Page 6 of A Circle of Crows

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“Howwas school?” I called to TJ, as he walked through the door and dropped hisheavy backpack by the stairs.

“Wonderful,”he muttered dryly, opening the fridge to grab a bottle of soda.

Hetwisted the cap off, and instead of getting himself a glass, he drank directlyfrom the bottle. I gawked at him, in complete disbelief that this was the boy Ihad raised, and he scoffed at me. “What?”

“Haveyou completely forgotten how to be civilized?”

Hislips curled with disgust. “What are you even talking about?” he asked, and Igestured toward the soda in his hand. He rolled his eyes. “Dad doesn’t care.”

“Ibet that, if I called your father right now, I would find that hedoescare,” I countered, crossing my arms, and leaning my hip against the counter.

“Hedoesn’t.”

“Oh,so should I just give him a call, then? We can settle this right—”

Iwas interrupted by my phone, chiming with an incoming text message. It wasGracie’s sound, a little chirp, and I turned on my heel so fast I nearlytripped over my own feet. Snatching my phone from the counter, I opened themessage.

Hey!Sorry, I’ve been so busy. I hope you haven’t been too worried.

Ididn’t bother typing a reply. Instead, I called and waited for her to answer.But it went straight to voicemail.

“Whatthe actual hell?” I muttered, staring at the blank screen.

Momentslater, I received another message.

I’mat the pub. It’s so loud, I can’t talk right now. Sorry!

“Hm,”I mumbled, and looked at my son, watching me with an odd blend of interest anddistaste. I held my phone up to him and said, “GiGifinally texted me.”

“Ha!”He pointed atme,his stance triumphant. “What did Itell you? She’s fine.”

“Uh-huh,”I muttered, finding mysmileand shaking my head.“I’ll let you have this victory.”

Then,he asked, “So, why did she miss her plane?”

Pursingmy lips and beginning to type out a message of my own, I replied, “That’s agood question. Let’s find out.”

Wherethe hell have you been? And why the hell haven’t you called me or texted? ANDwhy didn’t you tell me you were missing your flight?

Iwaited as the three little indicative dots popped up, then disappeared, thenpopped up again. Minutes passed before finally receiving another message, andit read:I met someone at the pub and decided I wanted to stay a littlewhile longer. I’m sorry I didn’t let you know. I’ve been at his house anddidn’t bring my phone charger. So sorry if I made you worry!

Ireplied:You have absolutely no idea how worried I’ve been. When are youcoming home?

Shesaid: I don’t know yet. I really love it here. I’ll let you know, though!

Icouldn’t help but smile, even as the sadness of missing my little sister creptin. I remembered her phone call days ago, just before she entered the pub. Shehad sounded so excited and immediately smitten by the guy she’d seen in thewindow, and I guess she had found something in him worth staying for. If anyonedeserved that, it was her.

So,I asked:So, I take it you really liked that guy, huh?

Shereplied:Oh, yeah. So much.

Isaid:You can thank me later.

Shesaid:Haha. Okay. It’s late. I’ll talk to yousoon.

Ismirked at the message and said:Haha? What, youspend a couple of weeks overseas and you turn into Dad?