Monday, November 21, 2022

On a bright, chilly morning in September. Honey sipped coffee from her favorite mug, the large one with green and gold swirls, and admired the silver coating of frost on the grass. Her phone rang, a low, distant rattle, and she absent-mindedly picked it up and answered. “Hello? This is Helene Finch.”

“Hello Helene, I’m Pam Monroe. Is your husband, Renald Finch, around?” The woman on the other end intoned, enunciating perfectly.

“Yes, he is. Would you like to talk to him?” Honey sighed impatiently, wishing they had just called Ren in the first place.

“Actually, I would love to talk to both of you. Can you put me on speaker?”

“Of course.” Honey pulled the phone away from her ear. “Ren! Someone on the phone wants to talk to us!”

He came in, his hair tousled and looking drowsy, gripping coffee. He settled into his rocking chair.

“He’s here now,” Honey said, sitting back in her recliner and leaning her head against the head rest.

“Good.” The woman’s voice became gentle and quiet. “The reason I called is to deliver some… difficult news. I’m sorry to inform you that your daughter, Brynna West, passed away. She and her husband, Eli, were killed in a car accident last night.”

The sound disappeared from the room, and a soft hum filled Honey’s ears . Something hot crept down her chest, and she found coffee flowing from her cup onto her sweater. Then the words rushed back.

Renald stopped rocking. His shoulders trembled slightly, and tears trickled down his cheeks. Without thinking, Honey grabbed his hand, squeezing tight.

“I know this must be a shock to you.” Pam paused sympathetically. “Loxley, however, was not in the car when the accident took place. You have been appointed her guardians in the event of Brynna’s death. Is this a responsibility you are prepared for?”

“I’m sorry. Who is Loxley?” Renald glanced at Honey and then back to the phone.

Pam’s voice sounded awkward for the first time in their conversation . “Don’t you know?”

“Brynn hasn’t spoken to us in over three years,” Honey said, hoping no one noticed the tightness in her voice.

“Oh. I see.” Pam’s voice sounded slightly more confident. “Loxley is your granddaughter.”

Join us again tomorrow for the next installment of Returning.