Page 64 of Husband of the Year
“Well, good for her. And him.”
“It’s been surprisingly easy having her here. Besides the first day I left her alone. She rearranged the living room furniture, but I quickly moved it back and told her we didn’t need her playing Nate Berkus for us.”
Olan chuckles. “Wait, what?”
“Yeah, she moved the couch so it was facing the sitting chairs. She said it was more conducive to conversation.”
“She moved the couch by herself??”
“Don’t underestimate my mother’s upper arm strength. She may look small, but with all those water aerobics classes she takes three times a week, she could lift an elephant.”
“Noted. Do not piss off your mother.”
“Please, she adores you. Sometimes I wonder if she loves you more than me.”
“That’s ridiculous. Of course she doesn’t.”
“Olan, her lock screen is a photo of us.”
“Us. You’re in it too.”
“Yeah, but half my face is cropped off.”
“Oh my gosh, really?” Olan lets out a loud laugh and quickly covers his mouth. “I’m sorry, but that’s hilarious.”
I purse my lips and nod. “Laugh it up, pretty boy.”
“Hey, I can’t help it. This is the mug God gave me.” He moves his hand away, revealing his million-dollar smile. I glance at the closed door and wonder if I might convince him to get naked with me.
“And I thank the Lord every day for that punim.”
“I wouldn’t take the cropped photo personally. Your mom knows very little about technology. She calls you for help to record shows on her DVR. Plus, it’s simpler for her with me. I’m not her son. We don’t have the same history you have.”
“Oh, I don’t mind at all. I’m happy she worships you. It makes my life easier.”
“I miss you,” Olan says. He lets out a slow sigh and maybe knowing his heart aches as much as mine should console me, but it doesn’t. “Speaking of family, there’s more I need to tell you.” Olan stands, and I can see he’s in a small room, but the video shakes as he walks and it’s hard to make out any details beyond the light gray walls. “There. Just wanted to shut the door.”
He’s back on a chair, or maybe on a bed, I’m not sure. He’s sitting with the phone close enough that I can’t make out much else, and I’m perfectly fine with that.
“I know I wrote to you about what’s going on here with Liam,” he says. “But there’s more.”
More? What more could there be than Liam’s girlfriend passing away from an overdose? I take a deep breath, the electricity from finally having some private time with Olan evaporating into trepidation about what he’s about to tell me.
“What is it?” I ask.
“I’m going to ask you to just listen. Is that okay?”
I nod.
“Abby overdosed six months ago. It’s what caused Liam to come back and live with my parents. They tried an outpatient program, but with… everything else, it wasn’t working. Not for Liam, but also not for my folks.”
I bob my head slowly, listening, and doing my best to focus and not let my mind wander to what I might want to say. Olan never asks me to be quiet and listen, and I want to respect his wishes. His chin quivers and I wish I could reach through the phone to comfort him.
“There’s more. A baby.”
Chills march in formation, running down my spine and causing my mouth to hang open in silence. Olan asked me to just listen and as luck would have it, I’m unable to speak. A baby?
“Gregory was born a few weeks before… everything.”
