Page 27 of Sanction

“Hello.”

“Hello, is this Travis Bennett?”

“This is. Who’s speaking?”

“My name is Tina Keller, I’m with social services.”

I froze. Tanner.

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry to call so late, but I have some unfortunate news. Your parents passed away in a car accident yesterday and with your sister being a minor we were trying to find the next of kin. Your parents have no other family living in the area and you are who your sister suggested we contact.”

Dead. They are dead.

I clear my throat. “I uhh…...that’s terrible. How is Tanner?”

My heart is beating so loud I almost can’t hear the words she’s saying as she rattled off Tanner's emotional state.

“Mr. Bennett, Tanner will need a legal guardian until she reaches eighteen, which is in just three months. She currently resides in a Catholic boarding school in Tennessee. If I’m being honest, she did not seem to be happy at the establishment.”

“Are you asking me to become her guardian?”

“Unless you want her to fall into the system. She would be placed with a foste…”

Oh hell no.

“No, that won’t be necessary. Just tell me what you need from me. I have a stable job and an apartment. I can care for her.” I cut in.

“Alright, I will contact you tomorrow with all the legal requirements and we can discuss this further. I do give my sincere apologies about the death of your parents.

“Thanks, I appreciate it.”

I end the call with Tina. My hands fall to my lap as I find my reflection on the dark TV screen.

I should feel something. I should be sad; I should be crying. But I feel numb. I feel like I don’t even know these people that raised me. I rub my hands together and try to wrap my brain around how my life could dramatically change in a two-minute phone call. My parents are dead and I’m becoming my sister's legal guardian.

“Trav…” Dani reaches over to touch my forearm.

I know she heard the conversation.

“They’re dead.” Is all I say.

That's all I can say. The only words I can get out. She moves in front of me and I wrap my arms around her waist, placing my forehead to her chest.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers.

Her fingers twirl a piece of my hair and I let it comfort me.

“You are worthless. You could have killed someone.”

My dad's words flash through my head.

“Why is it you destroy everything you touch?”

“You will never amount to anything. You are not my son.”

My eyes pop open as I squeeze her tighter. I look up at her big brown eyes and I see it on her face, the painful look of surrender. It feels like she’s giving up.

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