Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.
Well, let’s just say luck was not on our side when
we arrived at the Thorne family home. Thanks to having been alerted by Sarah,
Maureen was waiting for us when we pulled up the long drive, but she wasn’t
alone. Her husband sat beside her on the porch swing. He stood when we pulled
up but made no move to follow her as she flew down the steps toward the car.
I was surprised to hear Ethan mutter something under
his breath that sounded like a curse, surely not at the sight of his mother. Alarmed,
I glanced around us, not sure what he was upset about. And then I noticed the
other car parked on the grass and I recognized it from our last visit. Joe
Junior. Weren’t we just the lucky ones? And why did I think his being here had
nothing to do with the return of his uncle to the family fold? Also, shouldn’t
he be working? Doing whatever insurance agents did every day?
I started to comfort Ethan but he had already exited
the rental car before I could get the words out, so I simply followed him.
Benny was ahead of both of us, and he and his sister were already embracing.
Sarah brought up the rear. Understandable as she had to release Alex from his
car seat.
By then, Joseph Sr. had strolled down the steps and
approached us. His face lit up at the
sight of his grandson, who seemed just as excited to see him, wriggling in his
mother’s grasp.
“Yes, yes, it’s Grandpa. Calm down a second.” She
handed her son into her father’s outstretched grasp. He leaned down and kissed
her cheek then turned toward Ethan and I with a nod, even as he hugged little
Alex. I had to admit, he was crazy about that little boy.
“Hello Ethan, Vinnie. Did you have a good trip?” he
asked us. I was gratified to see that he wasn’t excluding me in any way. I knew
he was trying, and that had to be worth something, right? Even so, I let Ethan
answer for both of us. I wasn’t sure what he would say, or how much he would
reveal.
“We’ve had worse trips,” he answered evasively,
although at the moment I couldn’t remember when that was. Maybe he was
referring to Florida, but I wouldn’t exactly describe that as a road trip.
I worked at maintaining a strict poker face when my
future father-in-law gave me a sharp glance. He didn’t say anything, so either
I had succeeded in fooling him or he was withholding judgment. Hard to tell.
However, at the sound of his wife’s voice, he was
most definitely paying attention. She repeated his name. She nodded toward her
brother, whose hand she held within her own. I wasn’t sure what to expect, all
things considered, and the way Reverend Thorne had previously treated Benny.
It wasn’t until Joseph Sr. took a step toward Benny,
free hand outstretched, that I realized I’d been holding my breath. I quickly
exhaled and glanced at Ethan. He seemed as relieved as I felt.
“Welcome home, Benjamin,” Reverend Thorne said, and
I heard nothing untoward in his manner, thank goodness.
Benny took the proffered hand. “Thanks, Joseph,” he
said. “Good to see you again. By the way, you’ve got quite the grandson there.”
Those words did it. Joseph Sr. smiled widely,
tucking Alex onto his hip. “I do indeed,” he agreed. "Why don’t we all go
inside and get comfortable?”
Crisis definitely averted. I’m not sure what I’d
been expecting, but this wasn’t it. Looked like Ethan’s dad was still evolving
into more of a human being all the time. Ethan and I exchanged glances and I
could see he was a relieved as I was.
Joe Se. led the way, followed by Sarah and Benny.
Ethan and I brought up the rear, stopping only to greet Ethan’s mom. She was in
great spirits, and her color was quite a bit rosier than when I’d first met
her, at the hospital, after her stroke. She had her family together, and I
could tell she was happy about that.
Still, there was that elephant in the room. I knew
Ethan would ask about it, and he did.
“Is Joey here?” he asked.
“I haven’t had a chance to tell you yet,” his mother
apologized. “Things have been a little hectic last couple of days. Joey moved
back home. Temporarily,” she hastened to add.
Holy shit, what was going on?
Before we could even ask, Maureen said, “Heather’s
gone.”
What did that portend?
to be continued
Now go finish the other Briefers and see what's up with them!
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