* * *
Brickand I were coasting down the highway with no destination in mind when I got a call from JD. I thought about not answering it, but he had an uncanny way of knowing when I was avoiding him so, I answered.
“Hello?” I said after connecting the call.
“I missed you after church. Why didn’t you come back and say hello?”
I should have anticipated this.
“I don’t have a real reason. I was just ready to get back home.”
“Have you made it to your house?”
I looked out at the busy highway in front of me.
“Yes, but I left again.”
“Where is Averie?”
“At the house.”
“I need to speak with you. Come over here.”
“JD, I hadn’t planned on being out very long.”
“Samuel, it wasn’t a request.”
“I’m on my way.”
I disconnected the call frustrated with myself for not being able to tell him no. JD was like a father to me so when he told me to do something, I did it. He never commanded, but he knew that I had given him that place in my life. If he did command, that meant it was serious.
“Brick, change of plans. I am going over to JD’s house.”
“Got it,” Brick responded.
We were only about ten minutes from JD’s house. We pulled into the driveway and turned off the car. I scrubbed my hands down my face before pulling out my phone to check for missed calls or texts. Averie hadn’t called or sent a text. She was mad.
I sent her a text:I stopped at JD’s house.
I watched the ellipses at the bottom of my phone’s screen go in and out of focus for about a minute, indicating that she was responding. They finally disappeared, and all she responded with was a thumb up emoji. I tucked my phone into my pocket and got out of the car.
“I will wait out here,” Brick said.
Elisa met me at the door.
“Hey, sweetheart. I thought a heard a car door close. Come in.”
I reached down and gave her a hug and quick kiss on the cheek.
“I saw you at church today, but I didn’t get a chance to speak to you.”
“I’m sorry. I was ready to get back to the house.”
“I understand. JD is in his office.”
“Thanks, Elisa.”
I walked past her and followed the familiar path down the hall to JD’s office. He was sitting on one of the black leather sofas watching television.