Suzie’s House 444 : First Things First

Ethan paced from the doorway to the kitchen to the front door and back while trying to ignore Gabriel’s phone conversation with Peter. It was a short track as the kitchen let off from the living room. Really, there wasn’t much to the house. Just the living room and kitchen in the front of the house, then a hall that let out to three bedrooms and a bathroom. He’d been so proud of himself when they bought it. It might be modest, but they actually owned it. Except for the mortgage, of course.

Now that it had become something of a cage to him, his pride struck him as pathetic. Even a single mom who worked as a nurse could afford that mortgage. She didn’t need him at all.

“I know, Honey. I miss you too.” Gabriel made a series of revolting kissing sounds into his cell phone.

With a grimace, Ethan made another loop, and considered heading down the hall to the bedroom where he still was not yet welcome.

“Where is she?” Ethan pulled up short in front of the front door. He considered ripping it open and charging down the street, as if that would accomplish anything.

“Who? Your daughter or your wife? No, not you, Peter. I’m talking to Ethan.”

By the time Ethan got turned around, Gabriel was right back to his conversation on the phone. But he’d had a good question. Even though Ethan knew quite well that his wife was at the hospital working, he couldn’t keep from missing her. Emma, though, was another matter.

“Honey Bunny, I have to go. I’ll call you later. Yeah, I know I have to come home soon. But not yet. I’ll call you tonight. Alright?” Most revolting kissing noises. “I love you too.” Putting his phone in his pocket, Gabriel speared Ethan with on of his sharp looks. “Sit.” It was an order.

It rankled to be given orders by a guest in his own home, but Ethan already knew he’d been putting unnecessary wear and tear on his expensive carpet. He came around the back of the couch and sat.

“That gig thing must be over by now. Where is Emma? She should be home now.”

“Why? What would she do if she rushed home? Sit around the house?”

“Well… but….” Ethan made himself stop sputtering. Sputtering was so very out of character for him. Or at least it ought to be. Sputtering was for the fearful, and he refused to be engulfed by his fears.

“What would YOU do? Lecture her? Ask a bunch of nosy questions? Sit around and watch TV secure in the idea that she hasn’t simply climbed out her bedroom window and already thumbed her way to California?”

“Like you did?” Ethan glared at his recently acquired friend.

“Yeah.” Gabriel leaned back and folded his arms across his chest. “Like I did.”

Ethan shuddered. He didn’t want that for Emma, or anyone. But adding to his fears didn’t solve anything. “Then what? What are you suggesting?”

“Maybe it’s time for you to look for a new job.”

“But I’ve only been home for….” Actually, it had been over a week.

“I’m not saying your family needs the money, though frankly I think it would go a long way to mending fences with your wife. I’m saying you need something to do. Something that will keep you from getting so fixated on your daughter’s every movement that you permanently destroy that relationship.”

The implication, of course, was that if Ethan got too overbearing, Emma would run. Actually, that was probably exactly so. She had already made it clear she would brook no interference in her daily life.

“But… what if she is in trouble right now? What if she needs me?”

“She has your phone number. Besides, it’s not like you worried about it when I found you digging for pizza in my dumpster. So maybe it’s time to find something worth while to do with your time.”

“And then what? You go home?” Ethan glared at him resentfully.

“Yeah. Actually. I do have my own life to live. But you’ve got my phone number, too. You will always be welcome to call or visit.”

Maybe he was right. Maybe what he should be focusing on was getting a job. If nothing else, it might return to him a sense of self worth. He reached for the phone book. Time to look up the address for Job Service.

If you enjoy Suzie’s House and would like to see more, please leave a comment. Suzie’s House is powered by its readers.