Chapter 33

Chaz leaves O’Leary and Gina in the study. They need to be alone in their despair. Those two have been joined at the hip since they were teenagers, and Chaz is glad they have each other. He doesn’t think either would get through this alone.

O’Leary was brutally abused as a child, and Chaz has always regretted not doing anything about it. At the time, he told himself that it wasn’t his role to interfere with how someone raises their kid. Not to mention that crossing Shane’s father could result in spending eternity buried in a hole at the body farm. But on certain days, in a certain light, he doesn’t see his boss, but instead, a sixteen-year-old with a black eye or a cast on his arm and Chaz regrets he was a coward. But who’s he to judge? Chaz was a shit father himself to Patrick.

The caterers are cleaning up, gliding around trying to remain invisible as they gather glasses and plates and start breaking down the tall tables they’d covered with flowing covers.

Chaz finds Patrick and his crew in the living room, standing in front of a television. They’re watching a recap of the Eagles game.

Chaz feels a wave of anger. He approaches the group, asks Patrick for a word. Patrick is about to protest, but he must see the red in his father’s face.

“Have some respect, it’s a wake.”

“What? It’s over. They went upstairs and aren’t gonna—” Patrick stops midsentence and he looks a shade paler.

Chaz follows his glance and sees Gina in the living room. “Jesus,” Chaz says, shuttling over to the crew.

One of the boys wisely shuts off the television. He looks at Gina. “Mrs. O’Leary, I’m sorry, we thought you were turned in for the night, and—”

She cuts him off with a shake of the head.

Chaz is about to intervene but decides to let this play out. These boys need to learn some manners.

“You call yourself a crew?”

“Mrs. O’Leary—” another one of them starts to say, but stops talking.

“Watching the game when the people who caused this to happen are going about their lives like nothing’s changed.”

Patrick says, “I’m sorry, Mrs. O’Leary, we are actually—”

“After we bury Anthony tomorrow,” Gina cuts in, “I’m taking my husband on a trip, far away from here. And while we’re gone, any self-respecting crew would make sure this matter is taken care of.”

To Chaz’s surprise, Patrick answers: “It’s already in the works, Mrs. O’Leary.”

“Good, get it done.” Gina turns and storms away.

Chaz walks over to Patrick. In a quiet voice he says, “What did you do?”

“You’re always saying I need to take initiative.” He eyes his father. “So I did.”