Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 156808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 784(@200wpm)___ 627(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 784(@200wpm)___ 627(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
“Okay. So he’s been moved?” he asked, needing some clarification. He wasn’t sure he’d heard that right, and now she just confused everything she tried to say that much more.
“I’m just coming home from signing the paperwork at the facility. It’s a beautiful place. He’s got his own room with his own nurse. They’re very concerned about him. That sore you found’s gonna cause him some problems, but, son, you’ve done enough. Let this be the end. You need to let go and move on. John wasn’t any good, not since the day that boy was born. Don’t think I didn’t hear the rumors and the stories he spread around town. About how we kicked him out ’cause he was gay. We kicked him out because he landed himself in jail twice for drugs. Then he started stealing from us. We’d come home and find things missing. John stole my great-grandmother’s diamond locket and pawned it. All these years, he’s never stopped. We had to get him out of our house to try and teach him a lesson,” she explained. Her voice was strong, but all this had taken a toll on her as well. She looked frail, and as he started to speak, she lifted her hand again to stop him.
“My boy preys on good-hearted people. Your parents saw it, Casey and I saw it, you just refused to open your eyes to what was going on around you. And I hate to say it, but he had a way of spinning a tale to pull at the heartstrings.”
“Mrs. Nickerson…”
“No, Kellus. John was always gonna end up like this. You just prolonged his life, but that boy is bad. He made you sick. I know he did. He never cared about anyone except himself. I see that man you’re with now. He looks at you like someone in love should look at you. He needs to be your focus. No one would ever think less of you for walking away. Let this be enough. John was lucky to know you. Now, move on with your life.”
She pulled out a packet from her purse, an envelope stuffed full of papers. “I’ve never shared these with anyone. These are the times I’ve bailed him out over the years. Casey doesn’t even know about some of these. Also, the police reports Casey filed every time something was stolen. I called a police friend of ours, and in the back of that stack is John’s record. I think you need to read it. John’s an addict, son. They’re very good at lying and making you feel like everything is your fault. They learn your weaknesses and use them to get what they want. John did that to all of us.”
Kellus flipped through the stack of papers in his hands. He focused on the dates. He’d had no idea all this was going on. How had he been so stupid? John had lied to him about so many things. Things Kellus had questioned, but John had so easily explained away and he’d believed him. He stopped about halfway through the stack when he caught a reference to a specific date. He remembered that timeframe… It was a time he’d thought he and John were at their happiest, when John was supposedly off modeling. This was the truth Arik had tried to get him to see. He’d been such a fool.
“Thank you for giving me these. You’re right. I didn’t know,” Kellus said, letting the pages flip closed, stuffing them back inside the envelope.
“I didn’t think so.” There was a sincere look of regret in her eyes. “So many times I’d fret about you. Wanting to tell you, but I didn’t think you’d believe me. You deserve to be happy, Kellus. I appreciate you extending his life, but go and be happy, son.”
He swallowed the lump forming in his throat. “I’m not sure about the move. I spoke with the social work department a couple of days ago, but I thought the facility required a big deposit before they would transfer him. I was trying to get that together.”
“You must have done something. They said Mr. Hardin had made the arrangements. Let this be enough; you shouldn’t have done this, but I thank you. Casey thinks we should… Well, never mind.” Her eyes teared up as she waved off her previous words and continued, “Casey and I will always be grateful for your kindness. But John’s not your responsibility, Kellus. Now, please, go on, live your life.”
For a lack of anything else to say, he muttered a thank-you again as she opened the door and stepped out.
“You listen to me now. The holidays are coming. You take some time to yourself. I’ll call you if anything changes with John.”
He watched her walk all the way to the car, lifting a hand when she did as she pulled out of the driveway. Kellus stood there even longer as so many emotions settled over him all at the same time. The decision to move John, then walk away had already been made. Maybe not completely formed in his head, but he couldn’t ever risk losing Arik again. That pain had been unbearable. He lifted his eyes and grinned at the heavens. Mrs. Nickerson’s timing couldn’t have been better. Kellus turned back to the entry, set the alarm, and left the house with the packet of information still tucked underneath his arm.