“Oh,thank Christ. I thought you hung up.”
“Nah,I’m here.”
“Good.”There was an assuredness in her voice that stole the breath from my lungs. Itescaped from my lips, leaving me winded and staring at the ceiling throughglassy eyes. I wished so badly she wasn’t miles away, but here instead, withme.
“Ican’t wait to see you,” I confessed, almost unsure if I was speaking aloud.
“Metoo,” she whispered.
Myhand moved from my stomach to my heart. “You make everything better.”
“I’mtrying.”
Ichuckled, turning my head against the pillow to stare out the window, andthere, I had a moment. That old song, “Somewhere Out There” by Linda Ronstadtand James Ingram, played in my mind as I stared up at the stars. It was cheesyas hell, but I thought about Molly underneath that same big sky, in a tour busbarreling down some dark interstate highway, and I felt a little less lonely.Knowing that the brightest star wasn’t up there, out of my reach, but on theroad, coming home.
“Igottawarn you, Molls,” I said, looking out thewindow at all those stars, so dim in comparison to her.
“Aboutwhat?”
“Whenyou come home.”
Shelaughed lightly. “Okay …”
“Thingsaren’tgonnabe the same.”
Ididn’t divulge in why or how, because really, I wasn’t quite sure myself. Howwould I react when I saw her again? Where would the night of her birthday takeus? I didn’t have answers to those questions, and my stomach churned withexcitement and anxiety, as I thought about the thousands of options. But what Iknew for certain was exactly what I had told her: things weren’t going to bethe same. I just hoped she was as ready to embrace those changes as I was.
“Iknow,” she whispered, out of breath and emotional, and for a moment, Iquestioned if it was a good thing. If maybe she was upset that things werechanging. But then, she added, “I can’t wait,” and my heart tripped withanticipation as I replied, “Me neither.”
24
For AllMy Friends to Get Along
MOLLY
“OKAY,”Iexhaled, bringing my hands to center. “Inhale, and … exhale. Inhale, and …”
“Jesus,Dad. Did you just fart?” Greyson whispered from behind me.
“Shh,”Sebastian shushed him.
“Comeon! Itreeks!”
“I’mso fuckin’ relaxed here, man. I can’t help it. Leave me alone.”
Isighed and opened my eyes to the Dallas parking lot. It was nearly empty thisearly in the morning, but I knew it wouldn’t be long before we were surroundedby commuters and tourists.
“Now,I wanty’alltoslowly getinto eagle pose. Remember to mind yourbreathin’.Slowly inhale, and then, slowly exhale.” I crouched into a squat, mindful of mymovements as I wrapped my left leg around the right, positioning my hands andfocusing intently on my breathing.
“Whoa!Shit …” I heard Sebastian mutter from behind me, and Greyson responded with aloud, aggravated groan.
“Dad!Stop!”
“Ican’tstop. I have no balance.”
Therewas a scuffle from behind me and Grey shouted, “Cut it out!”
“Sorry,sorry,”Sebgrumbled. “Hey, uh … Molly?”
