Going Home Again

"A call from Home"

Down south where paved roads meet dirt is a town called Fairhope. A place like no other where football is more important than just about anything else, and people refer to you by your entire name. When someone beloved by this town dies it makes the local news paper but that's not how Lizamay found out about her daddy.

Late Tuesday afternoon was the busiest time in the publishing industry, a time when new books were being released. Rodrick Publishing was doing it's best to fill all the orders for Liza Clementine's juicy new book via the internet. 

"Murder in the Streets" was going to be the hottest selling book with over 100,000 hits in the first hour! 

"Is that what they are saying?" Seemed to Liza that number was a little low. Her disappointment must have been apparent because her editor was reassuring her in no time. 

"Sweetie it's only been an hour, just wait you'll see." Megan's intuition was normally spot on about these sort of things. Sitting in a very plush chair in her editors office overlooking the city from behind expensive glass. The town beneath her was a buzz with noise and life. Not to mention a rather foul smell and horrible traffic. It was an ongoing joke that in order to get anywhere in the city you needed to leave at least two hours early. She hated it! 

Everyone was always in a hurry, pushing and shoving to their next destination. Deep down she longed for a place to slow down, to relax and watch the sun set on the Bay. She wanted home. Thinking of home always made her feel sick, therefore she made it a point not to. Sometimes, however, memories crept back in. The humid weather in summer, but having a breeze from the water front. Amazing Spanish moss hanging elegantly from the trees.

'Stop it!'  she told herself. When she decided to write about her small town and all it's dirty secrets in high school it was like cutting off her lifeline to the place. She hadn't talked to any of her family in roughly seven years. Needless to say she wasn't welcome. Her biggest regret was her parents. 

Once her mom had been as close as a mother and daughter could be. Paul, her daddy, was the greatest father and little girl could ask for. Hard working and God fearing!

 He taught her how to pray and sing, just to name a few.

"Well if your not happy with that number we should do a little publicity to bump up the numbers." Megan's voice brought her back to the present. Work, concentrate on work.

"Sound's good we could do a You Tube video or-"

"Excuse me miss Liza, your Mother is on line one." She just stared at the secretary, as if she'd lost her mind.

"There must be some mistake my Mother wouldn't call me." Megan was shocked as well because for all she knew Liza's mom was dead. This was news to her.

"She said her name was Ester Clementine." A gasp came from her throat, her mother?

"I'll give you a little privacy." Though she had and urge to stay and hear their conversation, Megan knew it would be rude and excused herself. 

Feeling faint Liza moved to sit behind the desk. Quickly she looked out the window and wondered if she should just throw herself from it. No, if her mom was calling something bad had happened. Slowly she lifted the sleek black phone from it's holster and pressed the blinking red light.   

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