Page 61 of Destiny

“I’ll be better when you’re home.” I can hear how tired he is in his voice.

“I know. I miss you so much.”

“Are you having a good time, though?”

I’m sitting in the window of my hotel room, which overlooks the bustling city. “Oh, yeah. The crowds here are so fun. Very rowdy but also kind of down for anything.”

“That’s awesome.”

“How is that one child custody case going?”

“Ugh. It’s a bitch. The case or the ex-wife?” I laugh at my own joke.

“You know I’d never call a woman that.” ‘

“I know. I was just kidding.” I guess he’s too tired even for humor. I feel guilty that I haven’t been around for the last month to help him with the kids.

“So, what fabulous gig do you have tonight?”

“It’s called Old Street Records.”

He chuckles. “That sounds kind of perfect for you.” He’s obviously referring to the fact that I work in a record store at home.

“Right? Oh, that reminds me. Did you go and check on Micky?” I’ve been so busy that I haven’t had the time to call her in a week or two. Plus, she’s gotten more serious with her boyfriend, Zephyr, so she’s with him a lot.

“Shoot. I didn’t. I’m sorry—I’ll stop in today if I have the time.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

“Of course.”

He yawns loudly.

“Are you going to make it?”

“We’ll see.”

“Drink lots of coffee.”

“I will.”

“Did you know that they don’t call it chai tea here?”

“Well, yeah. Chai means tea in Hindi. So, chai tea is just saying tea tea.”

He knows everything. “I wish you would’ve told me that before I got here. The barista I first said it to looked at me like I was nuts.”

“Daddy!” I hear his daughters yell.

“Duty calls.”

“Alright. I love you.”

“I love you too. Knock ‘em dead tonight.”

“I will.” I have the song In My Dreams on my set list, and that’s a song I wrote about him and our relationship, but he hangs up before I can tell him that.

So, with nothing else to do, I wander around the city until I go on stage.

---