Page 6 of Resurrect Me

“Well, Sol’s not here, Declan. And if you’d like to save the friendship that we have, I ask that you respect my wishes.”

He stands and grabs his keys off the table. An angry exhale escapes his lips. Fine. That’s okay if he’s disappointed. At least he’s leaving. And if he’s truly my friend, he’ll understand, and this will be a thing of the past in a few days.

He brushes by, leans over, and kisses my cheek. Then whispers in my ear, “You’re right, Tacy. Sol’s not here. He’s dead. And he’s never coming back. So, we all must move on.”

I grit my teeth and say nothing as I fight back the tears pooling in the corners of my eyes. How dare he? I stare straight ahead as Declan walks through the screen door and down the porch steps.

“Bye, Tacy. I’ll call you,” he says over his shoulder. Seconds later, a car door shuts and an engine revs.

I shut the front door and lock it. Then collapse on the floor and cry. I wish Sol were here. I wish he’d never gotten involved in politics. I wish our friend wasn’t losing his God damn mind…

Chapter 5

Tacy

It’s been a year, and the police still don’t know shit about Sol’s death. The last sighting of him was the day of the election. The cameras at his office catch him walking out the back door, presumably headed to the parking garage, then the footage cuts out. They never found his vehicle. Then, a month later, his body washes to shore twenty miles north of the city. No signs of a struggle. No foul play suspected.

The day they found his body is still a blur, but I recall screaming at the detective, “someone did this to him! This wasn’t a fucking accident! He’s elected Governor, disappears the same day, and you’re telling me he simply left his office to go to the docks, and just fucking drowns? Sol was an excellent swimmer!”

It never made sense why they so quickly dismissed his case as an accidental drowning. One deputy had the audacity to mention suicide…as if Sol would throw himself into the ocean and end his beautiful life. Purposely erasing himself from the earth and abandoning his children and wife. No. I refuse to believe it. But there is nothing I could do to prove otherwise. I don’t know anyone who would want Sol dead in the first place. People loved Sol. He was a good man. A genuinely good person who wanted to help people, which is why he got into politics in the first place. Sometimes I wish he was less of a selfless man, then maybe he wouldn’t have run for Governor. And maybe he’d still be here with us.

I haven’t seen Declan since the night he hit on me. Which is a good thing, because I’m still reeling from his actions. I know helooked at my phone while I was outside. Why would he do that? And the way he tried to play it off…then insulted me. But people do strange things when they’re lonely and grieving. Maybe I ought to give him some grace.

It’s Saturday morning, and I’m brewing a pot of coffee and frying up some eggs when I hear Declan’s voice on the television in the living room.

“Mom!” Cammy calls. “Uncle Declan’s on the TV. Come see!”

A kitchen towel draped over my shoulder and greasy spatula in hand, I walk in and see Cammy laying on the couch. Her puppy slippers hanging off the side. Ben’s rolling a neon green matchbox car back and forth on the coffee table.

I grab the remote and turn up the volume. A red news banner flashes at the bottom of the screen: Declan Smith, Governor. Then in white text under his name: “Signs bill to fund Capitol City’s newest parks and rec.” Interesting he’s signing a bill that Sol fought so hard against. In fact, it seems Declan’s taking the exact opposite stance on the matter. It seems like a good thing to fund a new recreation facility for the city. Encourage people to exercise and socialize. But it’s not. The money will be taken from the children with disabilities’ scholarship fund and re-routed to this project. A project that would also displace working class families from their homes downtown. Who does this new project actually benefit?

I’m scratching my head. I huff and flip the channel to cartoons, then hand the remote to my daughter. “Here, watch some kid shows for a bit. The news will rot your brain. Breakfast is almost ready.”

“Okay, Mom,” the kids reply in unison.

I return to the kitchen but can’t shake the feeling that something’s off with Declan’s behavior. He and Sol agreed never to sign this bill, even though they were opposed on other issues. Why would Dee sign the bill now? Why would he undo everything Solomon worked for? I’m sure there’s a payoff involved.

I serve breakfast and pour myself another cup of coffee when I hear my cell ring from the living room. Cammy picks it up. I walk in to see who it is, when I hear her say, “Yes, Daddy. I’m keeping an eye on Mom. Uh huh. And Ben.” Her voice is high-pitched, almost squealy.

“Cammy,” I say and rush to the phone. “Hand mommy the phone please.” Cammy hands it to me, then looks up at me with wide, teary eyes.

I lift the screen and see Sol’s picture and name. “Who is this?!” I demand. “This isn’t funny!”

“It’s Daddy! Let me talk to him!” Cammy squeaks and holds both hands out in front of her.

“It’s not Daddy, Honey,” I say.

Cammy cries and shoots out of the living room and down the hall. Then slams her bedroom door.

Click. Whoever it was ends the call, and I stare at the screen in disbelief.

“Was it really Dad?” Ben asks me from the couch. His matchbox car rolls out of his hand and onto the floor.

I shake my head. “I don’t think so, Buddy. Daddy’s gone.” Tears form in my eyes, and I am utterly confused. How did someone have Sol’s number? It had to be a mistake. A misunderstanding. A line crossed somewhere. Right?

“I’m going to finish cooking, Sweetie,” I mumble to Ben and head back to the kitchen. As soon as I hear the TV volume increase, I slip my phone out of my pocket and dial Sol’s number. But it just rings and rings. There’s no voicemail. Sol’s voicemail is gone. Which tells me it was just a misunderstanding. Someone else must have his number now, somehow, and thought Cammy was their daughter. But how would he have known Ben’s name? Maybe they asked if she was taking care of her brother, and she just offered his name up?

Chapter 6

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