented a car, and drove to Tempe. He reached Fred and Bonnie’s house but then drove past it. He parked a little down from the house and waited. An hour later a car pulled into the driveway, and Fred and Mikki got out. She was carrying her schoolbag. His heart ached when he saw her. She’d grown even taller, Jack noted, and her face had changed too. She was wearing a school uniform, white polo shirt and checked skirt. Her hair was in a ponytail and had nary a strand of pink or purple in it. She looked utterly miserable.

They went into the house. Jack parked in their driveway, took a deep breath, climbed out of the car, and walked up to the door.

“Dad?”

Mikki stared at him openmouthed. When he held out his arms for a hug, she tentatively reached out to him. He stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head.

“Dad, is it really you?”

“It’s me, sweetie. It’s really me.”

Bonnie and Fred came around the corner, saw him, and stopped.

“Jack?” said Fred. “My God.”

Bonnie just stood there, disbelief on her features.

Jack moved into the house with Mikki. He held out his hand, and Fred shook it. He looked at Bonnie. She still seemed in a daze.

“My God,” she said, echoing her husband’s words. “It’s true. It’s really true. Even with all the phone calls and seeing you on that computer. It’s not the same.”

“What is all the commotion?” Cecilia came into the room, skimming along on her walker, her oxygen line trailing behind her. When she saw Jack, she didn’t freeze like Fred and Bonnie had done.

She cackled. “I knew it.” She came forward as fast as she could and gave him a prolonged squeeze. “I knew it, Jack, honey,” she said again, staring up at him and blinking back tears of joy.

They all sat at the kitchen table sipping glasses of iced tea. Jack eyed Bonnie. “Docs gave me a clean bill of health.”

Bonnie just kept shaking her head, but Fred clapped him on the shoulder. “Jack, we’re so happy for you, son.”

Later, when they were alone, Bonnie asked, “How long will you be staying?”

“From here I’m heading to LA and then on to Portland.”

“To see the kids?”

“No, to take them back with me, Bonnie. I’ve already told Mikki to start packing her things.”

“But the school year will be done in less than two months.”

“She can go to school in Cleveland as easily as she can here.”

“But the house was sold.”

“I’m renting another one.”

“How will you support them?”

“I’ve started my business back up.”

“Okay, but who will watch them when you’re working?”

“Mikki and Cory are in school the whole day. And they’re old enough now to come home and be okay by themselves for a few hours. Jackie will be in extended day care. And if unexpected things come up, we’ll deal with them. Just like every other family does.”

Bonnie pursed her lips. “Michelle has settled into her new life here.”

Jack said nothing about how miserable the girl had been here. He simply said, “I don’t think she’ll mind.”

“You could have called before you came.”

“Yeah, I could have. And maybe I should have. But I don’t see what harm it did.”

“What harm? You just expect us to give her back to you, with no notice, no preparation? After all we’ve done.”

“I’ve been in constant contact over the last few months. I kept you updated on my progress. Hell, you’ve seen me on the computer getting better. And I told you I would be coming to take the kids back. Soon. So this shouldn’t come as a shock to you. And it’s not like you’re never going to see them again.” He paused, and his tone changed. “Even though you did leave me by myself.”

“You said it was all right. You told us to do it. And we thought you were dying.”

“Come on, Bonnie, what else could I tell you under the circumstances? But for the record, dying alone is a real bitch.”

As soon as Jack finished speaking, he regretted it. Bonnie stood, her face red with anger. “Don’t you dare talk to me about dying alone. My Lizzie is lying dead and buried. There was no one with her at the end. No one! Certainly not you.”

Jack eyed her. “Why don’t you just say it, Bonnie, because I know you want to.”

“You should be dead, not her.” Bonnie seemed stunned by her own words. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that.” Her face flushed. “I’m very sorry.”

“I would give my life to have Lizzie back. But I can’t. I’ve got three kids who need me. Nothing takes priority over that. I hope you can understand.”

“What I understand is that you’re taking your children from a safe, healthy environment into something totally unknown.”

“I’m their father,” said Jack heatedly.

“You’re a single parent. Lizzie isn’t here to take care of the kids.”

“I can take care of them.”

“Can you? Because I don’t think you have any idea what’s in store for you.”

Jack started to say something but stopped.

Could she be right?