GOING HOME
GOING HOME
His drive from Las Vegas to Huntington Beach had been filled with self-doubt, self-debate, and fraught with regrets. The 300 miles of continuous inclines and declines were characteristic of his adult life, but when he pulled into his parents’ driveway, James Morton knew he’d find the answers he needed in the house he used to call home.
He continued to stretch his legs and back as he hesitated at the entrance, then politely knocked twice and opened the unlocked door.
“Mom. Dad. I’m home,” he shouted in a tone permeated with high expectations.
“I’m in the kitchen,” James heard his Dad shout back.
Entering the kitchen, he found his father pouring from a metal kettle into an L. A. Clippers cup. He could detect at once that the two years since he’d last visited had taken their toll on the aging man. Haggard had surpassed weary.
“Join me for some green tea?”
“Only if it’s on the rocks,” James replied. His throat was parched as he’d been traveling in the heat since two hours before noon and now it was two hours past.
“How have you been, Dad?”
“Top notch. Never better,” William Morton said as he abandoned his steaming cup on the counter and strode to embrace his son.
“We sure missed you. I wish you’d come sooner.”
“I’ve missed you. Where’s Mom?”
The hug felt wonderful, full of hope and promise, trying to squeeze two years of missed opportunities within one moment.
“She’s shopping, believe it or not. You know your mother, penny pincher extraordinaire, but I talked her into a day at the mall with her friends to get away from her incorrigible husband. I didn’t tell her you were coming as I wanted her to be surprised. She left pretty early so she should be back soon.”
They parted and assessed each other’s appearance with heartfelt concentration.
“Good to see you, son,” William said. “I hope you’re going to stay for awhile. Let me fix you a tall glass of iced sun tea while you park yourself at the table.”
Craving familiarity and comforting normalcy, James sat in the chair he’d taken many meals before he had struck out on his own. He watched his father bring the drinks to the table and noticed he wasn’t quite as tall or erect as he had been and settled in his own chair with obvious effort.
“I pray we have what you need, son.”
James wanted to shout “me too” but he hadn’t prayed in a while.
“Are you still dealing blackjack at the Rio?”
“No, Dad.”
“You’re Mother’s going to be so happy to see you. I’m glad you’ll be here for her,” William said, taking a long sip of his hot tea.
“In a nutshell, Dad,” James said, lowering his eyes, “I’m out of work because of the amount of layoffs in the casinos due to the economy, and I broke up with Shelby or rather she broke up with me.”
“I see. Do you need money?”
“No, Dad. That’s not why I came home.”
“Have you been attending church services in Nevada?”
“No.”
“You’ve got friends there?”
“Fellow workers, drinking buddies, yes. Friends…no, not really.”
“Since you were here last, after my triple bypass, I’ve found a friend that helps me through thick and thin,” his Dad said. “One who never lets me down and always has the right words to say for encouragement and guidance. Words that can mend any fractured past.”
James sensed a conviction in his father he’d never see before.
“When I find myself happy, I found a friend to thank. When I find myself troubled, I found someone to comfort me. When I’m complacent or taking life for granted, I found someone to offer me purpose.”
His dad finished his tea and rose to get a refill and retrieve a book from the counter.
The book was familiar to James but now he could see a myriad of bookmarks protruding from its pages. The family Bible.
“As you know, James, I’ve always believed in God. But now he’s my best friend and he should be yours, too.”
The material things in life had always interested James more than spiritual matters, which is why he had moved to Las Vegas in the first place. He was headstrong and knew what he wanted out of life and never wanted to clutter it with people that didn’t share his vision and hadn’t wanted to be prohibited by theirs.
“When my heart is at a loss,” his Dad was saying, “I can reboot it, refill it with life as easily as I just topped off my cup with tea.”
“I don’t know, Dad.”
“All the answers you’re seeking are in this book, son, although I admit some are not easy to find. You have to dig for them, dig deep, and when you find your answers – and you will – it’s up to you to cultivate them and digest them and make them a part of you.”
“I’ve tried to read it, Dad. Remember you and Mom used to make me go to Bible study with you when I was younger?”
“Did I mention how rewarding it is to look for your answers in the Bible? Finding the exact words of Jesus that fit your situation is like snatching a Royal Flush when you’re all-in. Better even.”
Hid Dad placed the Bible in front of James and patted its cover.
“Why don’t you crack it open at any of the bookmarks I’ve put there for you and do a little digesting,” his Dad said while rising. “I’m going to catch me some winks before your Mom gets home and you’ll see that everything will work out fine.”
* * *
Not ten minutes had elapsed since his father’s departure, and while James read from John and Luke and Proverbs, his mother entered the kitchen and sprang at him like a Beagle on its dinner dish.
“James, my sweet James,” she said over and over again as she lavished him with kisses and hugs.
“It’s great to see you, Mom.”
“Is your father napping? Did you see him? Never mind, I can tell from that Bible in front of you that he gave you homework.”
“He’s resting.”
“Let me change and I’ll try not to wake him, but then you can help me with dinner while we catch up. I’ll want to hear everything.”
***
It had been a joyous occasion.
And soon, a time for grieving.
William had passed away in his sleep and James would always treasure his final visit with his Dad and their final words together.
His Father had been right. His answers were in the Bible.
All but one.
James had arrived at his home around two in the afternoon. His mother had left the house at eight and returned at 3 P. M..
The coroner had officially declared William’s time of death as 9 A. M.
James was convinced he’d one day find the answer to that question.
LOVE the twist, intriged! All of your stories are great but is one of the best ones yet! Thank you for writing!
Great story! Thanks for posting!
Love this! The way the dad used “casino” examples when witnessing to James is a great way to witness to who and where someone is personally.
Love the ending.