Page 105 of Second Start: Family
Fire officials thought they’d found the point of origin — a lightning strike. There hadn’t been many, but that one had been enough.
The horses were back in the Q-T corral, thanks to neighbors.
But after the news was told, the voices quieted with the waiting.
And memories came back in for Hall.
Leaning forward, his forearms on his thighs, his neck bent, he contemplated his meshed hands.
He’d tell all this to Kenzie someday. Someday soon. But not here, not now.
Without straightening his neck, he turned his head toward Dan.
It took a while, but slowly, his son met his gaze.
The memories connecting.
Only for a flash, then Dan said, “I told the judge I found that first article. And the other ones. But I didn’t tell Aunt Naomi about those, the ones with the results of the investigation.”
“You— You wanted to leave so badly you’d hurt Kenzie that way, make us all go through—”
Dan jerked up and headed out of the room.
In a low voice, only for him, Kenzie urged, “Go after him, Hall. And tell him how you feel — about everything. It’s time.”
He didn’t move fast enough for her. She got up and went to the door, sending one look over her shoulder at him.
When he reached the door she was already across the hall, following Dan into an open door.
“Not there,” Hall said.
Too late. He either followed them or he stayed out here, away from them.
With so much shouting at him to stay out, he went in.
Dan stood by the window, as he had that day. Kenzie stood in the middle.
Hall stopped not far into the room. He turned to watch the door swing closed behind him, staring at its blank face.
“…right now, right here,” Kenzie said. “This has gone on too long. Hall, if you’re too pig-headed, then you have to start, Dan. Tell him what you believe about how your father feels about you.”
“What difference does it make?” His air of supreme unconcern broke with the next words. “I read her journals. I know. She tricked you into it all. I get it. Why don’t you let us go — that’s what I don’t get. You never wanted us. You could be free. Of me. Of all of us. Naomi would take us and it would be like you’d never had us hanging around your neck. Free to do what you want, when you want.”
“Like I never had you… Like I never held you.” Hall raised his big, tough hands, palms up and stared at them. “Like I never held this whole, complete person, right here in my hands.”
“Tell him, Hall.” She tugged his arm again, pulling him closer to facing Dan. “Tell him what it was like when he was born and you held him.”
“Like my chest caved in because I was so scared I’d do wrong with him and at the same time like the whole moon had lodged inside my chest because he was … everything.”
“Right. You scared.” But Dan’s scoffing trembled. With uncertainty. With hope.
Kenzie whispered to Hall, “Tell him. Do you want to be free?”
“Free of him and Lizzie and Molly and Bobby? Free? Like I’d want to be free of a piece of me. No, not a piece. The whole of me. Every bit of me.”
Dan made a sound.
Hall turned his head. Then the rest of him. The two Quick men looked at each other across such a small space and such a chasm.
