Page 13 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
“I’m good, Frank. Thank you.”
“Just think about it,” he said again before opening the door and slipping out into the hallway. He closed the door behind him, and I ran my fingers through my hair as I leaned back in my chair. It dipped back, the frame creaking as I used my foot to rock myself back and forth.
What on earth would I do with time off?
I ran my thumb along my jaw as I considered the possibilities. Asher would probably be thrilled. I’d be able to take him to Christmas events around the city. Maybe to a parade like my father used to take me to. We could go ice skating. Maybe get a real Christmas tree. Go for a walk sipping hot cocoa while looking at the lights on the neighbors’ houses.
My cell phone buzzed in my pocket. I fished it out and blinked at the name that flashed across the screen: David. My best buddy from high school. We hadn’t connected in months. Life had a way of getting busy and putting distance between friendships.
I answered the phone. “David, how’s it going?”
David’s voice was as chipper as I remembered. “Cal, hey man! It’s going good. Is this a good time for a quick chat? I don’t want to keep the busy lawyer man from important clients.”
“Now is good, David. And I’d make my clients wait on you. Not the other way around.”
“Good man. Check your email.”
“Okay,” I said hesitantly. “You didn’t send me something that’s inappropriate for work, did you?”
“No. And I meant your personal email. Not your work one. And it’s not from me. It’s from the school district.”
“What?”
“Just look,” David said, annoyance coloring his tone.
It took me a minute or two to sign into my old email account, and once I had, I sifted through junk mail until I found the email he was talking about. It was titled “Westview High 15 Year Christmas Reunion”.
“What the hell is this, David?”
“An invitation to the high school fifteen-year reunion.”
“Yeah. I can see that. Why are they doing it now instead of at the end of the year like always?”
“Well,” David said, “as someone who went to the ten-year reunion, I can attest to the fact that it was a total flop. Not many people still live in Pittsburgh, so the turnout was terrible. The organizers thought that it might be smarter to host it around the holidays for our fifteen years because more people are in town visiting family and what not. What do you think? Are you in?”
I sighed and scrolled through the email. The reunion was on Friday. It started at eight in the evening and went until midnight at our old school. There would be appetizers and drinks and live entertainment. I wondered dimly if any of the kids who formed bands in high school were going to be the entertainment. I wouldn’t be surprised in the least.
“All right. I’m in.”
“Excellent!” David exclaimed. “Make sure you RSVP so they know how many people are coming. I think we’ve already surpassed our numbers of confirmed attendees from the ten year. Which is great. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone.”
“Can’t be that bad,” I said.
“That’s the spirit! Well, I gotta run, Cal. I’ll see you on Friday. Thanks for not being a buzzkill.”
“Yeah, yeah. See you Friday.” I hung up the phone and stared at the invitation that was still glaring at me from my computer screen.
Fifteen years. That was a long damn time. It felt like it was only yesterday that I was wandering down the halls of Westview High, going from class to class, pausing at Lina’s locker to give her a kiss between third and fourth period.
Lina.
I plucked my jacket from the back of my chair and shrugged it on. Then I headed out into the hallway on the search for Frank, who I found chatting with our firm’s receptionist, Shelly. She was a middle-aged woman with thick purple-framed glasses, big green eyes, and brown hair that was not natural. I was sure she’d gone gray years ago. But she was smart as hell and excellent at her job. I’d never met another soul who could type as fast as she did, or keep everything organized as well as she did. She was a superstar at her job, and everyone knew it.
Frank straightened up when he saw me. “Heading home for the night, Cal?”
“Yeah. Hey. I think I’ll take you up on that offer. Do you mind if I take the rest of the week off and come back to work on Monday?”
Frank clasped my hand and shook it. “You had a big win for this firm in court today, Cal. Don’t come back until the new year. Enjoy your time off with your family. I’ll hold down the fort while you’re gone.”
