Page 15 of When I'm Gone
“A story?” She gasped. “Is it a love story?”
“Yes. A really beautiful one too.”
Luke retold the story to May, taking his time to fill in the details and edit out Natalie’s commentary. She sat perfectly still on the floor, even when he hit a huge snag halfway through and had to pull harder than he intended to get through it. The first braid took three tries, and the second braid only one. He finished the story as he snapped on the last ponytail holder. May ran to the full-length mirror on the back of his bedroom door and smiled.
“Daddy, it’s perfect! Thank you!”
It wasn’t perfect, not even close. If he looked too closely, Luke could see where he missed the braid pattern in a few spots and how the top and sides of her hair weren’t exactly smooth like when Natalie used to do it. But it wasn’t bad either. She turned to face him and curtsied in her red skirt and heart-printed tights. She totally took after her mom with the holiday wardrobe theming. He had a box of holiday socks tucked away in the back of the closet he’d have to give May when her feet grew a little.
“Thank you!” She ran and jumped into his arms and kissed his cheek.
Clayton walked into the room bleary-eyed, holding Natalie’s phone. “Mommy’s phone is ringing.”
The sound of her ringtone gave Luke a bad case of déjà vu, and his stomach dropped. If someone was calling her phone, they didn’t know she was dead. That meant he’d have to tell them. He glanced at the screen, but the caller ID displayed a random set of unfamiliar numbers, which was confusing and a relief at the same time. He pressed the talk button after looking each kid in the eye with a finger to his lips.
“Hello?” Luke answered.
A woman’s voice responded.
“Hello. I’m looking for Mr. Richardson. This is Ms. Mason from Shepard High School. I’m Will’s guidance counselor.”
The school was calling Natalie’s number? Maybe they tried the home phone first. Luke turned the ringer off a long time ago and never switched it back on. The silence was refreshing.
“This is Luke,” he responded. “Can you hold on one second?”
“Of course.”
Luke covered the mouthpiece and whispered to May, “Go pop in some waffles from the freezer. I’ll be down in a few minutes.”
“But Mommy always made pink pancakes on Valentine’s Day,” May pouted. There was no way he’d have enough time to make Nat’s pancakes and get everyone out the door.
“Maybe we can have them for dinner if you can get your little brother his breakfast.”
“Yes, yes, yes!” May perked up and nodded her head fast. “Come on, Clayton; time for breakfast.” She grabbed the hand that wasn’t lodged in his mouth and guided him out of the room.
Luke put the phone back up to his ear. “Sorry about that.”
“Totally fine.” She paused briefly. “I’m calling to see if you can come in later today for a meeting about Will.”
“Is there a problem?” Luke pulled himself off the floor and on the bed, lightheaded.
“I want to touch base with you on how he’s doing after losing his mother. He’s had a few issues at school in the past few weeks that seem a little out of character for him. I’d love the opportunity to talk to you, maybe get your input. Could you come by around four?”
It sounded like something he definitely didn’t want to do, today or ever, but what could he say—no?
“Sure. I’ll be there.”
“Thank you, Mr. Richardson. Have a nice day. Oh, and happy Valentine’s Day!”
“Bye,” he mumbled and hung up the phone. Yeah, sounded like it was shaping up to be a great Valentine’s Day.
CHAPTER 6
He’d been sitting in the same uncomfortable chair for the past forty-five minutes. After the first ten minutes, Luke brought out a few of the latest letters. He’d stopped carrying the whole pile. Now every morning, he selected a few of his favorites from the shoebox by the side of his bed. Then, he would carefully place the newest one on top. He usually avoided reading them in public—too many questions—but in this case he’d rather read Natalie’s thoughts than another college brochure for Michigan State.
DAY 44
Dear Luke,
