I had thought about calling first but decided against it. I didn’t want to give Gramp the opportunity to duck out on me, so I offered no advance warning of my visit.
I parked in the driveway and sat a moment, taking in the peacefulness. The atmosphere at my grandparent’s house was much the same as it was at Joker’s, without the opulence. One would think that at either property, a glass of iced tea, a cool breeze and a hammock for two would set the scene for the perfect summer day. They would be surprised to find out that in addition to an adjoining property line, each family shared the same hate and hostility for the other and behind the seemingly perfect picture lived enough deceit to tear many lives apart.
My emotions bounced back and forth with each step I took up the front stairs. Anxious—hesitant, nervous—determined and now that I was actually here, I prayed I would have the inner strength to see it through.
I pushed my hair back, took a deep breath and knocked on the door. While waiting for someone to greet me at the front door, every nerve ending in my body bit at me when I heard the screen door in the back of the house slam shut.
At almost the same moment, Gram opened the front door. I immediately noticed she looked tired, her expression was pensive.
“Gram...”
I stopped mid-sentence when she took hold of my arm and led me to the kitchen without saying a word. Letting go of my arm at one of the chairs, I methodically sat and awaited her next move.
After several minutes and the remainder of the drink in her glass, she sighed and turned her attention to me.
“You hurt him, child.”
I lowered my head. “I know I did but I never meant to. I swear I didn’t want to hurt anyone.”
She relaxed her position and replied, “He knows that but it still hurts. You’ve got to understand, you don’t plant a tree in someone else’s yard because you want to sit in the shade.”
“Uh...” I shook my head as I raised my hands in the air.
“Meg, you can’t go digging up someone else’s past to pave a smooth road to your future.”
I slumped forward and laid my arms on the table.
“Is that what you and Gramp think? I don’t care about your feelings?”
“No, child. We know you care about our feelings.”
“Then what?”
She stared at me until I began to feel uncomfortable and then asked, “You’re determined, aren’t you?”
I nodded in exasperation. “I am.”
“Then you’ll have to go to Joker one more time.”
“Joker? Why would I have to go to him when you and Gramp can tell me the same things?”
She poured herself another drink, and casually replied, “Talk to him. Get him to tell you everything and then you’ll understand.” She took a swallow. “We can’t help you, child.”
That was the end of our conversation. I sat bewildered as she busied herself with mundane chores as if I weren’t there. She hadn’t been rude or cold but she matter-of-factly and without hesitance told me that the way things are was the way they would stay unless I could get through to Joker. What were they hiding from me and why would they prefer that Joker be the one to reveal their secret?
On the way back to Upper Darby, I thought about going to see Joker, but I regarded that visit as one I had to prepare for emotionally. I didn’t expect Con for hours, so I did what I normally did when I was in need of emotional support. I called the girls.
Twenty-Six
...His eyes were scorching, burning their way straight into my heart. Every emotion, every ache and need, every tingle and sensation I felt, were laid out for him to see...
I met the girls at Schooner’s Bar and Grill instead of at our regular meeting place. As much as I liked Con’s mother, I didn’t want to discuss my grandparent’s under a watchful eye.
We spent the better part of an hour discussing the recent developments in Cory’s life. After approaching her father again about teaching her his business, they had finally come to an agreement. He wanted her to return to school and add to her business degree before she could play an active role in the workings of the airport. He gave her a list of courses she was to take and she readily agreed. To anyone else it might have seemed like a lot to go through, but Cory saw it as the only opportunity she would ever receive to get what was most important to her in the world. If that’s what would bring her happiness, I was happy for her.
I strummed my fingers against the rim of my glass, each nail making a ticking sound as it hit, while looking from Cory to Charlotte and back again. There was no right answer, but neither of them wanted to be the one to give a wrong answer. Cory was the first to speak.