Page 97 of Jackson
26
Summer
I heard my phone buzz; indicating I’d received a text message. I climbed from the daybed and made my way to the kitchen. I’d left it charging on the counter. It was a text from Perri. I opened it and wished Ihadn’t.
Summer, my father died this morning. I’ll need to stay here and sort his affairs. I’m not sure if you want to tell Jack or let me.Perri
I immediatelyreplied.
I think it might be better coming from you, call him now, and I’ll sit with him when he answers. I want to say I’m sorry, Perri, but Ican’t.
As I placed the phone back on the counter, I heard his ring. I made my way to sit beside him as heanswered.
“Hey, how are you?” he asked as heanswered.
I watched his face. He licked his lips just the once, he nodded, but didn’t speak. He turned his face to me. I took hold of hishand.
“Okay. Give me an hour or so. I’ll call you back,” he said, then cut off thephone.
“My…” hesaid.
“I know, Perri textedme.”
He stretched back out on the daybed, pulling me alongside him. We lay in silence for a while. I wasn’t sure what to say, what todo.
“I need to call her back,” hesaid.
I watched him while he dialled his sister back, looking for any telltale signs that he might be stressed. I wondered if I should send a text message to Dexter, just in case. Other than a clenching of his jaw as he waited for her to answer, he displayed no emotion atall.
“So, tell me,” he said when his call wasconnected.
He listened for a while, interjecting just on the odd occasion with a question or two. It was hard to follow the one-sidedconversation.
‘I doubt it, Perri. Although, I’d like to see the fucker finally lowered into theground.”
He listened somemore.
“Okay, I’ll sort thatout.”
He finished his call and placed his phone on the floor beside thedaybed.
“Are you okay?” I asked, wincing at such a dumbquestion.
“I think so, I’m not sure how I feel, to be honest. I’ve waited for this day my wholelife.”
“Do you need to flyhome?”
“I don’tneedto, but there’s a part of me that wants to. I guess there’ll be paperwork and shit to dealwith.”
“What can Ido?”
He took a deep breath, held it, and then exhaledslowly.
“I don’t know, be with me, Iguess.”
“Do you want me to callDex?”
He looked over at me. Slowly he shook his head. “No, although, I guess I need to tell him we’re heading home for a fewdays.”
