Returning Home

by Toni Shiloh

  “I feel you. I’m trying to buy a house myself. I assume you heard what happened?”

  “Yeah, your mom told me. How are you dealing, man?”

  “Hanging in there, G, hanging in there. First step, trying to find a place that will accommodate my new set of wheels.” He couldn’t believe he was talking about it so calmly.

  “That’s great, whose house are you looking to buy?”

  “Well, I wanted Mrs. Nelson’s, but now I’m trying to get Mr. Joseph’s.”

  Guy laughed. “Man, I bought Mrs. Nelson’s home.”

  “You’re the one who bought it?”

  “Yep. You snooze you lose.”

  “Obviously.” A chuckle escaped. It felt good to laugh instead of being angry. “I’m glad it was you who bought it. Are you going to need any help moving in?” Evan faltered, almost forgetting, and cleared his throat. “I can ask my dad to help you. I’m not walking yet, but time will tell.”

  Did that mean he was finally ready to try the prosthetic? He didn’t know, but he couldn’t keep living like this.

  “I appreciate the offer. I’ll let you know.”

  “How are you handling the girls without Charlene?”

  “Not too well. It seems God has abandoned me just like he abandoned her and left her to die.”

  Silence penetrated the air.

  “You know what,” Guy said. “I’ll talk to you later.”

  Evan stared at his cell, looking at the tiny image of a cheerful Guy. The irony struck him hard. Something told him his friend was battling hardships worse than he could imagine.

  Chapter Eight

  Jo knocked on Michelle’s door. She’d made it to the city in record time thanks to the voice of her mother chasing her down the highway. Hopefully her friend would provide the much-needed girl time. Maybe she’d stop by Skyler’s office and talk to her about Mr. Joseph’s place. She had a good feeling Evan would be a homeowner soon.

  The glimmer of hope in his eyes when they toured the place had touched her. He had to be excited about having his own place and gaining back his freedom. Considering her current situation, she could sympathize. Living with your parents after years of adulthood was a hard pill to swallow.

  Sharing a place with her mother had slowly driven her insane. Maybe she should ask Chloe for space on her couch. But was that alternative any better? She had the option of getting insulted twenty-four seven or hearing about the sovereignty of God all day long. The thought drew her mouth down. They were both distasteful.

  What was taking Michelle so long to answer?

  She glanced down at her watch and let out a long sigh. Of course. It was only three o’clock. Michelle was probably still at work. Jo turned her back to the door. What was she going to do until her friend got home? Wait, what time did she get out of work?

  Jo called her to find out.

  “Hello?” her friend answered groggily.

  “Michelle? You sound terrible.”

  “I know. Thanks for pointing that out.”

  She shook her head. Not even a cold could keep the girl from spouting sarcasm. “You sick?”

  “No, I’m unemployed.”

  “What?! Wait, where are you?”

  “I’m at home.”

  “Then can you let me inside?”

  “You’re outside?”

  “I take it you didn’t hear me knock.”

  She turned toward the door, waiting for it to open. How was it possible Michelle got fired?

  When the door opened, she could barely muffle her gasp. Her friend’s eyes were puffy and red. That must have been one horrible crying jag.

  “Ah, Chelle, what happened?” Jo enveloped her in a hug.

  “Come on in and I’ll tell you.”

  Jo stopped to take her shoes off in the foyer and then followed Michelle to the couch. Her friend sighed, as if the weight of the world pressed upon her shoulders.

  “Girl, you know I was up for partner, right?”

  At her nod, Michelle continued.

  “Well, yesterday they brought all the associates into the conference room to announce the new partner.”

  Jo leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees.

  “They gave the job to Marvin.”

  Jo frowned in confusion. “Who’s Marvin? I don’t know if I’ve heard you mention his name before.”

  “That’s because he was just hired six months ago. And get this, he hasn’t even passed the bar yet.”

  “Okay,” the sound came out low and long. Jo tried to make sense of her thoughts but they resembled a jumbled-up Rubik’s cube. “Why would they promote a person who hasn’t even passed the bar? And who hasn’t even been at your company that long? You’ve been there since you’ve graduated law school, right?”

  “Exactly! JoJo, I was so mad. I was fuming. I pulled Bruce aside and asked if could I meet with him later. I tried and tried to calm myself down, but by the time I met with him, I was seeing red.”

  Her friend began pacing, punctuating each emotion with a fist hitting her palm. “Turns out Marvin is Bruce’s godson. I just lost it. I’ve been busting my butt to show them I was a shoo-in for partner and turns out I never even had a chance because the man has a freaking godson?”

  Jo leaned back as Michelle’s voice went up an octave. How could she help her friend? There had to be some silver lining. “Chelle, what angers you more? That someone else was picked for partner or that you worked hard for nothing?

  Michelle stopped pacing and stared at her in bewilderment. “That I worked hard for nothing. I put six years into that company for a position I will never get. I can handle being passed over, especially if someone is better than I am. But Marvin wasn’t and it wouldn’t matter if he was. Bruce was going to give him that position all along.”

  She sniffed and sat back down on the cream loveseat. “I have to find another job but I have no idea where. To tell you the truth, after the whole fiasco yesterday, I have no desire to work for another firm anyway. I don’t want to play politics.”

  “So don’t,” Jo offered.

  Michelle looked at her in confusion.

  “What? You can be your own boss and won’t have to worry about someone being promoted who doesn’t deserve it.”

  She saw the light click on for her friend.

  “You know, that’s actually a great idea. I had thought about doing it a few years ago, but that was the same time Bruce announced the race for partner.” Michelle shrugged. “So, I ditched the idea.”

  “Really? You were thinking about it? Did you have a business plan and all your i’s dotted and t’s crossed?” Jo smirked. Michelle had the tendency to be obsessive and compulsive.

  Her friend laughed. “Girl, you know I did. Let me go get it. I know exactly where it is.”

  Crisis averted. She breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God.

  She frowned. That was twice in one day she’d used that phrase. She always made sure to avoid it, because it’s not like she believed in Him or anything. Did she?

  Of course not.

  She was merely talking to herself. It’s not like she entertained the idea that God was really real. Then again, she had once acknowledged the possibility of a God. She just couldn’t believe He was as good as people claimed.

  How could He be, when she lost the only parent who loved her and was left with a mother who could barely disguise her disdain? However, if she was instinctively calling out to Him, then maybe deep down she believed the truth of what Chloe and Nana Baker had always preached to her. That He was real and maybe even good. She chuckled. You’re losing it, Jo Ellen. This business with her mother was messing with her psyche.

  Michelle made her way back into the living room, interrupting her thoughts.

  “So I found the business plan.” She flipped through the pages of a purple, plastic folder with brads. “Believe it or not, I was looking at a place on Main Street to lease for an office.”

  “Main Street? Freedom Lake’s Main Street?” Jo ask
ed.

  Michelle nodded.

  “Wow, I never imagined you returning home to Freedom Lake, but I would love it if you did.” She held her hand out. “Let me see this plan.” Flipping through the pages, she searched for the mentioned location. Jo gasped. “That’s right next to The Space.”

  “I know. Do you think Chloe would like being office neighbors?”

  “Chloe would love it. I know how much she misses you” She looked at Michelle, noting the dark brown lines in her hazel eyes. “How come you two don’t talk anymore? She won’t tell me. Just changes the subject whenever I try and poke and prod.”

  Jo held her breath, hoping Michelle wouldn’t lash out. She didn’t know what caused her two best friends to stop speaking; she just knew she missed being part of a trio.

  Michelle looked pensive. “It happened after the accident.”

  Jo stilled. Michelle never talked about that.

  “I’m sure you remember it.”

  She nodded wordlessly, hoping her friend would continue.

  “My parents were driving back home from the city.” She smiled softly. “They were celebrating getting me through school. I was with you and Chloe.”

  Jo nodded, remembering that awful night. Michelle’s eyes welled up with tears and Jo felt corresponding ones fill up her own.

  “When the police told me they didn’t make it...I couldn’t think straight. Both of them dead was incomprehensible. It wasn’t until a few days later that I found out they’d been hit by a drunk driver.” She cleared her throat. “Anyway, Chloe came over after work one day and I was going on and on about how unfair it was...” She sniffled.

  Jo hated to see her friend in so much pain. Being an only child, Chelle had no family members to lean on when her parents passed away, so Jo and Chloe made sure they were always there for her. She knew her best friends had argued with one another, but never knew about what.

  “I told her they were too young.” Michelle’s face twisted with bitterness and she looked straight into Jo’s eyes.

  She shivered at the darkness swirling in them.

  “Chloe told me...that God could work all things for good. I asked her how on earth my parents’ death could be good.” A detached look entered her eyes. “Actually I yelled at her, called her every insult I could think of and then kicked her out. I told her I never wanted to see her again. We haven’t spoken since then.”

  “Oh, Chelle. You know how Chloe is about God. She probably meant to be comforting, not pretentious. She can’t help how she is.”

  “I know, Jo. I know. Believe me; I regret how I reacted, but...I was just so...hurt.” Michelle shrugged. “I just never knew how to talk to her after that. I didn’t want to apologize but then again I did. I didn’t know how, so I didn’t. And now it’s been twelve years of silence.”

  “Then it’s time to speak. Call her, and do it before you show up next door to her as an office neighbor.”

  Michelle leaned her head against Jo’s. “Okay, Mama Jo.”

  She laughed, glad that the mood had lightened. Jo couldn’t believe that was the root of their strife all these years. Hopefully the two could mend fences. “Apologize, Chelle. She’ll forgive you.”

  “Okay, I’ll apologize if you’ll consider moving in with me.”

  Michelle lifted her head and Jo turned to look at her. She looks serious.

  “Really?” Jo asked. “You want to share a place together?”

  “Yes, it’d be great. Then again, if you want to continue living with your mom, by all means have at it.”

  She burst out laughing. “You’re funny. I just told her I was going to move out. Of course, I threaten to after every argument.”

  “Well then it’s settled. We’ll find a place for the both of us. Guess that means I’m returning to Freedom Lake.”

  Jo gave her a high five. Life was finally looking up.

  EVAN WHEELED OUT OF Mike’s office with a huge grin. Things were beginning to look up. Mr. Joseph had accepted Evan’s offer, and he was now a soon-to-be homeowner. He couldn’t wait until Jo came up with renovation plans. The quicker he could move in, the more independent he would feel.

  He sighed as he rolled toward the parking lot where his father waited. Maybe he should find out about getting his driver’s license. Being able to drive would be a dream come true. But could it be done? Guess he should’ve paid attention to all the information he’d been given over the past few months.

  Chloe’s interior design business caught his eye. He paused slightly, looking at her building. He couldn’t believe she owned a business. It seemed a little surreal. He could remember high school like yesterday. Now, Guy was going to be Freedom Lake’s new sheriff and his other friend, Darryl, was the local pediatrician.

  Darryl.

  Each time his friend had called over the past few weeks, Evan thought of an excuse not to answer the phone. When Darryl tried reaching him on his mother’s phone, Evan refused to talk. If he did, Darryl would want to come over and catch up on old times, but life was different now. He was different. The thought of his healthy, two-legged friend seeing him in a wheelchair, minus a leg, brought an ache to his chest.

  “Evan!”

  God, please not him.

  He squeezed his eyes shut, his stomach dipping as if he rode a roller coaster. Of all the people in Freedom Lake, he had to conjure up the one person he didn’t want to see.

  Darryl called out his name again and he stopped wheeling. Slowly, Evan rolled around to face him.

  “Dude, you’ve been avoiding me.” His friend’s brow furrowed, looking like two fighting caterpillars.

  “I know.” Evan looked down, focusing on his empty pant leg.

  “Why? You don’t think I can handle hard times?” Darryl ran a hand through his curly mop, frustration etched into his features.

  Darryl had always been the comedian of the group, but the look of consternation on his face showcased how hurt he really was.

  Evan swallowed. “Man, it’s not that. I just...I can’t handle it, Darryl.” He didn’t know how to be normal with people anymore. It took all his strength to be able to look a person in the face instead of staring at their legs. Their two usable, very real legs.

  “I get it.” His friend stared straight into his eyes.

  He wanted to look away but that would just drive the wedge further between them.

  “I really do get it, man.” Darryl repeated. “Just remember we’ve been friends since kindergarten. No matter what you look like, you’re still my friend.”

  The pressure in his throat increased. He glanced up, focusing on the clouds, willing himself to ignore the emotion making his throat ache. He’d been shutting everyone out for sheer perseverance. He should have known his friend wouldn’t have made him feel awkward. He took a deep breath. “Thanks, D, I appreciate that.”

  “Anytime.” Darryl cocked his head to the side. “So, what’s new with you?”

  “I just bought a house.”

  “What? That’s great. You’re sticking around Freedom Lake, huh?”

  He nodded. What other choice do I have? “I am. Jo’s going to renovate it to make room for me and the chair.”

  Darryl’s eyebrow rose. “Jo? Jo Ellen Baker?” He let out a low whistle at Evan’s nod. “Does she still hate your guts?”

  Evan laughed. He could trust his friend to cut straight to the chase. “I’m pretty sure she does; we haven’t really discussed it. But she’s been nice and actually found the place I’m going to buy.”

  “Is it weird seeing her again?”

  “It’s a little awkward. When I left Freedom Lake, I never thought I would return, let alone see a bunch of old classmates.”

  “Well, that’s because you were intent on being a professional basketball player. At least your fall-back plan as a coach panned out.”

  Evan grimaced.

  “What? What does that look mean?”

  “I haven’t worked since the accident.”

  “Okay,” Da
rryl replied hesitantly. “Why not?”

  “They couldn’t hold my spot. They wanted a guarantee I’d be back by the start of the school year, but as you can see...” he shrugged. “They needed a coach.”

  “So what? They could have made your assistant the interim coach and kept your spot open.” Darryl held his hands out like it was a no-brainer.

  Unfortunately, Evan knew it wasn’t that simple. “They didn’t keep it.” He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I can’t see myself working now like this anyway.”

  “Why? You’re missing a leg; you’re not deaf or blind.”

  His jaw tightened involuntarily. Not him too. His parents hadn’t understood why he didn’t want to apply for the high school coach position at Freedom Lake High. How could he go up and down the court in a wheelchair and call out pointers? It wasn’t feasible.

  “Look. Don’t get all ticked off. Yeah, I saw you clench your jaw.” Once again, his friend met his gaze head on. “I’m not going to let that fly. We’ve always been straight with each other. So I’m going to say this. Don’t waste your talent just because you never imagined yourself doing it one-legged and that’s all I’m going to say about that.”

  “Good.”

  The conversation picked back up and Evan was glad Darryl avoided topics involving his missing leg. For a moment, time seemed to fade away. It was like returning to basketball practice after winter break. They were a little rusty, but the familiarity was still there. Eventually, he would feel comfortable around Darryl again.

  He didn’t know how long they talked, but he knew the minute Darryl lost focus.

  “Um, Darryl?” The man’s eyes held a faraway look. He turned his head to see what had captured his attention. When he saw Chloe locking the door to The Space, he grinned.

  “Aww, I see.” He turned back to look at Darryl. “You still have the hots for Chloe?”

  Darryl scowled. “Man, who says that anymore? Treat her with some respect.”

  “I didn’t mean any disrespect. I just didn’t realize you were still interested in her.” He glanced back in time to see Chloe turn around the corner, fading from view.