Jody liked to visit several quaint but thriving small towns around Seattle and explored them sometimes during their vacations. But this town was not like any of those. This town was distinctly different.
After driving through the scant neighborhoods that sprawled out like legs from the body of a spider, in Jody’s mind, they finally pulled over and Ross announced, “That’s my parents’ house.”
It was small and modest, neither overly neat nor a disaster. Something one might pass without reason for comment. Single story rambler with a single car garage. Visibly older, Jody guessed it was probably built sometime in the seventies. The plain front door and two windows looked just like the houses on either side of it. Grassy yard, a ramshackle, bark bed or two to break it up and painted gray.
“I haven’t spoken to them in a few years.”
“What happened the last time you saw them?”
He sighed. “I’m not sure. I mean, it was a dinner and I can’t remember what we fought about except that it ended bad so I didn’t call. When I finally did, they ignored me so I stopped calling then.”
“In a town as small as this, how could you avoid them?”
He laughed. “I’ve seen them plenty of times since then. I just don’t bother talking to them. Spotted them in the grocery store once and I ducked around a few aisles to avoid any encounter. Saw them eating out at a restaurant that I later avoided altogether, as well as driving through town or pulling into the hardware store. I never get close enough to say anything.”
“That’s so freaking odd.”
“Yeah. Actually, it’s great.”
They returned to the motel as the sun was setting. “So, those phone calls...” Hollow-toned, Ross pulled out his cell phone.
“You have all the numbers?”
“Some of them.” He tilted his head and his gaze fell on her. “Are you going to get angry at me for keeping some numbers? The numbers from some of the women I had sex with? I don’t know if this is such a good idea. I thought I didn’t want to face doing it alone. But it might be too weird for you and for me.”
“Oh, it’s weird, all right. Everything about this entire situation is uncomfortable. And tragic. And no, I’m not leaving you alone. I can deal with it. Besides, I have a list of my own. Does that bother you?”
He smiled. “It sure does. I can visualize myself pouring acid into their eyes until they forget what you look like naked. But then again, that’s just me.”
She paused. “You know how old-fashioned and sexist that sounds?”
“Does it? Maybe it’s because I never wanted to pursue something with anyone that lasted. Nothing more than a quick hookup. And now that I feel it, I don’t want to think about you being with other guys. If you feel the same way towards me,” his voice lowered and he shrugged before he finished, “I think I’d like it very much. It would make me feel special.”
Oh. His sad self-confidence. She smiled and replied, “Okay, I’ll ignore the urge to rip their eyelids off with my dull fingernails. Does that help at all?”
He laughed. “It helps. You always help me.” He pulled something up on his phone. “I made a list. I tried to go back in time, starting when I was a virgin and following through. But a few of them are pretty fuzzy in my memory. It makes me feel sick to know I can’t tell them the bad news and they could be spreading it or putting their own lives in more jeopardy.”
“I appreciate that. But at least you will tell all the ones that you can.”
“If someone from years ago called you up out of the blue, how would you want to hear that kind of news?”
“Honestly and straightforward. You could say something like, ‘I got tested for HIV and I was positive so I want you to know so you can get tested. I’m very sorry to tell you that but I just found out myself.’”
“That’s good. Thank you.” He nodded and sniffed before he finally started. The first few calls were the worst. He hesitated, hemmed and hawed, and skirted the subject to avoid spitting it out. Dancing around the topic only made it harder for him to say. He rubbed his neck and paced the small room. He also got a few angry snarls and hang-ups. Some women shed tears. Several cursed him and called