“Seriously!”
Dad stood up and put on his pants, looking infuriatingly cheerful and not all that apologetic. “I know I was wrong not to call, Ruby,” he said.
“Then why didn’t you?”
“Three little words.”
“What words?”
“
“Let me make sure I understand,” I said flatly. “I thought you were dead and you were having Dude Time playing Guitar Hero.”
“He kicked my butt,” Greg chirped. “But he made up for it by running out for Chinese and an Ace bandage. I messed my ankle up the other day,” he explained.
“Doesn’t he know he has a kid?” I barked at Greg. “Doesn’t he know I’ve been worrying about him all night? What kind of father forgets to come home?”
“The game really cheered him up,” Greg explained. “I bought it for him back in September, but I never had a chance to give it to him.”
“I was processing a lot after my mom died,” Dad said to Meghan by way of explanation. “I didn’t return his calls.”
“He’s been depressed to the point of neglecting personal hygiene,” I said to Greg.
Dad ran his fingers through his hair. “Yeah, I guess I was,” he said. As if it were far in the past. As if he hadn’t been lying on the floor
“Your wife leaving you isn’t enough to get you up?” I said.
“She didn’t leave me. She took a break to go to Oregon with Juana.”
“That’s leaving.”
He shook his head. “That’s marriage. It’s complicated.”
“She acted like she was leaving. She hasn’t called.”
“Well, she left in a huff. But you know your mother. She loves to get into a huff over things.”
That was true.
“I know it’s hard to understand,” Dad continued patronizingly, “but Mom felt helpless and disempowered.”
“You know Elaine hates being disempowered,” laughed Greg.
My dad continued: “She was fighting with you all the time, fighting with me; the stress was too much for her, so she took a break. I thought you understood that.”
“No.”
“You acted so chipper, going out with your new boyfriend and everything. I thought for once I didn’t have to worry about you.”
“It’s called denial, Dad!” I yelled. “It’s not exactly healthy!”
Dad stood up. “Greg,” he said. “I’m sorry to bring an argument into your place. It’s not good repayment for the rockin’ evening of Metallica.”
“That’s all right,” said Greg.
“Meghan and I have to get to school,” I said. “Dad, will you be home for dinner tonight? I’m ordering it at seven and you’re in charge of dessert.”
“Yes, Ruby,” he said resignedly. “I’ll be home.”
Getting behind the wheel of her Jeep, Meghan sighed. “That poor Greg,” she said. “He really never leaves the house?”
“That’s totally what I’ll be like if I can’t head-shrink myself into some kind of mental stability,” I said.
“A shut-in with a Habitrail?” Meghan crinkled her nose. “I don’t think so.”
“Oh, just you wait. I’ll have, like Great Danes and pygmy goats and maybe even a baby panda living with me. That’s what panic does to people if the attacks get bad enough.”
“You would never have a paisley bathrobe, though.”
“Seriously. Sometimes I don’t want to go places because I’m scared I’ll panic.”
“Like where?”
“Like school. Like CAP Workshop.”
“But you go to school.”
“Yeah, and I go to the stupid workshop, but my point is: I almost don’t. I can completely see how Greg got to be shut in like he is. I look at him and see my future sometimes.”
“Roo.”
