Leaving Salt Lake City by Matthew Timion

Author:Matthew Timion
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Published: 2013-04-01T18:30:00+00:00

| THIRTY ONE |

Is There a Doctor in the House?

It was March of 2009 and Manny’s birthday was worth celebrating. He was turning six years old, meaning he had been with us (Jessica and I) for over two and a half years. I was the primary caregiver for all but six months of that time. His home was with me in Salt Lake City.

Jessica emailed me her flight plans. She told me her father was driving from Arizona in order for Jessica, her father, and Manny to have breakfast. Their breakfast together would provide me some time to buy decorations, pick up Manny’s birthday cake, and get the house ready for the birthday party. Alan, my new roommate, and Krystal helped set up. Manny was ready and waiting to be picked up at seven thirty in the morning. He waited. Eight o’clock came, and he still waited. He sat patiently by the door until Jessica finally showed up around ten o’clock. She didn’t get out of the car. Manny ran outside and Jessica opened the car door to give him a hug. “You’ve gotten so big!”

After a few hours Jessica’s father knocked at the door. He was dropping Manny off. Jessica was nowhere to be found. “Jessica lost her purse. She’ll be here later." I offered to let Manny’s grandfather to stay for the party. He declined. The party started at one in the afternoon.

Two hours later Jessica showed up. She sat by herself on the couch watching Manny and his friends run around, play instruments, and destroy a piñata.

We chit chatted a bit, but it appeared my fears of her kidnapping Manny were overblown. After all the lies she had told me over the past few months, I had assumed the worst of her. I was glad that my worry was unfounded.

The party died down and the guests left.

“I’m so sorry I was late." I didn’t know if she meant for the breakfast or the party.

“My alarm didn’t go off in the hotel room, and my dad just waited for me in the lobby. He never called. He never tried to see if I was okay.”

“Manny waited for you for a long time.”

Jessica looked past me not making eye contact. “That’s too bad," she said.

“And what about the party?”

“While at lunch someone stole my purse. It had my drivers license in it. I had to get a new picture ID before my flight tomorrow.”

She was either the most unlucky woman in the world, or all of the bad things that kept happening to her were intentional.

She took Manny out to buy some presents for his birthday. They came back a half hour later, and Manny was beaming. He loved being with his mom. He missed her so much and seeing all three of us in the same house together was probably the best birthday gift he received that year.

Jessica and Manny went back to his bedroom to play with his new toys. They got to spend some time together for the first time in over seven months.

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