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Milo
RAY PEERED THROUGH the half-opened door. “Do we have an appointment that I’m unaware of? The answer to that is “No” in case you’re having trouble remembering.”
The unfriendly welcome hit Milo in the gut, but he kept his cool and responded, “Can I come in or what?”
Ray pushed the door open wider, rolled his eyes and walked back into his living room. Milo followed behind him, glanced around at the spacious surrounds and blinked to refocus. It was hard to imagine living in a place like that. At least the cabin he shared with Moe had not been damaged during the fire but so many other people had been displaced. He didn’t need a luxury penthouse but looking around at what was possible made his head spin.
“I wanted to ask you about something,” he said.
“Is that right?” Ray said and sat down.
“If you don’t mind.”
“Of course, I mind but you’re here so what is it? By the way, I saw you during the fire last week. Very dangerous situation. What were you thinking?”
“Oh yeah, it was definitely dangerous. I really didn’t think about that at the time. But, if you ask me, I was more nervous about coming to see you today than I was that night. It was all a blur, honestly. I was kinda all over the place until the Forest Service firefighters got there and took over. The main thing was I had to get the horses out and into the trailers. Then I helped put out the fire at the marina. Whatever I could do ...”
“Why?”
“The marina was the most important because of all the oil and gas. If that got out of control, everything would’ve been gone. I mean, an explosion would’ve taken out everything.”
“And everyone.”
“Yeah.”
“You didn’t answer my question, though. Why?”
“Why did I do it? You mean, why did I help?”
“Yes, exactly. Why?”
“Well ... That’s not the real question. The real question is, why didn’t you?”
“You wouldn’t understand my lack of motivation to put my life at risk for something like that, I suppose. I have no emotional attachment to buildings or land. It’s beyond me how people ...”
“What about your money? You’ve put a lot of money into Wyman’s. I know about that.”
“Insurance. I get my money back either way. If it stands, or gets sold, or burns down. It makes no difference to me.”
“Wow.”
“They probably didn’t teach you that in school.”
“I guess not.”
“And, the real question is, why are you here?”
“Right.” Milo ran through his mental checklist and started to explain. “My girl suggested that I ...”
“If this is about your relationship with some girl, I am not the least bit interested.”
“No, it was her idea that I ... Well, never mind that part. What I mean is ...”
“Let me help you again. Skip to the part of this conversation that I need to know and don’t tell me the rest. Just fast forward, okay? Got that?”
“Okay. Well, here.” Milo dropped the notebook on the table that he had been safeguarding for months.
“What is this?”
“My DNA results and ...”
“And, why should I care?”
“Just look at it, okay?”
Ray picked up the notebook and flipped it open, took out the loose pages and scanned over them. “So, you’re a Winston.”
“Yeah, my grandparents and your ...”
“Yes,” he hissed. “I can read.”
“I just thought that ... Now that we know, I mean, we’re related and ...”
“I see.” Ray walked over to his desk, opened the drawer and dropped the notebook inside. “There are some advantages and benefits to being a Winston. No doubt you’re aware of that also. And, you’re here to cash in. Correct?”
“No, nothing like that.”
“Alright. You’re here to find out what you are entitled to have or do now that you know a little bit about your heritage. Is that it?” He picked up the report again, flipped through the pages and approached Milo.
“No, no. I have a job and my own business. I make my own way. That’s not it at all.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I guess, I wanted to just ... talk.”
“Talk?”
“Yeah, and maybe see if we had more in common than a name. And ... “
“And?”
“And ... nothing.” Milo snatched the paper away from Ray and walked to the open door.
“This news changes nothing between us. You know that, right?”
“Right. Nothing.”
