Page 18 of A Touch of Frost
“Why did you do that?” Calissa asked. “You’ve never really explained that.”
“He was my parents favorite.” I replied. “I had to be different, rebel, get the tattoos. I had to want an unconventional career rather than a nine to five, suit and tie. I couldn’t just be normal.”
“Sweetie, normal is boring.”
“But my parents wanted normal.” I chuckled. “They wanted Paul and I was only making his life complicated by being around. I tried being him. But it was never enough. I wasn’t enough. I didn’t know how to just behave.”
“You weren’t a bad kid.”
“I think that depends on who you ask.” I looked toward the door. “I’d spent so much of my life trying to please everyone. Paul didn’t see it. He just thought I was throwing a tantrum. Of course, he did, mom and dad always had his back.”
Calissa sighed.
“He gets into a fight at school and mom and dad lit shit on fire because someone dared touched their baby.” I scoffed. “I get into a fight at school, and it was my fault. They said maybe next time the guy would kick my ass, teach me a lesson.”
“I’m sorry, Jess.”
“Ah.” I shook my head needlessly. “It is what it is.”
“Listen, if you need me, I have some vacation days the captain has been dying for me to take.”
I nodded needlessly. “Thanks Cal.”
Voices filled the space outside the bathroom.
“You’ll be my first call. I’m just—Paul and I may not have gotten along in the last little bit there, but he’s family. He’s the only family I have left, and I can’t—there’s so much I want to say to him.”
“Then find him and tell him.”
“I wish it was that easy.” I murmured.
“Jesse?” Mozart hollered from the other side of the door.
“Gatta go.” I frowned. “I’m being summoned.”
Calissa laughed. “Don’t push Mozart. He will kick your ass.”
“I have no doubt he’d try.”
“He’s a special forces soldier, little boy.” Calissa teased. “I’m pretty sure he has a number of ways to kill your ass and make it look like an accident.”
“Whose side are you on?”
“Just remember.” Calissa’s voice dipped sexily. “It’s hard to convict without a body.”
“But not impossible.” I couldn’t help myself.
“Don’t be an ass.”
It seemed that was the running gag of late. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Keep your spine straight, my friend.”
I smiled. There wasn’t a soul alive who could convince me Calissa Everette wasn’t a Klingon in a previous life.
“Talk soon,” I replied.
She was gone before I could hang up. The dial tone reminded me I was a million miles away from anyone familiar, anyone who cared for me.
