Excerpt: A Day of Reckoning

A ringing interrupted Carla’s thoughts. The phone sounded like death calling anymore. The only calls she seemed to get anymore related to Karrie and/or Abbey. It felt like things were going in the wrong direction. She hadn’t heard from Richard in four days, might as well add that onto the pile of shit. Carla sighed and pushed herself up from the couch and walked over to the desk where the phone sat.
“Hello?” Better not be some stupid sales-
“Hey, Carla, uh- it’s me, Hugh.”
She stood there numb, stuck to the spot, unable to feel anything for a few seconds. “Hello Hugh.” The words choked in her throat, something she never expected.
“I wanted to say how sorry I was, I mean, about Karrie and Abbey.”
“How’d you get my number?”
“I called Matthew. I begged him to let me call you. I know this may sound like bullshit, but if you need anything, let me know.”
“Need anything? Anything from you?” Carla broke out of her trance, here it was fifteen years of pent up frustration, bitterness, and contempt rushed out of her in torrents of words. “You son of a bitch.”
“Look, I know you think I’m evil incarnate, but at the time, I felt what I had to do for the protection of our children.”
“Where are they at? I want to talk to them.”
“They’re at camp.”
“What kind of camp, Hugh. In August? Lawrence and Charli graduated this year. I’m their mother. I should know”
“They had to be held back a year because of all the, you know, issues at the time. We moved to Dallas. I’m a Supervisor at United.”
“I hate flying. Tell me where are my children? They are old enough to make decisions on their own. What about Roger, did he get set back a grade too?”
“Yes. It was for the best, they are happy kids. Lawrence has plans to get into Chemical Engineering and Charli wants to be either a lawyer or a teacher. They really are at camp, a summer camp they go to every year with their church. Roger has a girlfriend and plays baseball. He’s looking at different scholarships to apply to. Things are fine with them Carla.”
“I want to talk to them Hugh. I want to see them, why haven’t they called? You’re a low enough slime ball to have lied and told them I died. Is that why you called? You saw AMW!”
“I didn’t tell them anything, as far as I know, they don’t know where you are.”
“You fucking, piece of shit snake. I have your ass, know that?” She screamed at him over the phone. “I have evidence, lots and lots of it.”
“You don’t have shit Carla, your bluffing.”
“Oh no I’m not.”
“I have to go. I just wanted to make this quick, send condolences.”
“You ruined my life Hugh” Carla’s voice shook. “If Karrie hadn’t been with me during that time, there is no telling what might have happened. But, you took and destroyed my spirit, but I came up from the ashes mister.”
“See? There you are screaming at me like a fucking loon on crack. This is why I did what I did, you’re still off the rocker Carla. I hope the rest of your life works out.” There was a click then the dial tone.
Once again tears flowed hot, “Okay you son of a bitch, you fucked up. I’ll find you, first stop is Dallas with the journals. SEE HOW YOU LIKE THAT ASSHOLE!” She jammed her hands into her purse searching for her cigarettes and lighter. She snatched up the cordless phone from her desk and went outside and sat down. Her hands shook so bad she dropped the cigarette once and then couldn’t light it. She didn’t know if it was adrenalin or shock from Hugh’s phone call, but she couldn’t sit still, the longer she thought about it the more agitated she became.
She punched in Doug’s number, pacing back and forth across the porch. A recorded message told her to leave a message. “It’s me, you’ll never guess who called me and that we head to Dallas first. I think the sooner the better. Two days and we leave, call me back. Love you, bye.”
She hung up the phone. Her pacing slowed and she sat back down. Matthew, that bastard. I think I’ll call him too. She dialed his number which also told her to leave a message. “I have a bone to pick with you Matthew, better call me back.” She smashed the talk button to disconnect.