90 Miles to Freedom (5 page)

Chapter 8

Collin knew firsthand that his father, though he might have a great time teasing Betty about the cheesiness of being romantic, was one himself. One evening as Collin was on his way out onto the back patio to ask his mother a question, he stopped short when he heard the sound of soft music. Music on the patio was fairly common; however, this music was smoother than usual, with a lush sound that could be called nothing but romantic.

His parents listened to various types of music, both classic and current, but the song that was playing was one of their favorites. Collin had heard it played numerous times while he was growing up. Hearing some older man sing in a scratchy voice had never seemed romantic to Collin, but he had to admit that it flowed vibrantly through the speakers George had installed on the patio. His parents thought it was one the most romantic songs ever.

Collin peeked around the corner of the wall, curious. Most every evening his parents turned on the outdoor accent lighting, illuminating the pool and patio area with a dreamy effect. The result was both relaxing and picturesque.

Most nights the family ate on the patio, enjoying the beautiful evenings. George had become a grill master on the barbecue. Betty assembled the side dishes in the kitchen and brought them to the patio table just as George finished cooking on the grill. After dinner was finished and all the dishes were cleaned up, they usually each brought something outside that they could read.

On this evening, his mother sat quietly in her favorite reading chair near the outdoor fire pit, legs folded in front of her. His father walked towards her and stood a few steps away, his hand outstretched. “Shall we dance, my love?” he asked.

Betty, caught off guard by one of George’s rare spontaneous yet romantic moments, smiled up at her husband, her eyes glittering. She glanced back at her book and carefully placed a bookmark in the spot where she’d stopped, then set the book down on the side table. She placed her hand in his and slowly stood in front of him. They smiled at each other as if they were two teenagers at their first high school dance. Collin could swear his mother blushed. Then they took a few steps away from Betty’s chair and began to dance.

George and Betty swayed back and forth, holding each other close and giving every appearance that they didn’t have a care in the world. George placed his left arm at the base of Betty’s back and wrapped the other around the tops of her shoulders. He held her against his chest and rested his chin tenderly on the top of her head. Betty’s cheek pressed against George’s chest, her eyes were gently shut, and her lips were formed into the softest smile Collin could remember ever having seen. It was as if she were reminiscing about their days gone past.

Halfway through the song, George lifted his chin ever so slightly so that he could place a soft kiss on the top of Betty’s head. Betty’s arms squeezed a bit tighter around his waist, saying nothing, expressing so much.

Collin crossed his arms and leaned against the far wall, not wanting to disturb his parents, but too caught up in the moment to leave. Sometimes Collin thought his parents’ simple romantic gestures were a bit corny. In the past he had stumbled upon several little lovesick notes carrying different messages, like “I love you”, “I’ll miss you while you’re gone”, and so many more. Every time Collin found those little notes he couldn’t help but roll his eyes. It just seemed to him that his parents were too old to be all mushy and lovey-dovey.

Collin had always thought that “romance” was a term that could only be used when a man was wooing a woman, something a couple did while they were dating. Once a couple was married, the romance should naturally stop and a routine life begin. He assumed there would be no more need for romance or anything of the sort. Dating leads to marriage, marriage leads to children, having children leads to grandchildren and before you know it, life in general becomes busy and mundane. And if a person is lucky enough to fall in love with someone with whom he or she can coexist happily, then that is all there ever needed to be.

But in that moment, that very moment, witnessing his starry-eyed mother and chivalrous father holding each other with such compassion, he decided that this was the type of love that he would one day have for himself. That was the moment when Collin learned that nothing less would do.

Collin and Joey grew up in a happy home and had a wonderful childhood. As a family they enjoyed not only the playful, affectionate times, but also the occasions when there was no need to say a word to one another. Sometimes just knowing that they were together meant more than words could possibly say.

To Collin’s knowledge, his parents had never had an argument. Sure, they’d had a few disagreements, but he’d never seen or heard them yell or scream at each other. They believed, and taught their sons, that most disagreements could be sorted out by simply listening to each other’s opinions. And they were consistently interested in each other’s opinions. The pros and cons for each issue were discussed rationally, and with respect.  Collin thought his parents were unusual in that way, since he’d witnessed a lot of relationships which weren’t nearly as open and understanding.

Collin vowed that he would have a marriage like the one his parents had. They always seemed happy, and always had something to talk about. It could be anything from the local news, books or something as trivial as a new game one of them found on the internet to play, but there was always something for them to share.

The only thing that could possibly make his parents any happier than they already were would be to have grandchildren. Although Collin and Joey had no immediate plans of having children, Collin knew that when they did, their children would be pampered and spoiled rotten - in a good way.

Collin listened to the song come to an end and watched his father place his fingertips on his mother’s cheek. She looked up at him as if there were no one else on earth but the two of them. George bent down slightly so he could give her a soft kiss on her lips. They held each other’s gaze for a moment longer, then they smiled.

All at once their romantic interlude was over and they were back to their playful selves. Betty grabbed George by the backside and growled something that sounded suspiciously like “hubba hubba!” while a sly little grin crossed her face. George grinned from ear to ear and whispered something into Betty’s ear. She giggled like a school girl.

Collin rolled his eyes. He and Joey had, for as long as he could remember, learned to endure their parents’ endless flirtations. It always felt odd, and a little uncomfortable, to witness their parents flirting with one another. Not that they ever did anything that was inappropriate in any way. It was just that it seemed weird. Weren’t they too old to flirt?

Nevertheless, his parents were undeniably their own best friends. If something ever happened to one of them, the other would surely die of loneliness and a broken heart. He wasn’t even sure one could actually live without the other.

Chapter 9

May 2011

What’s that damn noise?

Collin lay in bed, rocking gently on his fishing boat, his mouth tasting like the inside of an old sock. Keeping his eyes squeezed safely shut against the possibility of bright sunshine, he stretched out one arm as he recognized the irritating beep of the alarm clock. His hand waved and fumbled around, trying to locate the snooze button, knocking over beer cans as he searched. Half a dozen cans crashed onto the floor next to his bed, then rolled around noisily while he continued to hunt for the snooze button.

Just ten more minutes. That’s all I need. Within moments, the sounds of the water had rocked him back into a deep, peaceful sleep.

“
Are you going to get up today?” A voice called from above. It was Joey, waking Collin in the most annoying manner, as he did every day.

“
Leave me alone,” Collin grumbled, curling an extra pillow tightly under his arms.

“
The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and you’re still asleep at two in the afternoon!” Joey practically sang. He moved around as loudly as he could, banging boxes and pots, stomping heavily on deck.

Collin rolled over onto his back, arm slung over his eyes. “What day is it?” he managed.

“
What day is it? It’s Mom’s and Dad’s anniversary,” Joey stated flatly. Collin heard his brother’s footsteps as they stepped off the boat.

Anniversary? What in the world was Joey talking about? Mom and Dad’s anniversary? Mom and Dad were married in June, and right now it was only the middle of May. Damn, Joey. Let me sleep!

Then it all came back like a recurring nightmare, and Collin felt as if someone had just punched him, knocked the wind out of his lungs. Today was indeed his parents’ anniversary. The anniversary of their deaths. George and Betty had been killed on Joey’s graduation day, one year ago today.

The police report had stated that the car explosion was a freak accident. A leaking fuel line, to be more precise.

Collin had never forgiven himself for that freak accident. The car had belonged to him. It should have been he who had died in that explosion. But Collin hadn’t been the one to turn the key in the ignition. That had been George. The car exploded while it stood in the driveway of their home, and their parents were killed instantly while Collin had been safe in their home.

Over the next year, Collin took up drinking, not wanting to do much of anything. His guilt over knowing that he should have been the one that was killed, not his parents, took over his soul.

As his penance, Collin was given a huge responsibility: taking care of Joey. Although Joey was a year out of high school, he still needed looking after, and Collin wasn’t doing a very good job at it.

*  *  *

Morgan

It had been nearly a year since George and Betty died. Yet Morgan continued to visit Collin and Joey every day. On her days off work she did some shopping for them and helped Joey clean the house. Every evening Morgan either cooked dinner or ordered take-out. Then she and Joey ate on the back patio. Sometimes they talked for hours.

“
I still can’t believe they’re gone,” Joey said one night. “That it’s been almost an entire year. It feels like another lifetime.”

They were eating pizza and listening to the shushing of the ocean. It was comforting to know that at least that one thing would never change.

“
Me, either,” Morgan said.

“
Is Collin going to eat tonight?”

Morgan shook her head and stared out over the ocean. “No. He said he wasn’t hungry,” she replied vaguely. That wasn’t a surprise. Collin rarely ate anymore. He had lost so much weight during the past year that his clothes hung loose and looked oversized.

“
What’s on your mind, Morgan?” Joey asked gently.

She looked at him for moment, hesitating as if she weren’t sure how much to share. She wasn’t used to burdening him because she’d known him as a kid before. But now he was a man. He’d been forced to become one all on his own. He tried to encourage her with a nod.

“
It’s just that … ” she said, then hesitated before going on. When she did, her words came slowly and her eyes drifted towards Collin’s boat. “It’s hard to talk to him now.”

“
Yeah, I know,” Joey said, trying to inject a little humor into the mood. “He hardly talks to me, but then again I love to aggravate him. I’m pretty loud in the mornings, and I do it on purpose. If he’s still on his boat when I’m ready to leave, I do my best to wake him up, banging and yelling until he can’t help but hear me. It usually pisses him off enough to at least yell a few choice words at me. I know it’s not much, but at least he’s saying something. It’s better than nothing, I suppose.”