Page 11 of My Always One

“I really do love you,” I say with a tired grin.

“Back at you.”

I lift my eyebrows. “I could do without the morning wood.”

“It was morning,” he says pleadingly.

“And your house is gross.”

“It’s not mine, and I’m moving out at the semester break. Then when you visit, I’ll have only one roommate.”

“Who?”

“I’m moving in with Drew. His roommate is graduating early.”

Finishing my breakfast sandwich, I nod approvingly. “I like Drew. I’ll buy you some Lysol as a housewarming gift.”

“The only thing that would help where I’m living now is a match.”

“I’ll get the lighter fluid.”

“See,” Marshal says, “that’s what I like about you. You’re willing to go to jail for me.”

I look at his bruise. “Well, you just admitted to assault for me. What’s a little arson for a friend?”

Marshal

Six years ago

“This weather is shit,” my brother, Marcus, says.

I shake my head. “Figures, it’s just like Grandpa to pass away during a freak spring snowstorm.”

Marcus smiles. “He would hate to have a big celebration of life, wouldn’t he?”

“Yeah. He avoided crowds at all costs.”

“You boys all right?” my dad asks as he comes up behind us.

Boys.

I’m literally weeks away from my graduation and have a job lined up in Grand Rapids, not terribly far from here, with one of the top architectural firms in the state. Marcus is three years older, married and living near Detroit with a baby on the way. Sally’s due date is close, only three weeks away, the same time as my graduation. And her doctor doesn’t want her to travel, especially not with the weather.

We turn. “How about you, Dad?” I ask.

“I’m worried about your grandmother. She’ll need everyone and with this snow” —he gestured toward the window— “there’s no way her and Dad’s friends will be able to make it here or the funeral.”

“You know that Sally would be here—”

Dad shakes his head at Marcus with a grin. “Sally is where she should be.”

“Just think,” I say, “soon you’ll be a grandpa, Grandpa George.”

“Circle of life,” he replies softly as he walks toward our mom and his other siblings.

Beyond the window, the snow continues to accumulate.

Hell, on my old truck, I see at least six inches and I’ve only been at the funeral home for a little more than an hour. This is supposed to be the visitation with the funeral following afterward. So far, it’s been only family with a few stragglers from my grandparents’ church. I guess it’s also my church. I just haven’t been in a while.

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