Another Mother

by Rodney Riesel

  “That's what Red said.”

  “How is that big palooka?”

  “Red? He's good.”

  “Youse guys gotta get back up here and have a meal with me. Nothin' I love more than watching that Sasquatch eat pasta.”

  “Yeah, if we live through this.”

  “If that kid's already dead, you probably have nothing to worry about.”

  “That doesn't make me feel any better, Joey.”

  “Well, it's all I can give you. Like I said, I can't help you on this one, but I'll call you and let you know if I hear anything.”

  “Anything like what?”

  “Like if he puts a hit out on you, or somethin'.”

  “Gee, thanks, Joey.”

  “No problem. I have to hang up. I gotta thing in ten minutes. You take care of yourself, Dan.”

  “Why did you just call me Dan?” Dan asked suspiciously.

  “It's your name.”

  “But you usually call me Coast. You said Dan like you might never see me again.”

  Joey burst out laughing. “Hey, ya never know.” The call ended.

  “Now I gotta poop,” said Dan.

  “Guess it runs in the family,” Richard replied.

  Dan shuddered. “Did ya have to say runs? My butthole's already puckering like a duck-faced teen on Instagram.”

  Dan turned into Red's parking lot and backed into his spot.

  “Did ya call Joey P?” Red asked, the second Dan and Richard walked back through the door.

  “Of course,” Dan replied. “I called him on the way here.”

  “Thank God,” said Red. “Is Joey gonna throw a little scare into Harrison to get him off our backs?”

  “Nope,” said Richard. “It's worse.”

  “Joey's gonna kill Harrison?” Red conjectured.

  “Worse,” Dan said.

  Red cocked an eyebrow. “What's worse than killing someone?” Red asked.

  “Not doing anything at all,” Richard answered.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Joey said he can't help us on this one,” Dan explained.

  “Not at all?”

  “Well, he did say he would give us a heads-up when Harrison's guys were on their way down here to murder us.”

  “That's a big help,” Red said with some sarcasm.

  “At least we'll know it's coming,” said Richard.

  “I'm sure everything is gonna be fine,” said Dan. “We did everything Harrison told us to do … or told us not to do, I guess.”

  “Nothing from Maggie?” Red asked.

  “Nope,” Dan replied. “And I tried her cell a few times. The service is still off.”

  “I wonder where she is?” Richard pondered.

  “I can't imagine,” Dan answered. “I just hope she's still alive. Poor kid. We should have done something.”

  “Little late now, pal,” said Red.

  “Tequila, Seven, and lime,” said Dan. “Maybe that'll make me feel better.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The remainder of Saturday was uneventful. Richard moved his luggage to Dan's house and the two men hung around the beach and backyard, having a few drinks and getting better acquainted. Dan introduced Richard to his neighbors: Bev, Mrs. McGee, and old man Stein. Edna McGee asked Richard what his favorite kind of cookie was. He told her it was peanut butter. Dan told Richard to expect a couple dozen within a day or two. Both men were passed out in the two Adirondack chairs by eleven o'clock, when Maxine arrived home, after working a double shift.

  Sunday was Maxine's day off. She spent most of it cleaning up Dan and Richard's mess from the day before. “Just what I always wanted to do,” she commented at one point. “Clean up after two grown men.”

  “See,” Dan told her, “dreams do come true.”

  Around noon on Sunday, Dan got a call from Skip; he was cleared to check out of the hospital. Dan and Richard jumped into Richard's Passat, and headed to the hospital to pick him up.

  “Dude, can we stop by the pharmacy?” Skip asked. “The doc phoned in a couple prescriptions for me.”

  “Sure,” Richard said. “How do I get there?”

  “The CVS on Truman Avenue,” Skip replied. “Take a right up here.”

  “How come you go to CVS?” Richard inquired.

  Skip shrugged. “I don't know, dude,” he replied. “It's just where I've always gone.”

  “You should try a locally owned pharmacy,” Richard suggested.

  Skip nodded. “That's right, bro, you own a bunch of drug stores, don't ya?”

  Richard looked over at Dan with an uncomfortable grin. “Well, not a bunch.”

  Dan hadn't told Richard he knew about all seven pharmacies. He didn't want Richard to know that he had had Rick Carver run a check on him. Now he wouldn't have to; it would look like Skip spilled the beans.

  “A bunch of drug stores?” Dan asked, feigning ignorance. “I thought you said you only had one pharmacy.”

  “Well,” Richard allowed, “I have a few.”

  “Seven,” Skip said.

  “How would you know that?” asked Richard.

  “Yeah,” Dan jumped in. “How would you know that, Skip? What did you do, have my brother checked out?” This was working out perfectly.

  “Yeah, Skip,” said Richard. “Fill us in. I'm all ears.”

  “I called my dad in Jacksonville—he's a cop Rich—and had him run a background check,” Skip said. “You can't be too careful these days, dudes.”

  “What else did you find out?” Richard prodded.

  “Well … the reports indicate you're a pretty good guy,” Skip stated.

  “Thanks,” Richard said.

  “Don't mention it, dude.”

  “You're not mad that I checked up on him, are ya, Dan the Man?” Skip asked.

  “I guess not,” Dan responded.

  Richard steered his car into the CVS parking lot and parked in front of Subway.

  “Maybe I'll get a submarine sandwich too,” said Skip.

  “I thought we'd go to Red's for a drink,” Dan said.

  “That sounds good,” Skip returned. “But I want a sub.”

  Skip got out of the car and disappeared into CVS.

  “Can you believe that?” Dan said, shaking his head. “He ran a background check on you.”

  “Oh that's okay,” Richard replied. “I kind of thought you would have.”

  “Don't be ridiculous,” Dan answered, a little nervously. “So, why didn't you tell me you owned so many stores?”

  “I don't know. My girlfriend told me not to divulge too much information about myself until we knew for sure if we were brothers.”

  “So there is a girlfriend.”

  “Yes.”

  “She Vietnamese too?”

  “No, why?”

  “Just wondered,” said Dan. “You didn't want me to know you had money just in case we ended up not being brothers.”

  “Something like that.”

  “But you knew I had won the lottery, and that I had money.”

  “Right, but I didn't know how much. For all I knew you had won a couple hundred thousand and had already blown through it.”

  Dan chuckled. “Good point.”

  “How much?”

  “How much, what?”

  “How much did you win?”

  “Let's keep that a secret until after the DNA test.”

  Richard smiled. “You got it.”

  Skip exited the drugstore carrying two paper prescription bags. He walked down the sidewalk and entered Subway.

  “Hot one today,” said Richard, trying to make small talk.

  “Supposed to be hot all week,” Dan replied.

  “You think we're going to hear from that Harrison guy again?”

  “I think every day that we don't hear from him gives us a better chance of never hearing from him.”

  “You think Maggie is dead?”

  “I try not to think about it.”

  “I ca
n't stop thinking about it.”

  “I tried her cell number again this morning. Still nothing.”

  Skip walked out of Subway grinning. He held his clear Subway bag in the air. Dan nodded his head.

  Skip climbed back into the back seat. “I got five chocolate chip cookies too. One for each of us.”

  “One for each of us?” Dan asked.

  You, Rich, Red, me, and … and, uh—isn't there someone else?”

  “Like who?” Dan asked.

  “Isn't there another guy?”

  “Are you sure you're okay?”

  “The doc said I might be a little forgetful for a while, but it would get better over time.”

  “What pills did they prescribe for you?” Richard asked.

  Skip placed his food bag on the seat next to him and removed the two pill bottles from their paper bags. “This one's called Carbatrol. I'm only supposed to take it for a week.”

  “Carbatrol is an anticonvulsant usually prescribed to prevent the severity of convulsions, especially epileptic seizures,” Richard observed clinically. “Did you have a seizure?”

  “They said I had a couple in the hospital in Bonifay.”

  “The doctor probably prescribed it to make sure you don't have anymore. What's the other one?”

  Skip read the label. “Naproxen.”

  “That's an NSAID for headaches and other aches and pains,” said Richard. “Are you still having headaches?”

  “Not really,” Skip replied. “They've gotten less frequent.”

  “Yap, yap, yap,” Dan said. “Just give me a friggin cookie.”

  “They're for when we get to Red's,” Skip said.

  “I want mine now,” Dan complained.

  “One more word out of you, mister, and you won't get one at all.”

  Richard chuckled as he started the car. “You guys are something else.”

  “Never said we weren't,” Dan and Skip said in unison.

  “Whoa, dudes, that's freaky,” Richard deadpanned.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Gene and Peg Coast pulled into Dan's driveway around five o'clock Monday evening; they were about two hours early. Dan leaned back in his Adirondack chair when he heard the car pull in, and looked up the driveway. He waved when he saw his father climb out of the gray 2018 Toyota Camry they had rented in Miami.

  “Sonny!” Gene called out.

  Dan turned and looked back across the fire pit at Richard. “It's show time,” he said. “How's your tummy, Richie?”

  “Shut up, dick head,” Richard shot back.

  Gene walked down the crushed stone driveway, and then down the gravel path that led to the fire pit. Dan and Richard stood. They were each holding a drink in their hand.

  Gene pointed at the drinks. “Hey, you guys do look a little alike.” Gene chuckled after his joke. Gene always laughed at his own jokes.

  “Dad,” said Dan, “This is Richard Bong. Richard … Dad.”

  Richard held out his hand. “It's a pleasure to meet you, sir,” he said. “I've been looking forward to this.”

  The two men shook hands. Gene stared into Richard's eyes, hoping to see a glimpse of his own past. Hoping to see something that would take him back to a time long ago in a land far away.

  “It's great to meet you too, Richard,” said Gene.

  Dan glanced up the path. “Where's Mom?” he asked.

  “I killed her,” said Gene.

  Dan laughed. “That never gets old, Dad. Now where is she?”

  Gene turned around and look behind him. “I don't know. She must have went in the front door.”

  “Can I make you a drink, Dad?” Dan asked.

  “Damn right you can,” Gene replied.

  Dan walked toward the house and put his hand on Gene's shoulder on his way by. Gene put his hand on top of Dan's. “Nice to see ya, Sonny.”

  “You too, Dad.”

  Dan started up the path to the back door. Gene took a seat in Dan's chair. “Well, Richard,” he said, “tell me a lot about yourself.”

  “Okay,” said Richard, as he sat back down.

  Dan pulled open the screen door and went inside. Maxine and Peg were in the living room. Maxine was showing her the new window. As Dan walked up behind them, they turned, and Maxine pointed up at the ceiling, where the hole used to be. Colton had patched the hole with a new piece of sheetrock and applied three coats of joint compound.

  “Is he going to paint it?” Peg asked.

  “He's supposed to come back in a couple days and paint it,” Maxine replied.

  “He's doing a great job.”

  “I think so,” Maxine agreed. “And it would have taken Dan forever to do it.”

  “He lost his ambition the day John Crow announced those Mega Millions numbers.”

  “Hey, Mom,” Dan said.

  Peg went to her son and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “How are you doing, Danny?”

  “Good, Mom.”

  “You smell like booze.”

  “That's because I was drinking booze, Mom.”

  Peg looked at Maxine. “How's he doing with his drinking?” she asked.

  “He's going to AA meetings on Monday's and Wednesday's,” Maxine replied.

  “You went to a meeting this morning?”

  “Yes, Mommy,” said Dan.

  “But you're still drinking?”

  “Yes, Mommy.”

  “So then the meetings aren't helping?”

  “This conversation isn't helping,” said Dan. He turned and walked over to the bar. “See, now I need a drink.”

  Peg shook her head. “You're an ass,” she said. “I don't know how you put up with him, Maxine. He's just like his father. Got a smart ass comeback for—what is that on your finger?”

  Maxine held up her hand, she had a huge smile on her face. “We're engaged!”

  Peg threw her arms around Maxine. “Oh my goodness!” she shouted.

  “Oh yeah, that's right,” Dan said over his shoulder. “I forgot to tell you, Mom, we're engaged.”

  Peg released her grip. Tears were streaming down her face as she inspected the ring. “It's beautiful.”

  “Thank you,” Maxine responded.

  “It ought a be,” Dan grumbled. He finished making his and Gene's drinks and started for the back door. “Mom, are you coming out to meet Richard?”

  “I want to give the three of you some time alone for a little bit,” Peg answered softly.

  “You got it,” Dan said, and went out the back door. He walked down the path to the fire pit. “How's everything going?”

  “Good,” Gene replied. “I have so many questions for Richard.”

  “Just don't ask him if he knows karate,” said Dan. “Evidently that's racist.”

  “It can't be racist,” Gene shot back. “I have a Vietnamese son.”

  Richard chuckled. “Wow, you two are just alike.”

  “That's what they say,” said Dan. He handed Gene his drink and then went to the woodshed to grab another lawn chair. He unfolded it and placed it next to the fire pit between Gene and Richard. “Did you tell Dad you're loaded?”

  “No,” said Richard. “I didn't mention that.”

  “He said he's a pharmacist,” Gene said.

  “He owns several pharmacies in Texas,” said Dan.

  “Seven,” said Richard. “Just seven.”

  “Wow,” Gene said. “Two wealthy sons. I must have done something right.” He took a sip of his tequila.

  Dan laughed. “Yeah, Dad, you must have.”

  “Well, Rich, Dan paid off our mortgage and bought us a car when he became wealthy, so I'd say you have some catching up to do.”

  Richard chuckled. “I guess I do, Gene.”

  “I'm just bustin' your ovaries, Rich.”

  “Okay,” Dan interrupted, “now that we're all here, Maxine made an appointment for the three of us to get our blood drawn tomorrow for a DNA test. We have to be to Doc Briddle's office first thing tomorrow morning.”r />
  “Sounds good,” said Richard.

  “How long before we get the results?” Gene asked.

  “About three or four days,” said Dan.

  “Wow. That long?”

  Dan sipped is drink. “I don't know exactly how much Rich's mother told him, Dad, but can you tell us how this happened?”

  “Well, Sonny, when a man and woman have feelings for each other—”

  Richard burst out laughing. “Good one, Gene.”

  Gene jokingly checked his zipper. “Oh,” he said, “you mean the joke was a good one. I thought my fly was down.” He chuckled.

  Dan rolled his eyes “Okay, Dad, enough with the comedy skit. Just tell us how you met.”

  Gene looked to Richard. “How much did Tran tell you?” he asked.

  “Not much,” Richard replied. “She was already very sick when she told me about you. She said you were a jet mechanic, and that you were stationed at Da Nang Air Base. She said the two of you dated, and that she didn't find out she was pregnant until after you left.”

  Gene shrugged. “That's pretty much it,” he said. “I had known your mom for about a year before we started dating—she worked on the base. We didn't start seeing each other until about two weeks before I got shipped out. I wrote to her two or three times after I got back to the States. I don't know if she received the first two letters, but the third letter came back.” Gene stared into his glass. “Sorry. I never knew.”

  “It's not your fault,” Richard said. “I guess my mother and father just figured it would be better for everyone to just keep it a secret.”

  “Who did your mother marry?” asked Gene.

  “His name was Kim Bong. According to my mother, he was a friend of her brother's. He knew my mother was pregnant when he married her, but agreed to marry her anyway in exchange for a small piece of land. Kim gave the land to his father two years later, before we escaped Vietnam.”

  “You've lived in the States since you were about two?” Gene surmised.

  “Yes.”

  “All this time,” Gene mumbled.

  The back door creaked open. The three men turned their heads and watched as Maxine and Peg walked down the steps and made their way to the fire pit.

  Dan and Richard once again stood. Dan introduced his mother to Richard. Peg still had a little tear in her eye. Dan wondered if it was a left over from seeing the engagement ring, or a new one caused by meeting Richard.