Page 41 of When I'm Gone
“I got a smartphone.”
“What the? For real?” She smacked his shoulder. “So you can text now?” She smiled mischievously, tapping her fingers together in front of her like she was developing an evil plan. “Oh, you might regret this.”
“Yes, I can text.” Luke rolled his eyes. “I can also video chat with Will now or even send videos to the phone Clayton uses at bedtime. Then I won’t have to bother Terry—or well, interact with her.”
“Wait, so you still pay for service on Natalie’s phone?”
“Yeah,” he admitted.
“Aren’t you worried Clayton will start making calls?” She ran her fingers through Clayton’s hair again, but he didn’t seem to like it this time. Detaching himself from Annie, he ran off into the front room without a word.
“I put it in airplane mode when he has it. I just ...” Embarrassed, his cheeks flushed. He’d always told himself he’d never tell anyone about his phone calls, but telling Annie secrets about himself was becoming easier and easier every day. “Sometimes when I’m feeling lonely, I like to call her.”
He stopped himself before he told her that on the really bad days, he’d leave messages and talk about the kids or how much he missed her. Lately his messages were filled with questions and anger. He always felt better after those desperate messages. Maybe that’s what prayer felt like to other people.
“God, Luke ...” Annie reached out and squeezed his hand. “That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. Can I call too? I never could bring myself to delete her contact information.”
Luke casually pulled his hand away and tucked it into his pants pocket.
“Sure. I turned her ringer off a long time ago. Though you might want to do it before they go to Terry’s. I have no idea what she’ll do with the phone once she gets her hands on it.”
“I wish they weren’t leaving.” Annie pushed off the fridge to the counter, where her glistening white smartphone sat. “I’m going to miss them so much. You know you’ll have to fill that void with a generous amount of texts, right?” She put out her hand. “Here, give me your fancy new phone.”
Luke slipped the phone out of his front pocket with two fingers. He still wasn’t used to its size and weight after living with a palm-size flip phone for years. When Annie held it in her palm, she started flipping through the apps, typing with her fingertips.
“There. I put my info in and called myself so you can get in touch with me whenever you want.” She handed the phone back to Luke when the doorbell rang. Her eyebrows shot up. “You expecting a package or something?”
Luke cursed silently. Annie was supposed to be gone by now.
“Uh, it’s Jessie.” Luke cleared his throat and projected his voice. “Will! Could you get that?” A distant grunt and stomping feet followed. No way Will would emerge from his teen cave for anyone other than Jessie or Annie.
“Jessie?” Annie’s forehead wrinkled. “If you needed a sitter, why not ask me? I’m already here.”
Luke returned his phone to his shirt pocket and sighed. “I was going to be out late, and you’ve already been here all day. I didn’t want to take advantage.”
“Late? What are you up to?”
Jessie sauntered in, barefoot, with shorts and a BroadwayCares.org T-shirt, eager for the few months of summer like every other Michigander. She slid a pair of thick-framed white sunglasses on the top of her head and joined them at the counter.
“He’s going on a date,” she whispered. Her bubbling anticipation reminded Luke of the moment a few weeks earlier when May had thought Jessie was going on a date.
Annie stood and put her hands on her hips, head cocked to one side. Luke couldn’t decide if she looked confused or annoyed.
“A date? With who?”
Dang it. He had to tell her now. “Ms. Mason, from school.”
“The guidance counselor? I thought Will was joking.”
“It was a joke, but she gave me her number and ...”And Natalie told me to do it.No, he couldn’t tell her that.
“I think it’s great, Mr. Richardson. After my mom died it took my dad forever to date again.”
Jessie was trying to be sweet, but she was also just socially awkward enough to not catch on how her comment could make Luke feel like an ass. He wanted to explain—this wasn’t his idea. Sure, he liked Felicity Mason, but if it weren’t for Natalie’s letter and her nagging reminders, he never would’ve thought of her as more than Will’s guidance counselor. Jessie might not be wondering how he’d moved on so fast, but one look at Annie told him she wasn’t impressed with his date.
“I better get going,” Annie said, collecting her drawstring bag and flinging it over her shoulders. “You need to change for your date, and I need to get home to make dinner for Brian. Have a nice summer break, Jessie. Don’t get into too much trouble.”
“You too!” Jessie called after Annie as she walked briskly toward the front door.
