Page 49 of Beneath the Blue Moon
I motion to the elderly couple to back away, and I slowlyapproach Daddy.
“It’s okay, just go,” I tell them.
They nod in understanding and slowly make their way out.
“Daddy… Daddy, calm down.It’s me… Casey.”
He stops and turns to me, fear in his eyes.Fear and not oneounce of recognition.This is the part I hate, the part that kills me.
“They’re evil!The voice told me.I don’t want them here!”
“It’s okay, Daddy.I’m here.”
“Okay?Who are you?Where’s Katy?She can make the evil goaway.”
Fighting tears, I reach out to him.“I’m right here.”
“Katy?”
“Yes, it’s me, Luke.”
“You look different.”
“No, I don’t.You just need your glasses.Come on.Sit down.”I take his hand, and he allows me to lead him to the couch.“I’m going to getyou some water, okay?”
“Okay.”
In the kitchen, I take a moment to catch my breath, thenblink back my tears and return to the living room.
“Here, drink this.”
“What happened?”
And he’s back.“Nothing happened.Just drink your water,Daddy.”
These episodes come and go in the blink of an eye.SometimesI can’t keep up, but I just don’t want to put him in some facility surroundedby strangers.I grab my phone and call Jan.
“Hey, you think you could cover my shift today?”I ask whenshe answers.
“Is it your dad?”
“Yeah.”
“No problem.Let me know if you need anything else.”
“Thanks, Jan.”
I also find Clara’s number and set up a meeting fortomorrow.It’s days like this that remind me why I can’t be selfish.
***Ethan***
“Are you ready to talk yet?”
“I told you… I don’t know… anything.”
Brick grabs my arm as I’m about to punch the little weaselagain.“Maybe he really doesn’t know anything,” he says.
“He may not know everything, but he knowssomething.Ineed to know what it is.”
