Secrets of the Past

“Are you going to call him?” her father asked, a note of hope in his voice. He knew his daughter could be stubborn, but hoped that, in this instance, good sense would prevail. “I don’t have his number.” Geena presented the only excuse she could at this juncture. While her son slept peacefully on his narrow hospital bed across the room, she was being forced to face a situation she had spent years trying to avoid, and one she would have gladly continued to ignore, had it not been that her child’s health was on the line. Her father immediately took out his cellphone and dialed Kevin’s father, asking for his son’s number. Her wrote it down and handed the slip of paper to Geena. “Now you do.” Geena looked at the piece of paper her father was holding out as if it was a snake. A knot of fear formed in her stomach at the thought of making the dreaded phone call, but she knew she had run out of options. Kevin was the only thing standing between her son and that much-needed operation, so swallowing hard, she took the paper and stared apprehensively at the number. Leaving the room in search of privacy Geena headed outside and unlocked her car, settling in the driver’s seat with the windows and doors tightly closed and the air conditioning on. She took a few moments to compose herself and gather her thoughts before dialing the number, trying to rehearse her speech in her mind. Kevin answered on the third ring, and the sound of his deep, melodious voice brought back a flood of memories. “Kevin? Hi. It’s Geena.” There was a pregnant silence on the other end of the line, then Kevin spoke. “Hi, Geena. What’s up? It’s been a long time.” Geena found herself holding her breath, knowing what she had to say would not be easy. “Yes, it has, Kevin. A lot has happened since I last saw you,” Geena stated, trying to find the nerve to tell him what she needed to say.