The Cross by A. J. Llewellyn

Author:A. J. Llewellyn [Llewellyn, A. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Gay & Lesbian
ISBN: 9781611243956
Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC

Chapter 5

Ronan's rehearsal went so badly he cut it short and called me just as I was helping Jina store Dad's fridge full of fresh food.

"I'm really worried about this play," Ronan said. "I think it's going to be a bloody disaster. Two of my actors are drunks and one never turns up on time."

He sounded increasingly agitated. I kept stocking the shelves with goodies. Jina and I had been to the grocery store together and I'd had keys made for Dad's front door. The whole time we marveled over how my old man and Una mowed through more food in a few days than a family of five.

"Do you think she takes food to her daughter's house?" Jina whispered as my phone rang.

It was a possibility, but I hadn't noticed her running out the door with food bags. By now, the whole McDermott clan knew about Ronan, so my eavesdropping sister-in-law butted in as I chatted with him.

"Invite him to dinner," Jina insisted. I kept thinking about the John Dory filets in my fridge but I agreed.

"I'd love to meet your family." Ronan sounded chirpier by the second.

As we waited for his arrival, Dad, Jina and I went two doors down to her and Dave's three-bedroom, ultra-modern apartment that had a spectacular view of the bridge and the Opera House.

A few years before they'd lived on West Street in New York City with views I still dreamed about; the Statue of Liberty and the waterfront directly in front of them and the downtown skyline to the right. They had a knack for finding amazing places.

Dave was, as usual, multi-tasking with the kind of finesse I fantasized about. He fielded a conference call in Dubai on his cell phone, a business meeting in Hong Kong via Skype whilst he liquidated assets for some mysterious, billionaire client in Abu-Dhabi and played an online game of Farmville.

He hardly looked up but did seem to be sort of following the conversation.

Dad's weekend nurse, Charlie Le, arrived and he and Dad began chatting in Mandarin, a language I didn't know my father could speak until his mental health began to decline. All his stored knowledge from the past started coming back in spurts. In a few moments, Dad wouldn't even remember Charlie's name.

"You met a new guy?" Dave asked, looking up from his assembled digital hardware.

"Yeah," I said. "How come you didn't return any of my calls today?"

"Because sometimes I'm not in the mood for drama, Colin."

That took me aback. Drama? I'd thought Dad was relatively safe and not able to wander the streets unattended and that the situation worked for everybody.

Now I was worried. We hadn't had a chance to discuss the break-in. My father became unpleasant whenever any talk revolved around his living situation, so it would have to wait.

"You met somebody?" Charlie asked. The sweet and very patient weekend nurse had been Jina's find. Both were mainland Chinese-born and their paths had crossed in Hong Kong. She'd stayed in touch with him as they traveled around the world.

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