Calls from Home Part II
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“Thank you,” she whispered as she believed wholeheartedly that he would in fact get the video surveillance back.
“Come on, let’s pick a movie,” he waved to the screen as he crossed his ankles on the bed. His phone buzzed on the nightstand, and he made a face as he checked the screen, “your father is texting to ask if you’re okay. Did you want to call him before our movie to say goodnight?”
“Sure, I guess. He’s not near as nuts as my mother but he is the only one who can get through to her.”
He lifted the phone as she settled next to him.
“Hello?” her father’s impatient voice cut through the phone. “Gulliver?”
“Yes, it’s me. I have January with me.”
“Are you and Kaylee okay, January? You didn’t answer your phone.”
“Yes, we’re fine. I powered my phone off because Mom sent me a text I didn’t want to answer until I was in a better mood. Kaylee is having a ball. She’s been permitted to sleep on couch qushions under a blanket fort with her cousin. They almost asleep now.”
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“Too late for me to say goodnight?”
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“I’m sorry, Dad. I should have called earlier. She had her bath and they took their snacks under their fort and then Gulliver tucked them in.”
“She’s had a good day then?”
“She’s had a wonderful day. She’s very happy, Dad.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Can I call her in the morning to say hello? I miss her silliness.”
“Of course. You don’t need to ask to call her.”
“Can I ask something?”
“Yes.”
“What did your mother say to you to make you so angry you drove ninety minutes away from her?”
“Well, I came in and she was in one of her cleaning frenzies and she asked me where I’d been since I was later than just lunch with Ernst. I told her I went to look at the house. She said she wasn’t opposed to me moving out but was surprised I’d found one I wanted already. Then she got upset when I said Gulliver
10:41 wasn’t moving in with us. She gave me some weird theory 276 about Gulliver and his family stealing Kaylee away and how if
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it meant Kaylee would be away at least every other weekend. She said if Kaylee was away with Gulliver’s family, she wouldn’t get to spend time with her, and it was unfair. She doesn’t want us living with her, but she wants us to be available for her to pop in whenever she wants.”
“Jesus Christ,” her father muttered. “Still, that’s not enough to make you bail, sweetheart. What did she say?”
She looked at Gulliver, “she told me that I was being selfish for not simply taking Gulliver back and being his wife again so that Kaylee wouldn’t be divided between two homes.” The silence from her father was telling. “She said I was thinking only about myself and not anyone else.”
“What the fuck is wrong with her?” he muttered angrily.
“I don’t know Dad, but she chased me out of the house after calling me selfish asking me to come home for dinner so I can talk like an adult. Her text to me was that she was expecting me and Kaylee home for dinner and we best be there. I shut off the phone after I texted you to say I was coming to Burlington. I just started driving after our fight and I was headed to where Kaylee was. Gulliver’s family, with the exception of his parents, were all here and they made me feel welcome. Thisbe loaned me some clothing and Gulliver, and I are going to watch a movie. I’m going to sleep in Kaylee’s bed and hopefully by
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morning I’m feeling well enough to drive home and have the 376 conversation I need to have with Mom.”
Calls from Home Part II
“Don’t.”
The comment from her father made her look to Gulliver in surprise.
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“Don’t come talk to your mother. The reason I wanted to chat with you is to ask whether or not you might be willing to spend a few days away from the house.”
“Why?”
“Because something is going on with her. I don’t want her snapping at you. I certainly don’t want Kaylee to see her like this. She gave me shit when I came in about working an hour late and not being on time for dinner, even though I texted her to say I’d be late. I’m going to spend the day with her tomorrow and see if I can’t figure out what is going on but,” he sighed loudly and she could picture him rubbing his forehead, “I think giving her the reality of what she’s been moaning about is necessary. Let her see what it really is like without you two around. I know for me, it’s hard. I miss you when you’re not here. It’s my opinion that she’s in a situation where she’s been muttering under her breath for so long about wanting her freedom from the forced confinement in the town and helping with Kaylee and all the responsibilities and now that she’s suddenly being given what she wanted it’s scaring her. Who is she if she’s not the self–sacrificing mother and grandmother
10:41 who gave up her whole life to take care of her family? Now that 476 you’re moving on, she’s realizing it’s not what she wants. She
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and say she’s glad you’re going and picking fights so it’s you that walks out instead of her telling you to go.”
“She’s crazy.”
“Yeah, but she’s your mom and you love her.”
“I do. I just wish it weren’t so confusing.”
“Look. Go back to Gulliver. Don’t go back to Gulliver. I don’t care either way. What I want, and what she wants deep down, is for you and Kaylee to be happy. We love you, very much. Give her a couple of days without contact. Don’t call her. Don’t text her. Don’t engage with her. Give her exactly what she’s been asking for.”
“I love you, Dad. I think Gulliver can put us up for a few days.” She looked at him hopefully and he nodded. “He said he
could.”
“Excellent. Let’s give her some space and I bet in a couple of days she’ll come around and if she doesn’t, I’ll book an appointment with her GP and a therapist, and we’ll get to the bottom of it.”
“Thanks Daddy,” she whispered as she hung up the call.
Gulliver stared at her quietly for a moment and then he spoke 5/6
10:42 softly. “I hope someday, Kaylee knows she can come to me the
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“I’m sure she will,” she waved at the laptop. “Com enough misery tonight. Time to watch something laugh.”
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