The Single Twin by Sean Little

Author:Sean Little [Little, Sean]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Spilled Inc. Press
Published: 2019-12-01T22:00:00+00:00

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AMITY ABLEMAN-DUFFY, Ph.D., did not rush to the door to welcome her son into her home. Nor did her son expect her to. Instead, she stood at the main door to the house with six feet of front porch and a locked porch door between them. “It has been, what? Twenty-two years?”

“Give or take.” Even though they had not spoken in all that time, Duff always kept tabs on his parents, as he was sure they had kept tabs on him. There was a reason Amity took the teaching job at DePaul University shortly after Duff moved to Chicago. It was as though being in the vicinity made her feel like less of an absentee parent.

“You must need something from me.”

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”

Amity Ableman-Duffy nodded slowly. “I suppose that is true. You missed your father’s funeral.”

“He actually sent me a letter from the hospital telling me not to show up.”

“I know. He dictated it to me. He was too weak to write it himself.”

Duff had half-expected that. “Figures. Good to know you two made up after the divorce.”

“Only for legal purposes. I held power of attorney for him, as he did for me.”

“Nice. Gotta love old-fashioned romance.”

Amity looked like a figurine. She held herself very still, very rigid. “I suppose you would like to come in and speak?”

“Not necessarily. I’m happy to stand here and conduct business.”

Amity stepped into the porch and crossed to the door. She unlocked the porch screen door and pushed it open. “Come in, then. I will start coffee.”

“I don’t drink coffee.”

“Tea, then.”

“I don’t drink tea, either.”

Amity sighed. “You drink common beverages then?”

“What in the high holy fuck do you mean by that, Mom? There’s nothing more common than coffee and tea.” Duff stepped onto his mother’s porch, already she was getting under his skin in the way only mothers could.

“Let me guess, you drink diet cola or some other beverage of simpletons.”

“How the hell is cola the beverage of simpletons?”

“Please.” Her voice was flat, as if his question was beyond answering because it should be common knowledge to everyone.

“I don’t want any beverages, Ma. Just let me know if you can help me or not and I’ll be on my way.”

Amity paused in the doorway. “It would all depend on what you need. I told you years ago I would never give you money or a place to sleep.”

“I want neither of those.”

“Oh?”

“You sound surprised.” Duff stopped before the door. There was a slight step up into the house so he and his much-shorter mother were eye-to-eye.

“I am. I figured this silly detective business of yours finally failed, and you were desperate. What else could have finally brought you to my door?”

“With all this positive support and encouragement, I’m amazed you’re not writing parenting books.”

Amity adjusted her glasses. “Sarcasm is unbecoming, Clive.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“It is your name.”

“It’s the name Dad insisted on giving me. I never consented to it. It’s a stupid name. And my business is going just fine. Abe and I are still quite in demand.

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