The calls went out.
Casseroles were delivered.
Friends came by to offer their support.
And we waited.
Every time a news station aired the story, our eyes were glued to the screen.
“It has now been confirmed that an explosion has taken place on Solace, an oil rig stationed off the southern coast of Texas. Exact damage has not been reported yet. We will return when we have more news.”
Just then, my phone rang, and everyone’s gaze came to mine.
I checked it and saw that it was Julie’s name, seeing that I shook my head and said, “It’s one of the wives.”
I answered it and put it on speaker, and immediately I heard her crying, “Harlee, it’s Julie, Sam’s wife. Have you heard?”
“Just that there was an explosion, but we don’t know anything more than that,” I told her.
Then Julie came out, in full force, “I knew something like this was going to happen. I asked him to stop. Over. And over again.”
I didn’t particularly like Julie. I’d met her a handful of times, and something about her rubbed me the wrong way.
She was always complaining about his job. But she never complained about the money she spent. The money he earned while she blew it all.
“If I hear anything, I’ll call you. Okay?” I said.
“Right. Oh, before you go, I found the cutest pair of shoes. They were worth the fifteen hundred dollars I paid for them. I’ll send you a picture.”
I shook my head as I ended the call, then stared at my phone.
Wanting it to ring, and at the same time, wanting to reach through the phone and slap the absolute shit out of Julie.
Fucking. Shoes.
Fucking. Shoes!
“That woman is fucked up,” Garrick said as he shook his head.
“Our son is in an unknown condition, same as her husband, and wanted to tell you about her shoes?” Misty asked with a growl.
I nodded, “Yeah, she’s a vain woman.”
“She makes the rest of us look bad,” Talia said as she ran her fingers through my hair.
Another news station shared the same coverage.
It was nearing on midnight.
Some of us had nodded off for short bursts of naps, but we were still here, huddled in front of the television.
Just then, my phone beeped with a text.
Everyone’s eyes that weren’t closed came to me.
Just as they had every time, my phone made even the slightest noise.
Over the course of the day, and well into the night, calls had come in from the other wives. Parent’s. The phone tree was active.
