Now or Never

everyone gathered around her. She pulled out a photo album and flipped it open. It was an old album, all the pictures were in black and white. Her mother and father were dressed in all of their hippy glory. They both had long hair parted down the middle. Their mother was gorgeous and their dad had a full beard. They were laughing and making eye contact, clearly head over heels in love. Grayson just kept flipping through the pages. Near the end of the album, their mom was pregnant with Ethan. Even in black and white you could tell she was glowing. Grayson finished with the album, passed it to the others, and grabbed another.
    It was strange to see their lives through a series of photographs. There was a card she had made for her father when he was gone. It was made of green construction paper and had a cut out flower glued to the front. The paper was worn. She wondered if it was from age, or from her father looking at it often. Hurry home Daddy we miss you was scrawled in a child’s messy penmanship. The D’s in Daddy were backwards. Finally, she broke down and cried. Hot scalding tears streamed down her face, and her body shook. She couldn’t believe her father had taken this stuff with him when he left. Maybe they meant more to him then he let on.
    Luna pulled her in for a hug, and they stood there crying for the man they never really knew. And now they would never get the chance.
    “Look at this,” Ethan said as he pulled out a newspaper clipping from the box. It was of Ethan in uniform when he got a bronze star with valor. Their father had kept tabs on them long after he left. It made her feel a little better that he hadn’t totally forgotten about them. She just wished he had contacted them. Maybe they could have helped him.
    Why the hell didn’t he try to talk to us, Grayson thought angrily.
    “He talked about you guys all the time,” Aunt Michelle said. “Your father lived with demons he couldn’t get past. He went for help from the VA, but they just gave him meds that he got addicted to. And he just couldn’t let go of the bottle,” she said sadly.
    “Can we keep these?” Mom asked holding a photo album to her chest. Her blue eyes glistened with tears.
    “Of course, it’s all yours.”
    Ethan grabbed the boxes and transferred them over to his truck. He never said a word. Grayson wondered what he was thinking.
    “Do you want his ashes sent to you?”
    My mother nodded. “Thank you. He always said he wanted his ashes to go out to sea.”
    Aunt Michelle took out a piece of paper and a pen from her purse. She handed it to my mom, so she could jot down her address.
    “Are you staying in town for awhile?” Michelle asked.
    “No, we’re leaving today.”
    Michelle’s face was drawn, and her eyes looked sad. “Maybe we could go out for brunch if you’d like?”
    “Sure. That would be nice.” My mother said and hugged Aunt Michelle. She was the last of my father’s side that was alive, and she had no children.
    They went to a local diner, and Michelle tried to fill in the blank spots of their father’s absence, but there wasn’t much to tell. He’d pretty much been spiraling out of control since he’d left them. He’d been in and out of rehab. But he just couldn’t kick the booze. Fits of rage came and went. It was heartbreaking to hear.
    Grayson’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and was surprised to see it was from Derrick.
    How are you doing?
    She looked across the table. Her mom was engrossed in a conversation with Michelle.
    Ok I guess. It’s strange that he’s really gone. But glad we got to say good-bye.
    If you need anything, you know how to reach me.
    Thanks. We’ll be home late tonight or early tomorrow.
    Grayson put the phone back in her pocket. Maybe Derrick also thought more of the relationship then he was letting on. Or maybe he was just being considerate, because he happened to be there when she got the phone call. Either way, she was glad he sent a text. She liked knowing she was on his mind.

CHAPTER 24

    Two days later she sent Derrick a text. She wanted to feel something other than the empty feeling her father’s death had left her with.
    Want to hang out?
    Sure. I’m off early today want to grab lunch?
    She looked down at the phone in surprise. They had never gone out to lunch before. They met up, had crazy sex, and parted ways. Maybe this was a step in moving the relationship forward.
    Lunch sounds great I’m starving.
    Ok, I’ll be there