(Check the reviews for Author's Notes on each chapter.)
He almost missed the most important call of the day because of the radio.
Music always helped Jeff to concentrate for some reason. He knew plenty of colleagues who preferred total silence when they were in the zone; for Jeff, he needed some music, a beat to set his work to. He'd have Sirius tuned to Left of Center and he'd just slam through his design work, completely ensconced by the grey and brown hues of his basement office and completely entranced by the sound and the fury of college rock.
He didn't know why it was called college rock - he was 29 and it sounded like some good music to him.
Just after the Presets finished up "The Girl and the Sea", there was a station identifier that had approximately a split second of silence where he was able to hear his fianceƩ call down to him.
Jeff turned down the radio. "What's up, Jessica? You need something down here?"
"Phone call from England," Jessica said, her voice carrying a somber inflection that was new to Jeff's ears, "I think there's some trouble."
Jeff turned off the radio and jogged upstairs. He knew of one person who lived in England. Just one. And if this was regarding that one person...
Shit. Here it comes.
As the grey and brown hues of the basement gave way to the black and brown hues of the kitchen, Jeff graciously took the receiver off of Jessica's hands. "Hi, this is Jeff Andonuts, how can I help you?"
"Mr. Andonuts, this is Clark More from London Hospital calling."
Jeff nodded. He didn't know why; maybe he needed to prove to himself that he understood what was coming. And with a deep breath, he said the words that he thought he'd feel worse about saying. "Is this in regards to my father, Neil?"
"I'm afraid so, Mr. Andonuts. He passed this morning after a bout with colon cancer. We're notifying you as per his instructions."
Again with the nodding. "Thank you very much, Mr. More," said Jeff, "Can we make arrangements to fly him over here to Toronto?"
"A flight has already been booked as that was also per his instructions. I'll give you a moment to procure pen and paper."
"For...oh, for the flight information! Thank you!" He headed for the refridgerator whiteboard and grabbed a washable black marker to write with.
He saw that Jessica had not left the kitchen, and that she was carrying a quiet anxiety about her, as if she was waiting to see how badly her best friend got beaten up by a bully. Her understanding of the situation seemed to begin when Jeff began to take down the flight information; as soon as he finished, he wrote on top of all of it "DELIVERY OF NEIL ANDONUTS' BODY".
He saw Jessica look down, bite her lower lip.
As soon as Jeff finished up his phone call, he walked over to his now in mourning bride to be and opened his arms for her to embrace. She did so willingly; Jeff would hold her right back, letting go just for one moment to take off his glasses when he felt himself start to tear up.
"Are you okay?" asked Jessica.
"I'll be okay," he said, "thank you."
"I just...I know I never met the man, but with him being your father and all..."
"I know," said Jeff, "but I haven't really been in touch with him either." He let go of Jessica and propped himself up on the counter. "I mean, he was a great man, I loved him. I just...I guess I'm just too focused on this goddamn deadline Morrison has me on." Jeff paused here, trying to figure out a way to make this not sound cold. "I guess I just wanna get back to work."
"Can I do anything?" asked Jessica.
"Not really," asked Jeff, who kissed Jessica one last time and ran his fingers through her jet-black hair, which she responded to by ruffling his sandy blonde hair. Jeff broke away and headed downstairs--
Wait--I know some people who'll wanna know, don't I?
"Actually, Jess," said Jeff, spinning on his heel and heading for the cabinets, "There's a couple of guys I need you to contact for the wake." He pulled out a sheet of paper and wrote down three names, three names he was just dying to get reacquainted with, even if it was at a wake and a funeral. "They should be in my black book by the computer, but I figure some of them might have had their numbers or addresses changed."
"Well," said Jessica, "Times like this you should be glad you're marrying a private detective."
"Yeah," grinned Jeff, handing her the sheet of paper, "In fact, I believe that's the only reason I'm marrying you."
"I'll get on it," she said, socking Jeff in the arm.
As Jeff descended back into his office, Jessica headed for her own office, ingratiating herself with the three names on the list:
NESS FRANKLIN
PAULA POLESTAR
POO MISHINTA
