Read Online Seize the Day by Curtis Bunn - Free Book Online

hair. A little more free.
    It took a while for me to clean up the bathroom and to get dressed, but I did and it was a relief that my stomach was pain free. I thought better of telling my daughter about that stomach episode. It would only make her more worried and I couldn’t bear that. Not even my father would know. What would be the point of telling them? They’d just get upset. I had caused enough drama.
    Finally, I sat down on my living room couch and returned Walter’s son’s call. I was hoping he’d be dejected to know his father had passed. But I didn’t detect a strain of sadness. And that made me angry.
    â€œSo, what are your plans for a funeral?” I asked. “Will you and your uncle work it out? You’re his only relatives.”
    â€œThat ain’t got nothing to do with me,” he said. “I ain’t involved.”
    â€œBut you just asked about the insurance money, his will, his bank accounts. Above all that, he’s your father.”
    â€œIn name only. Man, you seen him more than me in the last five years. I ain’t complaining. I’m just staying out of the picture.”
    â€œBut he’s your father. And he loved you. I don’t know about issues you all had. But he’s your dad. He helped raise you, right? How can you just stay out of the picture?”
    â€œThe man killed himself. That tells you everything you need to know about him right there.”
    â€œBut you want his money? How can you not want to give him a proper burial but at the same time talk about getting his money?”
    â€œBecause I’m owed at least that.”
    â€œWalter is owed a proper burial by his family.”
    The kid and I went back and forth for another minute or so without him budging off his stance. Eventually, we agreed to meet at his dad’s house later that evening.
    I called Walter’s brother back to see where he stood on the funeral. His phone went straight to voicemail. I was sort of glad it did; I wanted to be a good friend to Walter, but I had my own issues to figure out. First was what to do about preventing or minimizing another attack.
    I called Maya about going to Atlanta for the holistic treatments. The strength of the treatments was that it would release much of the cancer or whatever was in my body through the enemas. Whatever hang-ups I had about enemas before my episode disappeared after it. I would do almost anything to prevent going through that again.
    â€œWhy are you so eager to have the treatments now?” Maya asked. She was keen. She knew me and knew that I could be stubborn. “Why the change?”
    â€œI don’t know. I can sense that I just need to get this stuff out of my system. My stomach doesn’t feel right. I’m scared to eat much; I feel like I will get sick if I do. So I’m hoping the treatments can make me at least get my appetite back.”
    She bought what I was selling, but not totally. “Yeah, OK, Daddy. If you say so. That’s all the more reason for you to fly instead of riding the bus for fourteen hours down there. Your first appointment is in six days. So you have to leave soon.”
    I told her about Walter’s suicide. “Oh, no, Daddy. I remember him. He was a nice man.”
    â€œI’m surprised you didn’t see it on the news.”
    â€œI haven’t turned on my television in two days.”
    â€œWhen did you meet him?”
    â€œThat time at school when you were honored for Teacher of the Year. He was quiet at first. I sat next to him at the ceremony. But when he learned I was your daughter, he opened up. I’m so sorry to hear this. This is crazy. Why would he do that?”
    I told her about the e-mail to me and that I felt obligated to attend his funeral. “I understand. Anything I can do to help, let me know, Daddy.”
    Another call came in; it was Donovan. I told Maya I’d call her back.
    â€œI’m at the airport.