She only nodded, staring at the lectern as Vernon came to the microphone. He explained that the stress of his campaign for political office and the toll that stress took on his family was more than he was willing to give. He would sacrifice his ambitions for the good of his wife, children, and grandchildren. I spotted Mark behind his father. If Vernon only knew that his bastard son had literally fucked his perfect, golden boy, favorite son. But that was my secret and Mark's guilt to live with. And it was guilt that had broken Mark. He kept his head lowered throughout Vernon 's speech; Kathleen stood by Mark's side with her arm locked through his. The only emotion I felt for Mark was pity. Camera flashes recorded the end of an era.
The next day, Vernon 's resignation from the board of Harris Construction was less public, but the same sacrifice had been made "for family."
"YEAH, I'M PACKING right now," I explained to Emma on the phone. "I have a flight out tomorrow."
"Want me to meet you at the airport? No, wait," Emma clicked her fingernails on the phone's mouthpiece, "I have to be in Sausalito for a catalog shoot. Well, I will see you when I see you. Will you be glad to get home?"
I sat on the bed among folded clothes and a half-packed suitcase and considered her question. "I don't know." The answer surprised me. Did I really want to go back to California? Ruby had begged me to stay, and so had Valerie. Gladys and I had become more at ease; she had actually hugged me when Vernon announced the end of his campaign. Mark was a lost cause, but Daniel wasn't. What did I have in California but a roommate and a cat? "Emma, I think I'm going to postpone the return trip again."
She sighed deep into the receiver. "I knew this would happen. It's that Daniel guy, isn't it?"
"No, not totally," I said. "Things have leveled out; my family is still totally fucked up, but not as bad as before I got here."
"Sounds like they need you," she teased. "You want me to box up your stuff and send it to… Where are you?"
" Charlotte, North Carolina," I reminded her, and then added, "home."
Greg Lilly
