Chapter 5

Royce

 

 

Royce walked in the office to clock in. It was becoming harder and harder to do, not because he was lazy. He was anything but. His problem was the routine of it all. For two months straight he’d gotten up every morning at six to get to work by seven-thirty to cut tree limbs and clean up branches. It wasn’t his type of work but he’d do it to support himself and Makeena.

“Good morning, Royce,” Wendell, Sr. said.

Royce glanced up at him. “Good morning, Sir.”

“How are you?”

“I’m doing well,” Royce said, leaning forward on the desk to clock in on the designated computer for employees.

“Do you have a few minutes?” Wendell asked sitting up in his chair. “I need to talk to you.”

“Is there a problem with my work?”

“No, no. I just wanted to talk to you for a moment. Have a seat.”

Royce sat down in a wooden chair, staring at the man he didn’t know well but respected. The man who was his boss and father-in-law.

“How are you adjusting, Royce?”

“To the job?” Royce questioned, seeking clarification.

“Yes. The job and life here in Petersburg.”

He shrugged massive shoulders. “It’s okay. Makeena’s happy. That’s all that matters to me.”

“But are you happy?”

Royce grimaced. “Am I happy?” he repeated.

“Yes. Are you happy with this new life?”

“I’m, uh…I’m conflicted. I love Makeena, but this sort of life—this normal way of living is something I’ve never experienced. Something I’m not accustomed to.”

“So, you don’t like it.”

“No. Not particularly.”

Wendell pondered what Royce had admitted. “Then how do you go on from here?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, for starters, are you going to tell Makeena how you feel?”

“No. I hadn’t planned on it,” Royce said.

When another employee stepped inside to clock in, Royce looked at him, tilted his head and waited until the man was out of the office before he looked back at Wendell.

“You’re going to have to say something to her about it. You can’t let something this major fester.”

Shaking his head, Royce said, “I’m a good husband to Makeena and like I said, she’s happy. There’s no need to bring up any of this, and I would appreciate it if you would keep this between us.”

“But you’re not happy, man, and I have no problem keeping this to myself because I’m not going to be the one to tell my daughter something she should be hearing from you. If you don’t tell her what’s going on, your unhappiness will begin to manifest itself in other ways and may come out in a way you didn’t intend.”

Wendell paused giving Royce time to respond but he didn’t say a word.

“In order to sustain a healthy marriage, you’re going to need good, effective communication—communication that’s open and honest. Trust me. I know. When Makeena was kidnapped all those years ago, me and my wife went through turmoil. To this day I don’t know how we made it through. But what I do know is, we kept the lines of communication open as best as we could. At times, they weren’t good lines per se, but we did the best we could.”

“I know it must’ve been excruciating. She’s your daughter. I’ve known her a short time and I would die if anything ever happened to her.”

“It was the hardest thing my family has ever had to endure,” Wendell said. “It’s still difficult to think about all that transpired…all the time that has passed.”

Royce nodded. “I’m not the best at communicating but I try. I try for her. For Makeena. Everything I do is for her. I love your daughter, Wendell.”

“And I have no doubts about that, son. I’m just asking you to talk to her.”

“Okay. Maybe I will. I don’t know,” Royce said standing up. “Was there anything else?”

“No. Keep up the good work though. You’re doing an excellent job around here.”

“Thanks.”

“Hey, I’ll see you at dinner on Sunday, right?”

“Sure. I’ll be there.”