Where There's a Will by Amy K Rognlie

Author:Amy K Rognlie [Rognlie, Amy K]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781943959334
Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink
Published: 2018-11-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

I stopped by Kenny’s room on my way through the hall and tapped the door. “Kenny, it’s Callie Erikson, Dorrie’s granddaughter. May I come in?”

He grunted something that I took as a “yes.”

He was sitting in the chair by the sunny window, a newspaper in his lap. He started when he saw me. “Maple! They tol’ me you were dead.”

Oh dear. I stooped down and grasped his hand. It was like ice. “It’s me, Kenny. Callie.”

He lifted his other hand to my face and held my cheek in a shaking hand. “I knew you weren’t dead, Maple. I’ve been waiting and waiting to talk to you.” He dropped his hand. “Why did you wait so long to come?”

My throat tightened. If only Maple had come. Why hadn’t she? But I couldn’t pretend that I was his long-separated daughter. I gently disengaged my hand and stood. “Mr. Carner, I’m so sorry that you’re missing your daughter. I’m sure she—”

“Don’t go, Maple.” His face crumpled. “I’ve been waiting so long, and now I’m a washed-up old codger headin’ toward the grave. I wasn’t the kind of father to you I should have been. I know I wasn’t.” Kenny wept, the tears making wet tracks through his grizzled whiskers. “I’m so sorry. So, so sorry. It wasn’t your fault.”

Lord?

I pulled a chair closer and took his cold hand again, holding it between my warm ones. If he could express his apology to his daughter—or who he thought was his daughter—maybe he’d gain some peace. “I don’t know what to say.”

He swung his head slowly, reminding me of an ancient tortoise I’d seen at the zoo. “I never meant for things to happen the way they did.” His hand trembled in mine. “You have to believe your old papa.”

“I believe you.”

He leaned back and sighed, closing his eyes. “I know it’s too late for us, Maple. I should have talked to all y’all straight out years ago.”

I wondered to whom “all y’all” referred. Did Maple have siblings? I’d have to ask Aunt Dot.

I pressed his hand again. “But at least you’re talking to me now. Did you want to tell me something specific?” I squirmed a little at my own question, feeling like I was pumping him for information.

He was silent for so long, I thought he might have fallen asleep, except that I could see his mouth working. Almost like he was wrestling within himself to dislodge the words from his throat.

I waited, praying.

He opened his eyes and sat up straighter. He pulled his hand from mine and gripped the arms of the chair. “It’s all because of June Blackman. Criminy, how I hate that woman.”

I gulped. “I know she’s been in here bothering y—”

“Bothering! Bothering?” Saliva dripped out of the corner of his mouth. “She ruined my life. And I went along with it. My business. My marriage…” The fire went out as quickly as it had ignited. He ran a shaking hand over his eyes. “If only I hadn’t listened to her.

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