"Gay?" Denise asks, surprised by my suggestion. "I don't know, Callie."
"It makes sense. She asked me a while ago if I've ever thought about dating a girl," I say.
"Okay, weird coincidence. But if she were gay, she would have told us by now, right?"
"After all you said, you wanna say this is weird?" I scoff and shake my head. "But I don't know, look around. This is Medford. Would you tell us?"
Denise sighs. "I guess you're right. But it don't really matter to me if she's gay," she shrugs. "She's still Jacqueline."
"Yeah, me neither, but other people probably don't think that," I point out. "Few are as open-minded as we are."
Denise nods. "We're her best friends, though. Why wouldn't she tell us?"
"Maybe she doesn't want us to not be her best friends."
"We still would be," Denise says, her brow furrowed.
"She has no way of knowin' that," I respond. "So it's probably easier for her to hide it."
"Is it, though?" Denise asks. "Seems like a whole lot of hiding."
"Sure," I nod, "but it's probably better than being publicly shamed like you know she would be."
"You think we should bring it up to her?"
"Hell, no."
"Why not?"
"How would we bring it up to her, pray tell? Be like, So, you gay?"
"You got a better idea?" Denise challenges.
"As a matter of fact, I do," I nod. "We let her come out on her own."
"That could take forever," Denise complains.
"Then we wait forever," I say. I look at the time on Denise's alarm clock. "I gotta go pick my sister up, but you better leave this alone until Jacqueline is good and ready, however long that takes."
"Fine," Denise says, sulking.
"Thank you," I say.
I go to pick Missy up from school.
"Hey," she says, climbing into the passenger seat.
"Hey, good day at school?" I ask her.
"Yeah, Heather got a new piercing and it's really cool," Missy says excitedly. I notice she hasn't buckled in, and I don't move the car. "Why aren't you going?"
"I'm not moving until you get that seatbeat buckled, ma'am," I say authoritatively.
She scoffs, but buckles. "You're no fun pregnant."
I scoff as well. "You're no fun dead in the case of a motor vehicle accident."
"Way to make it dark," she rolls her eyes.
"So, I thought you and Heather had beef," I say, raising an eyebrow but keeping my eyes on the road.
"Eh, yeah, but we still hang out," Missy says, "kind of like you and Renee Lankford."
"Hey, Renee has beef with me but I just tolerate her existence," I defend.
"Whatever," Missy says. "Can we stop and get something to eat?"
"No," I sigh, "I think Mom's making something after Georgie and Mandy come get CeCe."
Missy groans. "Can't you just get it and deal with her?"
"No, Missy, I don't feel good, I don't want to deal with her," I say, getting a bit frustrated.
Yes, usually I would just go against Mom and deal with her after. Unfortunately, today I don't have the energy to turn the kitchen into a battleground, so I won't give her too much trouble.
"Fine," she groans. "But you suck."
I chuckle. "Whatever."
When we get home, Missy calls "I'm home."
"I'm home too," I call, "But I kind of suck, so…" I say teasingly, and Missy shoots me a glare.
We turn the corner into the living room and find Mom and Dad on a blanket on the floor with CeCe.
"Oh, no, did Dad fall?" Missy asks immediately.
"No," Dad says defensively. "I'm bondin' with the baby."
I gesture to the beer in his hand. "You wanna share that?"
He frowns. "You are pregnant," he scolds.
"I know, I was testin' you," I say, always happy to give him a hard time. I take a seat on the couch behind them.
"Isn't she the cutest?" Mom coos, playing with the baby.
"You know what else is cute? A piercing, right up here." Missy gestures to the top of her ear.
"Nope!" Dad says immediately, dashing Missy's hopes.
"Why? Heather just got one," Missy argues. "And Callie's friend Jacqueline has like 1000 piercings."
"I thought you and Heather were fightin'," Mom says.
"Yeah, middle school's complicated," Missy deadpans.
"Also, Jacqueline has no parents to tell her no," Mom points out. "You do."
"You're not gettin' another piercing," Dad says firmly.
"It's my ear!" Missy defends.
"We made that ear, it's our ear," Mom says.
"I share DNA with that ear and I'm voting in favour of Missy having another piercing," I say, happy to oppose my parents in anything. "And count it as two votes because I'm voting for two."
"I'm the third vote," Missy raises her hand.
"No," Dad says. "Callie and her baby don't count in this decision."
"I see how much my opinion is valued here," I say teasingly.
"Callie, you just made it worse," Missy complains.
"Ah, it was already bad," I shrug.
Missy goes to her room, muttering, "I hate this house."
"I miss when she couldn't talk," Dad says, referring to Missy.
I chuckle. This house has a way of staying entertaining.
…
The next day, there's a knock on the door. I open it to see Liam. "Hey, your mom invited me," he says.
"That was a bad decision," I say, "you didn't have to come."
"I had nothin' else to do," Liam says. "Besides, getting out of that house is good for me. Gap year, nothing to do but sit with the knowledge that my dad wishes I weren't alive."
I give a small look of sympathy. "Yeah, that wasn't cool of your old man," I step aside to let him in.
"You're tellin' me," he scoffs. "I ain't stopped thinkin' about it."
Mom comes into the front room. "Hello, Liam! So glad you could make it," she smiles, moving in for a hug. Liam awkwardly accepts it, giving me a look that says "what the hell is that?"
"Good to see you, Mary," Liam says as they pull away, still a bit puzzled.
"Please, have a seat. You want a drink or anything?" Mom asks. I squint at her, suspicion colouring my face. She doesn't seem to notice but Liam does, raising an eyebrow at me as he sits before answering my mother with an "I'm alright. Thank you, Mary."
"Charlotte, you should sit, too. This discussion involves you."
I sit reluctantly. Liam doesn't seem to suspect what this is about, but I'm beginning to get the picture. I'll let Mom do her thing anyway. I want to see how Liam feels about this.
"What is this about, Mary?" Liam asks.
"Well, this is about you and Charlotte," Mom says, gesturing between the two of us.
"What about us?"
"Well, it's really about salvation," Mom clarifies.
I can tell Liam is holding back a groan. Liam is aggressively atheist, just not super open about it. "What about salvation?"
"Well, as you know, having a child outside of the bonds of marriage is a sin," Mom says.
"I do know that, yes," Liam says with forced patience, as if he's speaking to a child.
"Well, I brought you here so that I could suggest to the both of you that…maybe you make it right, and get married," Mom says, presenting like it's just an idea when it's not just an idea.
Liam frowns. "Absolutely not," he shakes his head.
"Thank God," I breathe.
"Don't thank Him yet," Mom snaps at me. I roll my eyes. "Liam, maybe you should think this through first," Mom suggests, to which Liam shakes his head.
"I'm sorry, Mary, but I don't have to think anything through," Liam responds quickly. He's always been able to respond to things rapidly. He's super smart. Maybe not as smart as Sheldon but regular smart. There could be worse fathers for my baby, is all I'm saying.
"Sure you do, unless you want to go to Hell," Mom says.
"If I married Callie, I'd already be there," Liam says.
My jaw drops. "Excuse me?"
"No, nothing against you," Liam clarifies. "You're great. But Mary, I've moved on. I have a new girlfriend. I can't be married to someone I don't want."
I sit with what he says as a tense silence falls over the room, and I expect to feel upset over what he said, but the upset never comes. I nod and say, "He's right. I don't love Liam," I say truthfully. He looks at me and for a second I think I see him get upset, but he masks it with his usual poker face.
Mom sighs. "Fine. I guess I've done all I could."
"You've done more than either of us wanted, that's for sure," I scoff.
Liam leaves, and I turn to Mom. "I can't believe you."
"I'm just trying to look out for your soul."
"Look out for it, or suck it out of me?" I retort, before turning and going to my room.
I have a feeling I'm going to be one of those adults who doesn't talk to their Mom after they move out. She seems to really be gunning for it, the way she's been acting. Hell, I might move across the country to get away from her and her control. We'll see.
…
A few days later, I'm seated at the kitchen table with Sheldon and Missy while Mom is packing lunch for Dad. Sheldon crosses a day off on his planner. "Only 42 days until I go to Caltech," he informs Mom.
"That can't be right," Mom says, a look of sadness on her face.
"Oh, it is, it's in my calendar too," Missy says enthusiastically.
"You don't have to be so excited about it," Mom gripes.
"It's a little late to pretend that I like him," Missy shrugs.
"It's alright, Sheldon, I still like you," I assure him.
"Thanks, Charlotte, but your opinion of me is of no consequence to me," he responds.
I squint. This boy can't be nice for the life of him. "I retract that. I think you're the worst person to exist in the world."
"Charlotte," Mom scolds.
"Someone had to tell him," Missy chimes in. I chuckle.
Sheldon doesn't seem to mind, and he continues with, "There's so much to do before I go. Write my graduation speech-"
"You know nobody actually listens to those, right?" I cut in.
Sheldon seems puzzled. "Really? I do."
"And you're a nobody," Missy says, raising her hand to give me a high five. I meet it.
"Girls," Mom chastises.
"Last trip to the comic book store, last lunch with Tam at the high school," Sheldon continues to list.
"Didn't know you were still friends with Tam," Mom says.
"Why would you think that?"
"Because you never see him."
"My favourite kind of friend," Sheldon smiles.
"Make sure you leave room for the family photo, because that is definitely happening before you go away," Mom says.
"Seriously? That blue bonnet thing?" Missy asks, annoyed. She turns back to her cereal. "That is so lame."
"It is not lame! It is a Texas tradition," Mom says defensively.
"Does it have to be now?" I ask. "Can't it wait until my baby is born? Sheldon can come back for it, right?" I look at Sheldon, who shrugs.
"We'll have to take another one after the baby comes," Mom says with finality.
"Yeah, I was afraid of that," I groan.
"I'm pretty booked up, I'll try to pencil you in if time permits," Sheldon says to mom.
"I bought the outfits, I picked the photographer, you're doin' it," Mom says sternly as Dad enters the room.
"Doin' what?" Dad asks.
"That bluebonnet photo," Missy informs him.
"Oh, come on, I don't wanna," Dad protests.
"If he doesn't have to-" Missy starts, gesturing to Dad.
"We are all doing it, we are all gonna be happy, whether you like it or not," Mom yells.
"Can you be louder? I don't think my unborn quite heard you," I shoot at her sarcastically.
"Charlotte Cooper," she warns.
"Mary Cooper," I retort, ever fearless when it comes to my mom. I get up from the table. "I have to be anywhere but here, I'll see you guys later," I say.
"Make sure you're home in time for dinner," Mom calls as I head out the door.
"I never miss it," I call over my shoulder, "Except for the times I do."
I exit the house. I think about visiting Jacqueline. Nobody has seen her since the whole incident at the mall. As I get in my car, I shake her head. She probably needs some space. Maybe I just go to the record store, even though I'm not working today, and see what I can find. Maybe we have Superunknown, the new Soundgarden record.
I enter the store, and begin to browse through the records. After a few minutes, someone taps me on the shoulder. I look up to see that girl from the mall. "Hey, aren't you one of those girls that was with Jacqueline at the mall?"
I nod. "Name's Callie."
"Callie," she nods. "Is that short for something?"
"Charlotte," I say, my eyebrow raised.
"Strong name," she says. "Like a queen."
"What's your name?" I say, a small smile on my face forming at her comment.
"Allison," she says. "Listen, I hope it wasn't too awkward, me just approaching you guys when you were eating. I was just happy about seeing Jacqueline again. She clearly didn't return the sentiment."
"Jacqueline's not really an open book," I shrug. "In fact, I think she's glued shut to most people," I turn back to browsing records.
"To most people, but not to you?" Allison guesses.
"Not most of the time," I respond.
"Then I'm assuming she told you about me?"
I look at her. She's got a cocky grin on her face, an eyebrow raised. "No, she didn't."
"Interesting," Allison says. "Maybe you're not as close as you thought."
I bristle at that little jab. How dare she? "Then why don't you do me a favour," I say, "and tell me about yourself? How do you know Jacqueline?"
"Oh, you're touchy." She lowers her voice. "Well, Jacqueline and I met at a party, and I thought we had a connection…and we may have made out for a bit in a closet," Allison blushes a bit.
My eyebrows shoot up. I was right. I nod. "Alright."
"Alright? That's new. I thought you'd be clutching your pearls," Allison says as I once again turn back to the records.
"Well, not everyone thinks they have the right to judge what other people are interested in," I shrug.
"I never would have guessed anyone here in Texas would be chill like that," Allison says, a look of surprise on her face.
"I'm ice cold," I respond, "now, as nice as it is talking to you, I'd like to get back to my browsing."
"Alright, see you around, then, I guess," Allison shrugs, moving away from me.
I don't find the album I'm looking for, and leave the store. So, I was right about Jacqueline. Should I go see her now? Nah, I'll give her time to turtle on out of that shell by herself. Should I tell Denise about it? Nah, I don't really feel like dealing with all her drama and flair. I decide to go back home.
…
Later that night at dinner, Mom says, "Since everyone is here, there's something we want to talk to y'all about."
Missy says, "Oh, no, what's wrong now?" which is understandable, since this family doesn't have the best track record recently.
"It isn't always bad news," Dad says defensively.
"Last time we had a family meeting, Charlotte told us she was pregnant. Out of wedlock, by a man she isn't with," Sheldon points out.
"Thank you, Sheldon," I say dryly.
"It's nothing like that," Dad says. He smiles proudly before saying, "I got a job offer from Rice."
"-A-Roni?" Georgie asks, which makes me scoff.
"University," Dad says indignantly.
"Oh," Georgie says. "You can understand the mistake."
I give him a smack on the hand. "Ow," he says.
"Thank you, Callie," Dad says.
"Your father got offered a coachin' job!" Mom says, seemingly very proud of Dad. The rest of us are also impressed.
"George, congratulations. College ball, that is a big deal," MeeMaw says, seeming genuinely happy for Dad for once.
"Thank you," Dad says with a smile.
"Wait, where's Rice?" Missy interjects.
"Houston," Mom tells her.
Houston?
"Does that mean you'd move?" Mandy asks.
"Well, if I take it, yeah," Dad confirms.
"So, I'd start high school in Houston?" Missy asks.
"We know that would be a big change," Mom says tentatively, but Missy cuts her off.
"I'd get to be the new girl in a city with malls and a six flags?" Missy asks excitedly.
Medford has a mall, but nothing like the ones in Houston.
"We thought you'd be upset," Dad admits, surprised.
"I'm upset, that's a lot of babysitters to lose," Mandy says.
I roll my eyes as MeeMaw says, "I'm still here."
"Yeah, but your bedtime's earlier than CeCe's," Georgie points out.
"Only when I'm drinkin'," MeeMaw says, taking a swig from her beer.
"Excuse me, don't I get a say in this?" Sheldon interjects.
"Pardon?" I ask, and Missy says, "Why, you're leaving in 41 days?"
I figure she's counting today as over, as Sheldon said 42 this morning.
"Doesn't matter, this is still my home," Sheldon says, seeming to be increasingly upset.
"Shelly, you'll have a new home," Mom tells him.
"Maybe with a pool!" Dad adds. As if Sheldon enjoys swimming.
"Ooh, the new girl gets a pool!" Missy says, still excited.
"Sheldon, you're a scientist. Surely you're aware the world revolves around the sun, not you?" I ask.
This seems to upset him further, and he gets up and leaves the room.
"Where are you goin'?" Mom asks.
"To eat in my room, while I still have one," Sheldon sulks.
I roll my eyes again and go back to my food.
"Sheldon's upset and Missy's good. Sounds about right," Dad says.
I guess all that's left is to decide how I feel about it. I still live at the house. All my friends are here, my life is here, the father of my baby is here, and yet…isn't adulthood about curveballs being thrown your way and you figuring it out? I need some time, but I can figure this out. Houston's not that far away.
…
A couple of days later, there's a realtor coming to look at the house. I have to be out while they're doing this, since my rebel vibes might put the polished realtor off, so I finally take this time to go ahead and go visit Jacqueline.
I knock on her door, a bit aggressive so that it annoys her enough for her to open it and see who it is. After a few seconds, she opens the door. She sees me and sighs. "Oh, it's you."
"Hi," I say. "Long time no see."
"What do you want?" Jacqueline asks. She sounds more nervous than annoyed.
"To talk to you. I've got big news," I say.
"Seems to be the case every time you come over here," she says with a hint of humour. "Come in," she waves me in. I walk in and sit on her couch. She sits on an armchair nearby, which is weird because she usually just sits beside me. "So, what's the news?"
"So, my Dad got a job offer in Houston, and I think he's going to take it," I say.
Jacqueline's eyebrows furrow. "Houston? So…are you moving?" she asks softly.
"I think so," I nod. "They're having a realtor look over the house right now."
Jacqueline leans back in the chair, seemingly taking a moment to let the news sink in. "Wow, that's…that's big."
"Yeah, tell me about it," I sigh, the reality of the situation beginning to sink in for me.
I see a flicker of something in her eyes that I can't quite place. "When would you be moving?"
"Dunno. They're still figuring everything out. Maybe in a month, tops."
"That's soon," she nods slowly. "Houston is…far." She says this more to herself than to me.
"Yeah, it is," I say, "but hey, it's not like we can't visit or call."
"I guess so," Jacqueline said, but she seems distant.
You could cut through the tension with a knife. "You good, Jackie?" I ask.
She nods. "It's just a lot to take in. I'm going to miss you, more than you know."
"I'm gonna miss you too, Jacqueline," I say softly, feeling the weight of our impending separation.
Through the pause in conversation, I consider telling her about the interaction I had with Allison. But seeing how upset Jacqueline is trying not to make it seem like she is, I figure this can wait until later.
"You know," Jacqueline says weakly, "You could stay here."
"You think you could put up with me 24/7?" I say lightly.
"Yes," she says. The single word seems to carry more weight than it should.
I pause. "I'll think about it," I say.
She nods.
We sit in silence for a while, Jacqueline glancing at me every so often.
"I bet your family's excited," she prompts.
"Well, it's a mixed bag, I think. Sheldon isn't pleased-"
"Never is," she comments, and I chuckle.
"Missy likes the idea. She thinks that her social life can really thrive in Houston."
"Hm. And you?" she raises an eyebrow.
"I'm a little uneasy about it. I've got you and the girls here, and Liam lives here and he's the father of my child. I think I have a lot more to lose than everyone else," I say.
Jacqueline sighs. "Like I said, you've got a place here," she insists. "You don't have to leave Medford if you don't wanna."
"I know," I say. "I'll think about it."
As I leave her house later, I think about what she said, and how she pressed for me to live with her. Could she…?
No, absolutely not, she couldn't possibly be interested in me. I'm her best friend. That would be weird, right? Right. But somehow, I can't convince myself that it wouldn't be weird. I don't know why. I just seems natural to me even though it's so unnatural. I go home, hoping to get my mind off of these new thoughts.
…
The next morning, I enter the kitchen. "I don't wanna be alive," I groan, sitting at the table.
"Morning sickness again?" Mom asks, mildly concerned.
"What do you think?" I ask. "And I also can't have coffee, so you can imagine how bad a mood I'm in."
"When are you ever in a good mood?" Sheldon asks.
"When you aren't around," I mutter.
"I'm guessing you don't have classes today?" Mom asks, taking Sheldon's attention away from me.
"How'd you know?" Sheldon asks conspiratorially, as if Mom somehow found out he didn't have classes by magic or something.
"'Cause you're dressed like a six-year-old," Missy teases.
"Don't say that. He looks… fun," Mom says, trying to give Sheldon a compliment.
"Thank you," Sheldon says with a small smile, turning back to his cereal.
"Don't forget–" Mom says to us, "we have the family portrait today."
"Do we really have to stand in a field of flowers?" Missy asks, annoyed.
"Yes," Mom insists, matching her tone.
"If you're worried about getting stung, I have a backup beekeeper uniform," Sheldon offers, prompting all of us to look at him funny.
"You are not wearing a beekeeper uniform in the picture," Mom says sternly.
"Please? It'll really help my story about him going to a special school." Missy begs.
"What's happening?" Dad asks, coming through the kitchen on his way out.
"We are leaving for the bluebonnet picture at 4:00. Don't be late," Mom reminds Dad, who sighs.
"Wouldn't miss it." He turns to Missy. "Hey, you want a ride to school?"
"Nah, I'll take the bus," Missy rejects his offer.
"Suit yourself. See y'all later," Dad says, heading for the door.
"Four o'clock," Mom reminds him, and he nods in response, leaving.
"If I get stung by a bee, I'm turning you in to child protective services," Sheldon says to Mom.
I roll my eyes. "I gotta meet Liam."
"Giving it another try?" Mom asks hopefully.
"No," I shake my head. "We're just going to have a milkshake and talk about our impending child."
"So, a date?" Mom tries again.
"No, a meeting," I say, sternly. I make sure to head out before she can ask any more stupid questions. I head to Carl's, the restaurant Liam told me to meet him at.
I enter, and Liam is already sat in a booth. I sit across from him. He's got a composition book and a pen in front of him.
"What's that for?"
"Notes," he says casually. "After all, we need to make lists and things like that."
"I guess you're right," I nod. "Good idea."
He smiles a little. "Thanks, Callie. So, what we want to start thinkin' about is discipline. How do you plan to discipline our child?"
I think about that for a second. "Maybe ground them?"
"Grounding doesn't work. You gotta make it count. Spare the rod, spoil the child," Liam says, which makes me cringe.
"Dude," I say, "you'd rather beat your kid than have them act poorly sometimes and take their possessions away?" I ask.
The waiter comes, causing a pause in our argument as we order shakes, both chocolate. Once the waiter walks away, we turn back to each other.
"It's not beating, and beating them isn't okay," Liam says, sighing. "But taking away their things isn't going to do anything, especially if they get used to having their things taken away, decide it isn't so bad, and continue to act up anyway."
"And spankings are okay? Liam, you can't strike your kid to get them to listen to you, and boy, you sure as hell ain't layin' a hand on any kid of mine!" I say with conviction.
Liam looks at me for a second before sighing and jotting something down in his notebook. "We will come back to that," he says.
"What college did you decide to go to?" I ask him.
"I decided not to go to one," Liam responds. "I'll just stay with my dad's business. It's profitable enough, and he's hoping to broaden his horizons with it anyway. He's gonna need me for that."
"Sorry you're not going to North Carolina," I say jokingly.
He chuckles dryly. "It's not like it's only your fault. And what kind of Dad would I be to leave my kid all alone in the world?"
"All alone?" I raise an eyebrow. "They'll have me."
"Yeah, and you're pretty cool," Liam concedes. "But the bond between a father and his child is special. Something that can never be broken."
"Speaking of which, how are things with your dad?" I ask.
"I'm…trying to forgive him," Liam says. "It's hard when he's acting like he never said what he did, like it's all fine."
"It's not fine," I say.
"You're right, it's not. I look at him sometimes and wonder how I got stuck with him as a father," Liam complains. He looks at me. "You're lucky to have George as your dad."
I nod. "You're right, I am."
We talk more about child-rearing. We're disagreeing and compromising at several points along the way, but it's a mostly respectful conversation. This is the most civil we've ever been and I start to think there's hope for Liam as a person yet. We'll see if that lasts.
…
I'm in the front room with MeeMaw, Sheldon, Missy, Georgie, Mandy, and CeCe. We're all wearing matching white dress shirts and blue jeans, with black belts.
"Hmm. What am I smelling?" MeeMaw asks.
"I'm wearing peppermint oil. It's a natural bee repellent," Sheldon says.
"Always gotta be scared of something," I remark.
"You smell like a candy cane," Missy says.
"Do not lick me," Sheldon says, his voice devoid of humour despite his words being funny. Mom enters the room, checking the time on her watch.
"Hey, uh, speaking of smells, do I have time to change CeCe?" Mandy asks Mom.
"Still waiting on George," Mom says, setting her bag on the chair. "Go ahead," she smiles, giving Mandy permission.
"Okay," Mandy says, standing up with CeCe in her arms and grabbing the diaper bag.
"You need some help?" Georgie asks.
"No." Mandy says. After looking down at herself, she rethinks her decision. "Uh, well, I am in all white. Yes."
As Georgie and Mandy exit the room to change CeCe's diaper, there's a knock on the door.
When Mary opens it, Coach Wayne and Principal Petersen are standing there, their eyes wet and puffy as if they've been crying.
"What's going on?" Mom asks, her eyes wide and her voice anxious. I appear at the door next to her, trying to peer around to see if Dad is somewhere behind them. I…don't see him.
"Mary, we got some bad news," Coach Wayne says, seemingly unable to look either of us in the eye. My heart drops to my stomach, as if sensing something is very very wrong.
"Where's George?" Mom demands, as Missy and MeeMaw approach.
"I'm so sorry," Petersen says. "He, uh, he had a heart attack."
My eyes widen. I feel nauseous, and I don't think it's the baby this time.
"But he… he's okay, right?" Missy asks, her voice breaking. Or at least, I think her voice is breaking. It's hard to really know what's going on right now, because the next thing I hear is:
"He's gone."
Everyone begins to break down. Missy and MeeMaw cling to each other, and I put a hand on Mom's shoulder to try and steady her and myself. Tears form in my eyes, blurring the men in front of me. MeeMaw pulls us over to her and Missy, and we all cling to each other for support. I catch a glimpse of Sheldon sitting down in one of the chairs, staring straight ahead.
Only one thought rings in my mind: my dad is dead.