The Ghosts We Know by William Dean

Author:William Dean [Dean, William]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-11-16T16:00:00+00:00

FRED WAS PREPARING a special dinner honoring the memory of his late wife when the phone rang in his apartment.

He expected the caller to be Harry, his lone invited guest, asking again for directions.

Instead, he heard the voice of his brother Hans, who was two years older and still living in the same village where they’d grown up.

“Friedrich, is that you?”

Fred was stunned silent for a moment or two. He hadn’t expected to ever hear from his family again.

“Yes, Hans, it’s me.”

“How long has it been?”

“Forty years, give or take,” he said dully. They were speaking in German. “Why are you calling?”

“It’s Mother. She’s taken ill. She’s 95 and wants to see you before she dies.”

The request came as another jolt. His father died a few years ago. He had only learned of his passing through a friend of the family, weeks after the patriarch was buried.

“Why now, after all these years?”

“My brother, we all had to follow Father’s strict orders. We wanted to reach out to you, but if he found out …”

“I was asking about Mother. Why see me now?”

“We don’t really know. She just asked me to contact you. Somehow, she knew you lived in America – in Oregon. Thank goodness your number is listed.”

Fred made a mental note to change that.

“Please come,” Hans continued. “She doesn’t have long to live, and Kurt and I want our brother back. I would be happy if you stayed with me. I’ve remarried, but I’d like you to meet my wife. Her name is Gerta.”

There was a long silence as Fred debated what to do. The death of the old judge had softened his heart toward his family, but only a little. It would be best to continue to ignore them all, but that would only be perpetuating his father’s punishment.

“Friedrich, are you there?”

“Tell Mother I’ll see her – one last time.”

“She will be so happy. Thank you, Brother!”

“Hans?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t call me ‘Brother.’ A brother would have offered condolences after my wife and unborn girls were killed.”

“I’m so sorry. I wanted to … so very much. Father wouldn’t allow it.”

“Hans?”

“Yes?”

“Fuck you for being such a coward.”

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