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“A lot better now that we’ve got you on the phone. Is everything okay?”
I sigh heavily. “Everything’s going okay. I’ve been ordered to take a break from the band's tour, so I’m in Arizona right now.”
“A break, why?”
“You haven’t seen everything in the media about me?” Somehow, knowing they haven’t kept up with my career makes me feel worse than if she wouldn’t have answered my call at all.
Are they so disappointed with the life I chose that they couldn’t even bother to keep up with me?
“It was hard, you know? You left and never turned back, we were ashamed of our behavior and afraid that you would hate us. We chose to stay away.”
That’s a little more understanding, I guess.
“Well,” I say while running a hand through my hair. “I’ve got some anger that I need to learn how to cope better with, so our manager sent me to my Arizona place and hired a wellness coach.”
My dad sighs heavily in the background, and I don’t miss it as he says, “If he would’ve gone to medical school, this wouldn’t be an issue.”
“Don’t,” my mother whines into the phone. “Not right now, Kenneth.”
I’m surprised that she didn’t agree with my father. That was her favorite thing to do before I left home to move forward with my career. Normally, anger would be bubbling after hearing my father’s words, but the feeling never comes and I take a deep breath instead.
“It’s been an unexpected relief.”
Instead of starting an argument, I simply choose to ignore the slight jab at my career and focus more on letting my mother know how everything is going.
“That’s a good thing? You’re feeling better?”
“I’m feeling great, Mom. Better than I have in a long while, actually.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” she says softly. The line is silent for a few moments, then she chuckles. “Sorry, I just still can’t believe you called. Shocked, but it’s a good kind of surprise. We’ve missed talking to you.”
“Same here, Mom.”
When I look up, Wren is leaning against the doorway that leads into the kitchen, and she gives me a quick thumbs-up before disappearing back down the hallway.
I expected her to listen and try to psycho-analyze everything that’s being said, but I’m relieved that she chooses not to do that.
“Look, we’ve still got another week left of our vacation, but I’d love to come see you when we get back. Is that okay?”
“Of course,” I say with a small smile. “Just let me know when you get back and we’ll get something planned. Maybe you and dad could come to one of my shows if we have one close to you guys.”
“Absolutely not,” my father mutters. “You can go, but I’m not hanging around a bunch of young adults while they give themselves brain damage by shaking their heads all over the place.”
This is what I was afraid of.
“We’ll figure something out, Honey, don’t worry,” my mother immediately responds. She’s still not agreeing with him, but I can sense that she’s holding back from doing so.
Maybe this was a bad idea after all. The only reason she’s not voicing a real opinion is because she doesn’t want to take the chance that I go away again. I need to change my ways, though, that was the point of coming here in the first place – and that includes more than just my anger.
“That sounds great, Mom. I’ll let you guys go and enjoy yourselves, but I’ll be in touch again soon.”
“I love you.”
It’s been a really long time since I heard those words from her and they’re exactly what I needed in this moment to make myself feel better. “Love you, too, Mom. Talk soon.”
By the time I hang up, Wren’s already back in the kitchen, fixing herself a cup of coffee without looking at me over her shoulder. I smirk, noting how she taps her foot on the floor nervously, and I lean into the island. “It’s killing you, isn’t it?”
She spins around, the cup just over her lips, and hums at my question. “Not sure what you mean.”
