"Because I wanna warn them."
"About what?"
"Are you gonna put them on the phone or not?"
I really didn't like his attitude. "No."
"Alright," he said. "Then, I'll call you back in five minutes."
"What? Why five minutes?"
"When I call, are you gonna answer?"
"Not if you're asking likethat."
"Should I call your cell or the land line?"
"Did you even hear what I just said?"
"Your cell," he said. "You got it on you?"
"Maybe."
"Five minutes," he repeated. "And if you don't answer? I'll keep calling 'til you do." And with that, he hung up.
I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared down at the thing, wondering why Joel had bothered to call at all. As far as warm and fuzzy, the conversation had been seriously lacking.
On top of that, I had a pretty good guess on what he planned to do during the next five minutes. Looking to confirm my theory, I hustled out of the den and made my way to the front room, where I parted the front curtains and peered outside.
In my driveway, I saw a big, mud-splattered pickup, emblazoned with the words Moon Construction along the side. Behind the truck was a small bubble-shaped camper.
From the camper's far side, a long extension cord snaked its way over my front lawn and ended somewhere on the side of my house.
As far as the brothers themselves, I didn't see either one of them until Anthony emerged from the other side of the camper, holding a cell phone to his ear.
I pressed my face closer to the glass and studied his face in profile. Was he talking to Joel? I couldn’t be sure. He wasn't smiling, but he wasn't cringing in terror either. I was still looking when Anthony turned abruptly in my direction and caught me with my face smashed up against the glass.
On instinct, I drew back and yanked the curtains shut again.
And then, realizing how unhinged I probably looked, I reopened the curtains and gave Anthony a little wave.
Yeah, that's me. Just adjusting the curtains.
When he waved back, I breathed a sigh of relief.
Maybe I wasn't acting nearly as crazy as I felt. I paused. Or more likely, he was chalking it up to my so-called pregnancy. On that disturbing note, I left the window and returned to the den to wait for Joel's call.
Regardless of whatever else was going on, he and I were due for a serious discussion, and I didn't want to do it in front of an audience. But to my infinite frustration, five minutes went by, and then ten more – all without a phone call.
After thirty full minutes, I was seriously miffed. Determined to get some answers, I left the house in search of the brothers. But now, neither one of them was in sight.
I looked around. From what I could tell, they weren't in their truckorin the yard. I eyed the camper. They wouldn't be in there, would they?
But sure enough, that's exactly where they were.
Unfortunately, what they told me after I knocked on the door didn't make me feel any less crazy.
