“I’ve been working on some new material,” he said.

I grinned. Of course our reunion would start off with a riddle. “Give me your best one.”

“In the morning I have four legs. In the afternoon I have two legs. In the evening I have three legs. What am I?”

I pretended to think about it, then finally gave up. “I have no idea. What?”

“A baby, an adult, and an old person with a cane.”

I chuckled. Oh, Dad.

“At least the jokes never get old.” Ha.

“What’s new with you, kiddo?” he asked.

“LA was a bust.”

“I’m sorry it didn’t work out, Mare. Did you know they filmed that Fences movie with Denzel Washington and Viola Davis here? In the Hill District, I think. Maybe you could find acting work here in the ’Burg?”

“Yeah, maybe.” Except I had already given up on the dream. It was too demeaning. “In any case, I’m home for good now. Do you mind if I stay with you until I can find work and a place to live?”

“You don’t need to ask. Your bedroom hasn’t changed since ya left.”

“You even left up my Will Smith and Snoop posters?”

“Even Will and Snoopy are still there.”

I rolled my eyes. Years of correcting him and he still called the rapper Snoopy.

“I appreciate it, Dad. I promise it won’t be for long. I already have some stuff planned.”

I wasn’t going to tell him that the plans involved something illegal. Probably even jail-worthy. He didn’t need to know I had a whole sister-stalking-reunion planned. Better I kept it to myself.

“You ever think about retiring?”

His job as a truck driver had been tough on his body. Catching forty winks in the cramped sleeper cab of his rig before hitting the road again, eating at greasy spoons. A body could only take so much abuse.

“I’ve still got a few more good years left in me. As they say, idle hands are the devil’s tools.”

From where I was sitting, he didn’t look like he had many good years left. His pallor and jutting cheekbones said there was something severely wrong. Something he wasn’t telling me.

“You look so much like your mother, Marin. God, I miss Josie so much. Even the crazy parts of her.”

“C’mon, Dad. It’s been years. Why haven’t you gotten out and tried dating? I could help you find someone. Even if it’s just someone to keep you company.”

“Nah, there’s no point trying to fill the hole your mom left. I’m too wounded an animal.”

“Stop being so dramatic. You’re not wounded. You deserve to be happy. Mom would have wanted that for you.”

He chuckled, then coughed. “Not if it meant me being with someone else! You know your mom woulda wanted me miserable without her.”