A Home From Nothing

Chapter 12

When I got back, I filled Graham in on what happened at the distillery and then spent a few hours going through more of the house. I checked their closet, under their mattress, in their night stands and under some of the furniture but I didn’t see any other hiding spots. Well, not for cash, guns or invoices for ill gotten money. I did find tons of bottles of whiskey and vodka stashed around the house in different variations of emptiness.

I had already known my mother had a drinking problem and that she liked to guilt people into drinking with her but I somehow never noticed her drinking out of bottles randomly in the hallway or standing behind the couch. She must have been really good at hiding it. Either that or I just couldn’t be bothered to pay attention. Once I was done with my search, I stopped in the kitchen to make some tea.

“You want some tea?” I yell up the stairs, an affirmative response comes from somewhere at the back of the house but moments later he’s back in the kitchen with me. Once the whistle goes off and I’ve gotten the bags in the cups, Graham pours the water and suggests we sit outside for a bit.

Standing on my parents front porch, I look out over the neighborhood I grew up in. The one that never seemed to care how I was treated, even though I know they had to have heard at least some of the commotion from here in the years before I left. I’ve spent the last few days slowly filling Graham in on all the events that had taken place in this house. At some point I should probably seek therapy, but that’s an issue for another day. I had just told my friend about the day I left this house for good. Even found the pan, still with a pretty good dent, in the cabinet next to the stove. He had looked at me like I was crazy, maybe thinking I had made the story up, at least til he saw the pan, then he got a look of recognition in his eyes.

I liked Graham because he was a quiet man. He always seems to listen more than he talks, but when he does talk, it almost always makes sense or is great advice. I have no idea what he has gone through in his life to make him so wise, but lord it must be worse than what I went through, he’s a hell of a lot more insightful than I am. Making a mental note to ask him more about his past, as a good friend should, I look at him over my cup of tea.

“There’s something else I should probably tell you about today. You’re probably going to think I’m crazy but I was asked out for drinks tonight and accepted it.” I confess, rushing the words out before I can chicken out. Not like I can cancel the date now, I didn’t get his phone number since I decided to meet him there. “I figured it couldn’t hurt to see what the guy could tell me about my dad. Maybe he knows something, even something obscure that could give us an idea of what happened. I know the police said murder/suicide but I don’t think that’s what happened. I feel it in my gut.”

“I assume you’d like me to go with you then? We both know how you are around men.” He made a statement, but it was asked as more of a question. Testing the waters so to speak, because he thinks one day I'll get over this issue I have being around men alone. Boy is he wrong.

“Of course I need you there. I don’t know this guy at all. I only accepted it to see what I could find out about my father. I have no desire to be on a real date.” I spit at him with more aggression than I should have.

“Ok ok, I’ll go with you Lia. Just don’t expect me to hang out all night. I have to head back in the morning, I have work and I miss Dom like crazy.” He says, clearly not too phased by my irritation

I could see it in his eyes he was ready to go back to his husband and the life they have together. A flash of envy rears its head again and I swallow it down along with the lump in my throat. I missed my life too but I felt like something more was going on here than even the cops could figure out. I hadn’t decided when I was going back but I hadn’t planned on tomorrow.

“I understand that. You should already know I won’t be out long, I’m not even 21 yet so I can’t drink.” I reminded him, this time without an attitude.

“I suppose we should start getting ready then. Where exactly are we going? I don’t have a suit and tie with me.”

“Just a bar and grill around the corner from the distillery. Nothing too impressive, thankfully. We can go there together but walk in separately and I don’t think he would know.” Graham nods his head and gets up to go inside.

Once through the door we go our separate ways, about half an hour later we meet back at the door. He grabs the keys from the side table and we head out.