Chapter 7
Merrin didn’t have to worry about waiting. Mr. Miller had been waiting for them to arrive. Had this been any other day, Dylan would have thought the peculiar old lawyer’s behavior odd, but the conversation hadn’t been the weirdest of the day. He had simply told him that everything was being handled according to Homer’s wishes, handed him the key to the house, and told Dylan that Homer had left something on the desk for him before he smiled and ushered them out, saying he had to walk over to the funeral home to get started.
“That was weird.” Dylan muttered as he watched Mr. Miller walk down the street toward the funeral home. The man had left them standing on the sidewalk outside the office.
Merrin shrugged. “He’s always been an odd little man. I guess that’s why he and Homer got along so well. Part of me is relieved that he’s going to handle everything.” She paused and gave him a questioned look. “Are you sure about this? We could just hang out here and tell him you want him to liquidate the house and everything inside.”
Dylan lit a cigarette and shrugged. “I’m as sure as I can be. Besides, he seemed to think there’s something in there for me.”
Merrin dropped her head. “If I know that old fucker, he knows more than he’s letting on. It does sound like Homer, though. Never tell anyone the whole truth, just leave little bits and pieces around like breadcrumbs.”
Dylan looked at her. “What aren’t you telling me?”
She shrugged. “Honestly? Nothing. I just can’t shake the feeling that something bad’s going to happen.”
Dylan cracked a smile. “You know I still don’t know what to think all about all the shit y’all told me earlier, don’t you?”
Merrin rolled her eyes. “This is my own goddamn fault. I just wanted you to have a normal childhood.”
Dylan narrowed his eyes at her. “Bullshit. You despised that man. He’s dead now, and you need to let go.” He paused, dropping his head. “I’ve not been this worried about something coming between us since I came out.”
His mother’s head cocked to the side. “What do you mean?”
He sighed. His shoulders slumped. “After what happened, on my walk home, I was falling apart inside, Mom. I knew I’d already lost my best friend. My first love, if what I felt at that age could be called love. I didn’t know how you would react. Would you reject me? Send me away? Kill me? I didn’t know, and usually not knowing is worse.”
He heard her sigh and felt her arms around him. “Come on. You know I would never let you go that easily.”
He chuckled. “I know that now . But then? Your hatred of Homer sounds like some of those jackasses, and I guess in the back of my mind, it scares me.”
She squeezed him tighter. “Never. Now get in the car and let’s get over there if we’re going.”
He shook his head. “I’m going to walk. Clear my head a little and smoke. Besides, I’m meeting Gabe at Peggy’s later, so I’ll be walking back this way anyway. He’ll bring me home after, so you don’t have to stick around.” He paused. “You know, you could go get Tinah and Mamaw. Get them out of the house for a bit. It might do Mamaw some good to get out of the house.”
She shook her head. “Do you know where it is?”
Dylan chuckled. “Of course I do. I’m sure everyone in this damn town knows it. There were times I almost went to see him. Ask him about dad.”
Merrin gaped at him. “Why didn’t you?”
He shrugged. “Figured it’d piss you off, and I thought you might kill me if I did. Part of me wonders if I should’ve risked it and maybe shit would be less confusing.”
He turned and walked toward the house, not caring if she came, though if she didn’t bring Tinah, he decided he would call her himself later.