Page 136 of When Fences Fall
“I’m never moving here,” he mumbles.
“Were you planning to?”
My joke makes him look away, which makes me realize that it might not be a joke.
“Is that why you’re here?”
His one-shouldered shrug is an answer on its own.
“Why?”
“Junie needs a stable home.”
“I’ve always told you that. What changed?” I cross my arms over my chest.
Turmoil behind his eyes makes me stiffen. Is there something going on I’m not aware of? I shipped myself here, to a small town in the middle of nowhere, trying to live my lonely life. But what’s happening with my family? I haven’t spoken to my sister or Mom in ages. I’ve seen my niece only once in the last few months. Is that how I want to live? I’ve seen Nora holding onto her family. She sees her sister and grandmother every day. Do I want the same? Do I need it?
“Just need a change.” His answer is vague, and we both know that.
“Is Junie okay?”
His sigh is heavy. “Yes. No. I don’t know.” He rubs his face with his hand. “I feel like I don’t know her anymore.”
“She’s a teenager. It’s normal.”
“Look at you giving parenting advice.” His laugh doesn’t reach his eyes. “It’s time for a change. I have to do it for her.”
“And you decided to land here?”
“I’m considering places.” He walks to the window and looks outside. “But the rooster just sealed the deal—this place is too hostile for me.”
“Jet.” I rarely use his nickname from the time he used to skate. “Stay for a few days. Junie already likes it here. See it for yourself.”
The sudden idea that they might end up on another coast where I’ll see them only once a year doesn’t sit well with me. Despite my search for solitude, turns out it’s not what I need. Nora showed me that.
“Yeah.”
“I’m serious,” I push, in hopes he’ll reconsider. “Give this town another chance.”
He doesn’t respond for some time, and I let us be in the silence, not pressing for anything.
“Dad?” Junie’s muffled voice calls before she pushes the door open. “Holy moly!” she cries out. “It’s freezing out there. Hold on.” She disappears for a moment before coming back, wrapped in a fuzzy blanket she pulled from the couch. “Much better.”
When I notice white puffs coming out of her mouth, I start feeling the cold air around. It’s like my body catches up on the temperature only when I see her freezing.
“How are you not cold here?” she asks through shivering teeth.
“Well, your uncle here,” Jethro points his mug at me, “is dealing with his anger, and I always run hot.” The last part is true. After spending so much time on ice during his youth, his body has adjusted to colder temperatures. There was always a fight at our house about the temperature on the thermostat.
“A-a-ah.” Junie nods with a knowing smile. “Anger-fixing things. We need that at home. Dad can’t put a nail in the wall to hang a picture.”
Jethro drops his mouth in horror at Junie’s betrayal. “I can put a picture up!”
“Sure you can,” I cackle.
“I can!” A vein on his temple starts pulsing. Just like old times when we were kids and drove each other insane.
“That’s what I said.” I smile, sharing a knowing look with Junie who rolls her eyes, pulling the blanket tighter around herself.
