we stroll along Seventh Avenue and find some really nice things. I’m enjoying spending the day with Deanna. It feels good having her here; I miss her. I, too, secretly wish she never attended school in Phoenix, but I don’t say it aloud, since I know she feels bad enough about being so far away.
***
(Deanna)
Later that day, we pick up a late lunch and find a spot in the park to eat.
“I was thinking… Why don’t you come spend the summer with me?” JJ asks.
“I would love to , but I can’t,” I reply without giving me an explanation. I can tell by the look on her face she is waiting for me to elaborate, but, I’m afraid to have this conversation with her. “JJ, I need to go home. My mom needs me. Why don’t you come home this summer for awhile?” She begins to shake her head, disagreeing with the suggestion. “My mom would love to see you, and I’m sure David would love for you to come home… It’s been a long time,” I say softheartedly.
“I… I… can’t… I have work… I can’t go home… Is Maria okay?” JJ stutters. I see that the mention of home upsets her.
“She’s fine ,” I reply apprehensively, stalling with my news.
I kn ow David would be thrilled to have her home for the summer. It’s been almost two years since the last time she was home. My mom and dad have only seen her a few times since she’s moved to Florida. It was during their visits to attend Mikey’s games.
“I don’t know, maybe I’ll come and visit ,” She exclaims, but I doubt there is any truth to her words.
“ Will you at least come and stay for a couple of weeks this summer?” She asks me.
“Yeah, sure ,” I agree with empathy while taking her hand. “J, there’s something else I need to tell you.”
I can instantly see her face go white and her body tense up. She knows what’s coming even though it’s been a long time since I’ve spoken of him to her.
“He’s home,” I say bluntly with a sorrowful smile.
She tries to hold back, but her eyes betray her and begin to fill.
“When? Have you seen him?” She manages to choke out while grasping my hand tightly.
I know it tears at her heart to hear his name and I feel for her knowing what she has been through. Even though she doesn’t talk about it, I know it’s upsetting to her that she hasn’t been home to visit David or my Mom and Dad. My Mom and she were close and in some way it helped her with the loss of her own mom.
“I haven’t. It’s only been a little over a week . He’s not home-home. He’s on a work release program. He gets picked up at a halfway house in AC in the morning before work and has to be back when he’s finished for the day. He’s working at the garden center. Mr. & Mrs. McKnaulty tweaked his hours so he gets to spend an hour or two a day at home before heading back in the evening.”
I can see that she is f illed with so much emotion. “Your mom and dad must be so happy… and you ,” she says, brushing away the wetness from her cheeks. “Is he okay?” She asks, her voice quivering.
“They’re relieved he’s out of there. My mom’s not sure if he’s okay or not ; she says he’s different, she’s worried. She can’t tell what he is feeling. He’s quiet, he doesn’t say much. She is hoping that he is just a little overwhelmed right now and doesn’t want to push,” I answer sadly.
“What does Mikey think ? Has he seen him?” She asks, trying to steady her hands.
“He thinks he just needs some time . JJ, I know this is hard for you. You told Mikey and I that you didn’t want to hear his name, but now… I just thought you should know.”
“Has Mikey seen him?” She repeats, not commenting on my previous statement.
“Yes , Mikey sees him as often as he can. He was there the day he was released.”
She nods her head as if she has expected this all along. She’s quiet and I can tell that she is processing our conversation although she has barely said anything.
“Are you okay?” I
***
(Deanna)
Later that day, we pick up a late lunch and find a spot in the park to eat.
“I was thinking… Why don’t you come spend the summer with me?” JJ asks.
“I would love to , but I can’t,” I reply without giving me an explanation. I can tell by the look on her face she is waiting for me to elaborate, but, I’m afraid to have this conversation with her. “JJ, I need to go home. My mom needs me. Why don’t you come home this summer for awhile?” She begins to shake her head, disagreeing with the suggestion. “My mom would love to see you, and I’m sure David would love for you to come home… It’s been a long time,” I say softheartedly.
“I… I… can’t… I have work… I can’t go home… Is Maria okay?” JJ stutters. I see that the mention of home upsets her.
“She’s fine ,” I reply apprehensively, stalling with my news.
I kn ow David would be thrilled to have her home for the summer. It’s been almost two years since the last time she was home. My mom and dad have only seen her a few times since she’s moved to Florida. It was during their visits to attend Mikey’s games.
“I don’t know, maybe I’ll come and visit ,” She exclaims, but I doubt there is any truth to her words.
“ Will you at least come and stay for a couple of weeks this summer?” She asks me.
“Yeah, sure ,” I agree with empathy while taking her hand. “J, there’s something else I need to tell you.”
I can instantly see her face go white and her body tense up. She knows what’s coming even though it’s been a long time since I’ve spoken of him to her.
“He’s home,” I say bluntly with a sorrowful smile.
She tries to hold back, but her eyes betray her and begin to fill.
“When? Have you seen him?” She manages to choke out while grasping my hand tightly.
I know it tears at her heart to hear his name and I feel for her knowing what she has been through. Even though she doesn’t talk about it, I know it’s upsetting to her that she hasn’t been home to visit David or my Mom and Dad. My Mom and she were close and in some way it helped her with the loss of her own mom.
“I haven’t. It’s only been a little over a week . He’s not home-home. He’s on a work release program. He gets picked up at a halfway house in AC in the morning before work and has to be back when he’s finished for the day. He’s working at the garden center. Mr. & Mrs. McKnaulty tweaked his hours so he gets to spend an hour or two a day at home before heading back in the evening.”
I can see that she is f illed with so much emotion. “Your mom and dad must be so happy… and you ,” she says, brushing away the wetness from her cheeks. “Is he okay?” She asks, her voice quivering.
“They’re relieved he’s out of there. My mom’s not sure if he’s okay or not ; she says he’s different, she’s worried. She can’t tell what he is feeling. He’s quiet, he doesn’t say much. She is hoping that he is just a little overwhelmed right now and doesn’t want to push,” I answer sadly.
“What does Mikey think ? Has he seen him?” She asks, trying to steady her hands.
“He thinks he just needs some time . JJ, I know this is hard for you. You told Mikey and I that you didn’t want to hear his name, but now… I just thought you should know.”
“Has Mikey seen him?” She repeats, not commenting on my previous statement.
“Yes , Mikey sees him as often as he can. He was there the day he was released.”
She nods her head as if she has expected this all along. She’s quiet and I can tell that she is processing our conversation although she has barely said anything.
“Are you okay?” I
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