Page 66 of Shattered

The phone rings as I’m packing my belongings. “Hello?”

“Josh? It’s Dad,” the man on the other end of the line says.

A wave of shock rolls over me. “Dad?” I fall to the edge of my bed that’s covered in piles of trash and clothes from my quick attempt at packing.

“How’a doin’ Son?”

I wipe the unshed tears from my eyes. “Not so well. Mom’s funeral was today.”

I hear his ragged breathing over the phone. “I’m so sorry, Son. I wish I could’ve helped you. I didn’t even know you existed when you showed up. What can I do?”

I shake my head like he can actually see me. “Nothing. There’s nothing to do.”

“Look, Josh. I want to get to know you. I want a relationship with you.”

I laugh, but it doesn’t sound right. “Oh, now you want a relationship? What about your family?”

“My daughter, Katie, your sister, wants to meet you.”

“And your wife?” I question. I knew she was the whole problem all along.

“She’s not happy about it, but she won’t be a problem. However, she won’t be coming along either.”

“Coming along? You mean, you’re coming here?” I’m surprised. I never expected to see him again.

“If that’s okay with you.”

“Yea—” I have to clear my throat because my emotions are thick right now. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

“Alright. I’ll arrange everything now.” I can hear the smile on his face. It brings out a smile of my own.

“Okay, great.” I move the phone away to hang up, but hear him call out.

“And Josh?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you for giving me a chance.”

“You’re welcome,” I say before hanging up the phone.

The following week, nerves are eating me alive while I walk to the hotel restaurant George asked me to meet him at. I walk through the elegant building and stop before they see me.

I move next to the wall, just so I can study them for a brief moment. George looks like a good dad to her. They are talking, completely carefree and laughing. Seeing him this way, makes me a little jealous that I never got that with him.

I push down the anger that bubbles up with that thought and force my feet to move.

I walk up to their table and George’s smile grows. He stands and pulls me in for a hug, gently slapping my back. “I’m glad you made it, Son.”

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

He turns to face my sister. “Kate, this is your brother, Josh.”

Her eyes look me up and down, squinting with bitterness and anger as she holds out her hand.

It seems awkward to shake the hand of a sister you just met, but I shake it anyway. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“We’ll see,” she answers.

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