Page 20 of Whenever You Call

“Is it crying out?”

“No.”

“Does it look… stuck?”

“I don’t know. It hasn’t moved much since I came out here. It turned its back on me and showed me his butt when I played the music, though.”

“Not an AC/DC fan?”

“This cat is stupid.”

“He’s probably just a little uneducated.”

“So, can you help me get it down?”

“I don’t think you need my help, kiddo. Sounds to me like the cat’s happy enough where it is. Maybe just give it some time to move on. They’re stubborn creatures, and if they think they’re annoying you, they’ll do it even more.”

“But I don’t want it in my tree. Any other tree but this one,please. It’s my special place to sit and talk to Daddy, and I don’t want this stupid cat to hear everything I have to say to him because it’s private, and I—”

“Bella?” sang a voice in the background—one I recognized instantly. “Who are you talking to? Is that my phone?”

“Uh oh,” Bella whispered.

“Bug, what are you doing?” Hannah asked, drawing closer.

“Don’t worry, Mommy. I’m not buying anything,” Bella answered, her voice aimed away from the cell for a moment before she came back to me. “Stay there, Mr. Logan. Mommy’s here, and she’s probably going to get mad at me for taking her—”

“Who are you talking to?” Hannah asked. I listened while the two of them had a little back and forth until Hannah gasped in horror, and then the cell changed hands, and Hannah said, “Logan? Is that you?”

“Hey, yeah. Hi,” I said, sounding like a complete moron.

“Oh, my goodness. I’m so sorry. I had no idea she had my phone.”

“It’s fine. No worries.”

“Don’t shout, Mommy,” Bella said. “Not near Daddy’s tree. The microphone is right there. He’ll hear you in Heaven, and I don’t want him to think you’re mad at me.”

“I’m not mad, honey,” Hannah told her, and I felt like I was the one intruding on a private moment that had absolutely fuck all to do with me. “But could you do me a favor and go find Livia for me? I think she’s in the laundry room.”

“But Mom—”

“Bella,please.”

I closed my eyes, trying to shrink away from the situation until Hannah had me opening them again with just four words. “Logan, I’m so sorry.”

I cleared my throat, not knowing what to say.

“I had no idea she was calling you; I swear.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“She’s going through… a lot… lately.”

“I understand,” I lied. I didn’t understand because I couldn’t. I hadn’t ever been a sweet, innocent little girl who’d lost her father at such a young age.

Neither of us said anything for a moment, and I opened my mouth to wrap things up, but then Hannah’s voice hit me again.

“How are you?” she asked, as though she cared.

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