by Sheri Duff
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We show up at the pottery place only to find a note on the door: Family Emergency Classes Canceled. Sorry for the inconvenience.
“I didn’t think she had any kin here,” Jack says, scanning the parking lot.
“Maybe she had to go out of town? Although she crossed out the word family.” I point to the note. “Who knows?”
My phone rings. It’s my father. I ignore the call—literally, I hit the ignore key so it goes straight to voicemail. He doesn’t leave a message, he calls right back. I ignore the call again. I’m not ready to make up. But my father’s persistent.
Text from my father: Alicia’s dad in the hospital. Heart attack.
I drop my phone. Jack picks it up, looks at the screen and then wraps me in his arms. I can’t move, I can’t talk. Is Benny dead? I can’t even ask the question. I stand there with my arms limp while Jack holds me. I can’t even cry. Jack uses my phone to call my dad.
“He’s at St. Francis.” Jack waits for me to respond.
I know I should say something, anything, or make some kind of movement toward my car. All I can do is hand Jack my keys.