The Chance (Thunder Point #4)(91)

She nodded bravely. “I know. But that time isn’t here yet. He needs me. Someone has to be here, if not to watch him then to watch the caregivers!”

“You’re so tired,” Genevieve said. “I’m going to get you a glass of wine, then I’m going to stay with you until you’ve had a nap. We’re going to talk about this when we’re not all so afraid to do the wrong thing.”

“What about the girls? Don’t you have to pick them up from school?”

“I’ll call my sister. We help each other out with our kids when we can. Now come on, you need a break. I think you’re just overwhelmed.”

“Oh, I’m overwhelmed all right. But I’m also beginning to see how hopeless this is. I just can’t see the end....”

* * *

Al made it as far as Seattle where he took on some part-time piecework on a loading dock at a big box store. There was no friend in need, of course. And he wouldn’t be in Seattle long—it was almost time to head for Iowa. He had a date with a tombstone and a bunch of flowers. He’d get to see Carol, something he always looked forward to. That glimpse of her, once a year, was good for his heart. She was a fine woman who was aging delicately and sweetly. He was glad she had a good life.

Then he might head for Michigan. There was a trucking company there he liked. They always needed drivers because the work was hard and the pay not so great. But before he got on with his summer schedule, he called Eric.

“Hey, boss,” he said.

“Well, I’ll be damned. You headed back to town by any chance?”

“No, sorry. My buddy still needs me. His, ah, business is in a crunch and I’m helping out. But how’s things with you?”

“All right, considering...” Eric said.

“Considering what?” Al asked.

“Well, Laine’s stuck in Boston with her father. She had this idea she’d take him home, fix him up with some good help and come back, but it’s not working out that way. The family needs her there.”

“Have you given any thoughts to going to Boston?”

Eric laughed a little. “I think about it all the time,” he said. “I’m not like you, Al. I put down roots. I like roots. I have a business and a daughter. Maybe some day, but not today. Lots of people depend on me and I’m good with that. Not sure I’m the best person for the job but it works for me to give it everything I’ve got. That’s the best I can do.”

“Bet Laine depends on you, too,” Al said.

“She does,” he said. “And I think this thing with her dad’s illness hurts her heart. I can hear it when we talk. I can’t move to Boston. But I am thinking about a visit.”

“Good,” Al said. “That’s good. And how’s that kid? Justin? How’s he getting along?”

“He’s working mighty hard. He seems to be holding up all right.”

“He say anything about his brothers? And how they’re doing in that foster home?”

“Yeah, uh...he says that place isn’t great. But he’s got himself convinced that when he turns eighteen, everything will get back to normal and he’ll have his brothers back. I tried to tell him it probably isn’t going to be that simple, that easy, but he won’t hear it.”

“Maybe it will be simple and easy....”

“Not likely. Justin is working eighty hours a week just to keep the wolf from the door. That doesn’t leave a lot of time to parent, even if he really is just a big brother. The only thing that worries me... Well, it’ll all work out the way it’s supposed to.”

“What worries you?” Al asked.

“Nothing. Forget about it. Hey, that check you gave him, that was really nice of you, Al. I got him to open a bank account rather than cash it or carry it around.”

“What worries you?” Al asked again.

“It’s probably nothing. He just said if he doesn’t get custody right away when he’s eighteen, he’ll just get those boys out of that house. I told him not to get crazy—I said talk to me first, maybe I can help.”

“Jesus.”

“Listen, I was real specific—I said before you go and kidnap those boys in the dark of night, talk to me. It’s probably just talk.”

“Keep an eye on him,” Al said. “He’s not a big talker, that one. Usually when he says something, he means it.”

“I’m watching, Al. You doing all right?”

“Yeah. Great. Fine. Maybe I’ll get done sooner than later. With my friend’s business...”

“You know you’ve always got a place here,” Eric said.

“Appreciate that,” Al replied. “Take care.” And then he stared at the phone. It works for me to give it everything I’ve got....

All Al had wanted since he was about nineteen years old was a second chance and if he was honest with himself, there had been a lot of them. But he never seized them. He was always too afraid of failing again, of not being good enough, of not measuring up. Yet this young man, Eric, was happy to be counted as the one trying hardest. And Justin, all seventeen years of him, would never quit. Never. And if Al gave in to his own fear and insecurity now, Justin could be lost. How much pride was a young man worth?

He packed up. He didn’t bother collecting a final check from his employer. He checked out of his motel room and pointed the truck south. He wasn’t sure this would turn out the way he wanted it to, but for the first time in almost a lifetime he was willing to gamble on himself.