lasagna. He was out, but a nice gentleman, Robby I think, was working the gate that evening and had such amazing things to say about you.” Judy turns her head to address me sweetly. “Please let your father know we are right in town if he ever needs anything.” Judy can never know what an asshole my father really is. It will break her heart, and furthermore, her optimistic hope in humanity.
“Thank you, Judy. I’m sure he enjoyed it on a cold night.” Nat cups my balls and rolls her eyes.
“So how long do you have, Zach?” Dave asks.
Natalie violently shakes her head and pinches my thigh underneath the blanket. I remember the promise I made to her this morning, so I smile happily and say, “Just enough to see my girl.”
We pull into the entrance of my parent’s house while Robby opens the gate to let us in. Dave rolls down the window so Judy can lean across to ask Robby about his granddaughter . . . I didn’t even know he had a granddaughter.
I turn to Nat and she gives me an encouraging smile. “It’s okay. I’m here,” she says. She can sense my fear and irritation and she knows that I hate my father.
“Okay kids, just call us when you’re ready and we’ll go to dinner. Dave found a cute little place that’s decorated for the holidays and even has Dickensian carolers!” Judy says cheerfully.
“Fine Mom, we’ll call when we’re ready. And please, no more fanfare, okay?” Nat demands.
Natalie and I walk hand in hand into the large house that at some point was my home. Mom always made sure I had a fantastic childhood and never worried about what other people thought, and I know if she were healthy, she would still manage to keep a humble and charming appearance.
I’ve heard all the rumors, most of them true unfortunately. Between my friend Molly (Nat’s boss) and my attorney Jack, I get constant updates on the status of my asshole dad and the demise of Parker & Parker – quite literally.
Mom was a dreamer. She started a pharmaceutical company for the single purpose to fund a research center. Dad was a realist. He latched onto her ambition and decided he had dreams, too – like making millions of dollars at the expense of other’s hard work. But my mom’s dream didn’t just stop at medical discovery . . . she wanted her husband and son to work side by side – she wanted a family, not an empire.
“Let’s see if she’s in the garden room,” I suggest.
“Oh, actually, she’s been moved to that small bedroom at the end of the hall,” Natalie says quietly.
“What? Who moved her? That bedroom is used for guests. She is not a guest in her own home!” I scream.
Natalie puts her arm around my waist and wrinkles her forehead in discomfort. “I’m sorry, I should have told you.”
We walk quietly to the end of the hall on the first floor, an area I avoided most of my life because of the dark walls and few windows. I peek into the small room and find my mother, a woman that was once compared to Grace Kelly, lying unresponsive on a hospital bed. I thought I could do it – but I can’t. She’s alone. How can I let my mother die alone?
Natalie releases my hand and walks over to a record player I recognize from my youth. She carefully pulls out a vinyl record and places it on the turntable. I remain frozen in the doorway, watching a woman so full of life compassionately caring for a woman that’s losing one.
“Claire loves this one,” Nat offers.
Edith Piaf’s sorrowful voice instantly makes me collapse into tears. Non , je ne regrette rien.
I’m not prepared for the sudden onset of memories – Mom in the kitchen baking oatmeal cookies and singing along with Edith. Dramatically rolling her ‘Rs’ and making me laugh. I would sit at the island with a big glass of milk and listen to stories about Paris during the Algerian War, and then I would fabricate my own fascinating stories about my friends, Bo and Luke Duke.
A warm hand taps my back, rousing me from my
“Thank you, Judy. I’m sure he enjoyed it on a cold night.” Nat cups my balls and rolls her eyes.
“So how long do you have, Zach?” Dave asks.
Natalie violently shakes her head and pinches my thigh underneath the blanket. I remember the promise I made to her this morning, so I smile happily and say, “Just enough to see my girl.”
We pull into the entrance of my parent’s house while Robby opens the gate to let us in. Dave rolls down the window so Judy can lean across to ask Robby about his granddaughter . . . I didn’t even know he had a granddaughter.
I turn to Nat and she gives me an encouraging smile. “It’s okay. I’m here,” she says. She can sense my fear and irritation and she knows that I hate my father.
“Okay kids, just call us when you’re ready and we’ll go to dinner. Dave found a cute little place that’s decorated for the holidays and even has Dickensian carolers!” Judy says cheerfully.
“Fine Mom, we’ll call when we’re ready. And please, no more fanfare, okay?” Nat demands.
Natalie and I walk hand in hand into the large house that at some point was my home. Mom always made sure I had a fantastic childhood and never worried about what other people thought, and I know if she were healthy, she would still manage to keep a humble and charming appearance.
I’ve heard all the rumors, most of them true unfortunately. Between my friend Molly (Nat’s boss) and my attorney Jack, I get constant updates on the status of my asshole dad and the demise of Parker & Parker – quite literally.
Mom was a dreamer. She started a pharmaceutical company for the single purpose to fund a research center. Dad was a realist. He latched onto her ambition and decided he had dreams, too – like making millions of dollars at the expense of other’s hard work. But my mom’s dream didn’t just stop at medical discovery . . . she wanted her husband and son to work side by side – she wanted a family, not an empire.
“Let’s see if she’s in the garden room,” I suggest.
“Oh, actually, she’s been moved to that small bedroom at the end of the hall,” Natalie says quietly.
“What? Who moved her? That bedroom is used for guests. She is not a guest in her own home!” I scream.
Natalie puts her arm around my waist and wrinkles her forehead in discomfort. “I’m sorry, I should have told you.”
We walk quietly to the end of the hall on the first floor, an area I avoided most of my life because of the dark walls and few windows. I peek into the small room and find my mother, a woman that was once compared to Grace Kelly, lying unresponsive on a hospital bed. I thought I could do it – but I can’t. She’s alone. How can I let my mother die alone?
Natalie releases my hand and walks over to a record player I recognize from my youth. She carefully pulls out a vinyl record and places it on the turntable. I remain frozen in the doorway, watching a woman so full of life compassionately caring for a woman that’s losing one.
“Claire loves this one,” Nat offers.
Edith Piaf’s sorrowful voice instantly makes me collapse into tears. Non , je ne regrette rien.
I’m not prepared for the sudden onset of memories – Mom in the kitchen baking oatmeal cookies and singing along with Edith. Dramatically rolling her ‘Rs’ and making me laugh. I would sit at the island with a big glass of milk and listen to stories about Paris during the Algerian War, and then I would fabricate my own fascinating stories about my friends, Bo and Luke Duke.
A warm hand taps my back, rousing me from my
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