Laura called Dave the next day from the Portland airport to let him know that her driver had just assisted Jerry in the check-in process and had directed him toward the proper gate. She also confirmed his departure time and provided Dave with the posted arrival time in Philadelphia.
Dave, however, had forgotten to alert Cheryl of the change of plans, so she had no idea her husband would be arriving back a day earlier than expected. Dave only realized it as he was driving back to Jerry’s house, and so he left a message for Cheryl on her phone.
Jerry had left with only a carry-on bag and did not need to pick up luggage at the carousel. Dave parked in the waiting area and watched the board for the announcement of the plane’s arrival. Once assured of its landing, he moved his car to the terminal and parked near the curb with his parking lights flashing. He checked his watch. Fifteen minutes later, Dave caught sight of someone quite disheveled, pacing back and forth outside the exit, approaching people randomly.
Dave pulled his car up toward the man and confirmed that it was, in fact, Jerry. He got out of his car, stowed his partner’s bag in the trunk, and then opened the passenger side door, and Jerry got in.
The man sitting next to him seemed little like the man who had left for Oregon less than three days prior. Though Jerry had shown signs of exhaustion for days, he had been rational, functional, and aware of his mission. The man who had just arrived was frightened and befuddled. Dave called Laura to let her know that Jerry had arrived and asked how he had been before he got on the plane.
“We had a rather good discussion on the trip to Portland. He seemed lucid the whole time. How is he now?”
“Not well. Sweating and non-verbal.”
“I should have never asked him to come out here,” said Laura. “I didn’t have any idea the disease had progressed this much.”
“I didn’t know that either, and I can’t seem to get in touch with Cheryl. I’ll be dropping him off in less than a half hour. Did you get enough from Jerry to create a story?” asked Dave.
“I’ll need a lot more information from others, but I, at least, have a sense of the man and his background.”
“We’ll talk later. I’ve got to get him home,” said Dave as he ended the conversation.
Dave pulled up near the entrance to Jerry’s home. There were several cars lining the curb and music was blasting from the house. Dave exited the car and approached the passenger side, and that was when he heard glass break, followed by some laughter and shouts.
He helped Jerry out of the door and walked him to the porch, where he saw his partner’s daughter, Sharon, through the window. He knocked loudly, and she opened it. She looked like her mother, only younger and frightened.
Sharon looked past Dave and saw her father. “Gees, Dad! You weren’t due until tomorrow.”
She then tried to hush the room, but the music stayed loud.
“I have to get your Dad in bed,” said Dave. “Where’s Cheryl?”
“She’s out, but said I could have friends over.”
“I heard a glass break,” Dave said as he looked around at more than a dozen teens, most with plastic cups containing beer from the empties left on tabletops.
“Oh, the glass. We had an accident.” Sharon looked past Dave at her father. “Is he drunk?”
“No, Sharon. He’s sick. Get someone to help me get him upstairs.”
She asked two big guys to come over. Each took a side of Jerry, and they walked him up the stairs.
“It’s the last bedroom on the right,” said Sharon before she turned back and examined her father. “Sick?” Sharon repeated back to Dave.
“Haven’t you noticed that your father’s been ill? Has your mother told you nothing?”
“Mom said that Dad’s been under a lot of stress lately at work. We haven’t seen much of him. He’s usually out of here before we get up, and we’ve got sports after school.”
“Is Jen around?” Dave asked.
She turned again and called, “Jen, it’s Mr. Brunhaufer. He wants to talk to you.”
Jen was almost 14, and obviously shorter than her sister. She was dressed more conservatively than Sharon, since her figure had not yet filled out.
“Dad?” she said, seeing her father being walked up the stairs. Jerry was unresponsive.
“I tried to call your mother,” Dave called out loudly as he assisted Jerry to the bedroom, “but she doesn’t answer.”
“She went out for a while,” answered Jen. “She didn’t say when she’ll be back.”
“I think you’d better end the party, girls. Your father will need any rest he can get. Does your mother know about this?” Dave gestured at the teens with the beer, most of whom remained oblivious to Jerry being carried to his bed.
“She just said to keep the noise down.”
“And the beer?”
“A couple of the guys brought it. We don’t drink, either of us.”
“This is a school night, isn’t it?” asked Dave.
“Not really. We’re off tomorrow because of some teacher’s conference.”
“And what about the boys? You go to a girls-only school, right?”
“We all have good grades, and none of us have gotten into any trouble.”
“I didn’t question that. Just end the party, and I’ll stay around until your mother gets home.”
“Okay. So what’s the real scoop on Dad?” asked Sharon.
“He’s very ill, girls. And he’s apparently been sick for some time. Up until now, he has had good days and bad ones... but now, it seems they’re mostly bad.”
“Is there anything we can do to help him?” asked Jen.
“Yes. Refrain from loud parties in the house, and be nice to him.”
“We didn’t know he was coming home today.”
That’s my fault, thought Dave. “Just clean up the house and get rid of the kids. Let’s start there.”
Dave grabbed his phone from his pocket and called his wife. “I don’t know when I’ll be home tonight. I’m at Jerry’s now, and I’ll be here until Cheryl gets home.”
The two girls seemed to return to their real selves and ages as they asked their friends to leave. The two boys who had carried Jerry up the stairs came down, and one asked Dave what was wrong with Sharon’s father. “He just keeps staring out into space. He doesn’t even blink.”
Dave did not mince his words, despite what Cheryl might not have wanted the girls to know about their father’s illness. “He’s very, very sick. And though he may seem better tomorrow, he probably won’t get better.”
“Is Dad going to die?” Jen’s voice was small.
“Yes,” Dave said without hesitation, pissed that he had to relate this information. “There’s no cure. Haven’t you noticed?”
“We hardly see him anymore,” said Sharon. “Mom said he was stressed. We’ve been busy. We never thought to ask.”
“Clean up the house,” Dave said. “Get rid of the kids. Start there.”
As Sharon and Dave gathered up trash, Sharon asked, “How long has Dad been sick?”
“Nobody’s sure, but he hasn’t been sleeping well since before you all went to the shore—possibly three or four months. He didn’t know how sick he was until recently.”
“Why didn’t our parents let us know?” asked Sharon.
“I think your parents just wanted you to live your life and not have to worry about them.”
“But we’re old enough to know. At least I am.”
“I’ll let your mother answer that question when she comes home.”
“Will you tell Mom about the party?” Sharon asked.
“I’m not sure. There are more serious things to discuss, and she should be the one to tell you, not me.”
Jen ran back down the stairs and said that their father might be sleeping with his eyes open, but Sharon interrupted her. “I’m sorry, Mr. Brunhaufer, for the party and everything. We thought Dad was going through something like men do in their forties when they chase girls or buy fast cars. Mom’s been strange too, but Jen and I just thought it was her onset of menopause. Isn’t that right, Jen?”
Jen was sobbing, but nodded.
“When your mother gets home, we’ll talk more about this. Do you have any idea where she might be?”
“My best bet would be with Mrs. Wister, her friend she’s made at our school. She doesn’t say much about her, but I’ve heard Mom mention her name, Sabina, when they talk on the phone. Mom’s been stressed too, but I guess she should be if she’s worried about Dad.”
“Since you girls and I haven’t been in touch lately, how are things going at school?” asked Dave.
“Fine,” said Sharon. “I’ll be a senior next year and am looking at colleges... or, I was until recently. I play lacrosse and basketball. And I have a lot of friends.”
“I don’t have many friends,” said Jen, still sniffling. “At least in my class, but I like hanging out with Sharon and her friends.”
At this point, Dave heard a car pull up and looked out the window. “That must be your mother.”
“Please don’t tell her about the party. Just say you’ve brought Dad home early.”
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