"Maybe he's not there," Fenton said as Laura pushed redial for the third time.
"I'm going to keep right on trying until he is then," she almost snapped back. The detective sighed and looked at his hands, wishing his wife would calm down.
Or I'd wake up and start worrying. If only I didn't feel so numb…
He knew what it was; a defense mechanism, his brain's way of blocking out the pain of his loss. Losses. Plural.
"Laura, why don't you wait an hour…"
"Hello? Yes? Joe honey, is that you?"
Fenton quickly picked up his own phone to listen in.
"…me Mom."
"How are you sweetheart? Were you sleeping?"
"Yeah…damn, what time is it?"
"After six."
"Shit."
"Do you have a class."
"Had. It's over now."
"Joe!"
"I'm sorry. I had a rough night last night. I was up late."
"Did you go out?"
A pause. "Sort of."
"Really? See anyone?"
"No. Look, I've got to go…"
"Don't cut us off," Fenton jumped in. Laura looked at him sharply, but he avoided her eyes. "Joe. We're worried."
"Oh that's different…"
"Have you been skipping classes?"
"No. Not on purpose, anyway."
"How about we stop by this weekend?"
"No, I don't think so. I'll be busy."
"Honey," Laura tried, "it would make us feel better…"
"I'm…" Joe suddenly cut off and mumbled as if someone else was in the room. Fenton and Laura exchanged a puzzled glance, then Joe came back on.
"I'll think about it. I've got to go now."
"Will you call us later?"
"Sure…"
"Why don't we call you," Fenton jumped in, knowing full well his son would never return the call.
"Even better."
"Take care of yourself, honey…" Laura murmured, blinking tears back.
"I will. Am. I am, Mom."
"All right. Love you."
"Sure. Bye."
"Good…"
But the phone was dead.
Laura stared at her husband, her eyes filling as she slowly pulled the phone away from her ear and clicked it off.
"Did we fail as parents?" she asked him.
Fenton couldn't answer.
