Chapter 60
The next few weeks flew by as we closed in on graduation.Studying for finals on the nights off work became a regular habit.We had some of the same subjects,so we worked hard at quizzing each other until the material was burned into our minds.
We had turned in my college application,so all we could do was wait.Jeff had already received an acceptance letter a few weeks before the night we found my father beating my mom,so if I wasn’t accepted,we’d be separated next fall.I’d have to attend community college my first year.For now,we tried not to focus on that possibility.
We didn’t really share our relationship with others,but apparently we weren’t very good at hiding our feelings because everybody in school seemed to know about us within a couple of days.Once the news spread,we experienced a few days of uncertainty,but we held our breath and nothing happened.No retaliations.No name-calling.Nothing.
I credited Russell Adams,to be honest.Jeff agreed.Russell was that one guy in high school who nobody wanted to go against.And he’d made his view clear in the lunch room that day.Regardless,we weren’t na?ve enough to think everyone was happy for us,but those who weren’t kept their opinions to themselves.
The afternoon we bought tickets for the prom,we headed to the tuxedo rental place—Max’s—to be fitted.Jeff spent a long time choosing the right color for my vest and his matching cummerbund.Apparently he didn’t want to go with purple anymore.
I bit back a smile and let him make the decision.Unconcerned about what we wore,I sat back,playing a game on my phone while I waited.
A text popped up,and I grinned.
Pamela:Hey Bro.
Me:Hey.What’s up?
Pamela:Grandma is driving me crazy today.She wants me to wear a dress to your graduation.Do I have to?
I laughed out loud and Jeff turned to me.I raised my phone.“Pamela.”
“Tell her I said hi.”
Me:No.But if it is really important to Grandma,why don’t you wear one?She doesn’t ask for much.Jeff said hi.
Pamela:Tell him I said hi.But I don’t want to wear a dress.I want to wear slacks and a blouse.
Me:That’s fine.I’ll try to talk with her.
Pamela:Thanks.Love you.
Me:Love you too.
My little sister was becoming independent.When younger,she used to love getting dressed up,but her tastes had changed.I didn’t care what she wore any more than I cared about the color of the vest,but I’d call Grandma and talk with her about it.
Jeff finally finished.We left the store and headed toward the parking lot.He grabbed my hand.I’d noticed how often he liked to touch me.Holding my hand.Patting my shoulder.It was sweet,and I loved it.
Later,after going home to change for work,we pulled into the movie theater parking lot.When my phone pinged,I pulled it from my pocket,surprised to see the district attorney’s number pop up.
“Hi,Aaron.This is Laura Morgan.”
“Hi.What’s going on?”My question rushed out while thoughts of my father raced through my mind.He’d escaped.He’d been in a prison fight.I wouldn’t put anything past him,no matter how crazy.
“Do you have a minute?”
“I’m about to start my shift,but I can talk if we need to.”
“I’ll make this quick,then.Your father’s amenable to a deal,but I want to meet with the family before we accept it.I’d like to discuss the terms of the deal in person.”
A deal.That meant we wouldn’t have to testify.I’d been worried about that.Especially for Pamela.I exhaled sharply.“That would be great,”I told her,hating the quiver in my voice.
“I’ve called your grandparents and they’re coming up this weekend.Can you meet me Saturday at two?
“I’ll be there.”After I hung up,I told Jeff what was going on.
“Awesome!”
“Yeah,but I don’t know what the deal is.You don’t think it could be something like five years,do you?”
“No way.I mean,I don’t know a lot about prison sentences,but that seems awfully short for a murder charge.”
I thought so,too,but I had trouble believing my father would accept anything too long.He was a difficult man,to say the least.
Trying to push away the thoughts for now,I headed into the theater with Jeff to work the shift.
I ended up manning the concession stand,which I hated,so I was glad it was a slow night.Unfortunately,being distracted,I screwed up,giving incorrect change to a man in a tropical style button-down shirt that barely fit his bulging paunch.Before I could correct my mistake,he freaked out.
“You moron!You owe me ten more dollars!”
When I began to apologize,he cut me off.
“You’re a fucking idiot,”he spat as his eyes narrowed.
He sounded like my father,and my chest tightened.Breathe,I reminded myself.Breathe.But it didn’t work and the downward spiral began.
“Can you hear me?Fucking loser.Working in a movie theater.”
I smelled the alcohol as he spewed his hatred from across the counter,spittle flying from his lips.His bushy gray eyebrows furrowed.“You fucking alive,kid?Or are you so stupid you can’t even answer me?”
I gasped for air.It felt like a truck had driven onto my chest,and no matter what I did,I couldn’t breathe.The edges of my vision grayed out and blurred as the panic rose.
Suddenly,Jeff had his hand on my back.“Breathe.Deep breath in.Let it out.Deep breath in.Let it out.”
His voice calmed me and sweet air filled my lungs.