Heaven or Hell by Roni Teson Read Free Book Online Page B

personally counseled.
    He’d returned to Juan’s hospital room the day after the man was admitted. The day after he promised he’d help him with his daughter. “Why don’t I know this already?” he’d selfishly asked Juan, after Juan had spent a few hours describing the incidents, and the history surrounding the accident, the illness, and his final abandonment of his family.
    “How does one go about telling this story, Father? It’s not pleasant. I’m ashamed.”
    “Oh, come on, Juan,” Father Benjamin said. “How many Al-anon meetings have you led? How could … Why have we not done this years ago?”
    “Father, I’m exhausted.” Juan had a tube in his nose, an IV in his arm, and machines beeping around him. His skin was a yellowish tint, and the priest could see that Juan had trouble keeping his eyes open. “I’m dying. I’d like my daughter to have closure. I’ve never asked you for anything for myself. Just do this, please?”
    “Yes, yes. I will,” Father Benjamin answered.
    The priest had no choice and yet he worked hard at finding a resolution that didn’t involve him personally. Father Benjamin had developed a list of possible candidates, people whom both he and Juan had worked with, who could bring Juan together with his family. When he’d returned to the hospital, later that day, he’d provided several choices of counselors to Juan who could contact his family, every one of which Juan had declined.
    “Father, you agreed to help my daughter. I don’t want anyone else contacting her.” Juan had closed his eyes and swallowed, his voice became a whisper. “This is delicate, please.”
    “I’m way too close to this situation,” he’d told Juan.
    “Which is exactly the reason I asked you.” Juan had turned toward the window. “The phone numbers and addresses are in my office. I keep them in the notebook, on my shelf, with the word “family” on it … We’re running out of time.”
    As it stood now, Father Benjamin believed he could leave the rest of this mission in the hands of Jessie. It was evident she would be at Juan’s side, and she’d do everything within her power to get Teresa to be there too.
    “Father, how long have you known my brother, Joe?” Jessie walked at his heels in double time to keep up with his long legs.
    “For quite some time.” Father Benjamin stopped in front of Juan’s office.
    “So you knew him as Joe?”
    “Yes.”
    “What did my brother tell you about our family?” Jessie stood by his side at the door to Juan’s office.
    “He hasn’t shared much.”
     

CHAPTER 6  
    ANGEL HAD REMAINED BY TERESA’S SIDE throughout the meeting with the priest. She wanted details on Juan’s abandonment of his family. The entire situation felt familiar, a bit like a movie she’d seen before.
    The priest spoke to Teresa and her aunt as they entered Juan’s office. “Your dad spent little time in this room. As you can see, he’s not a paperwork person.”
    A desk, a shelf, and a few chairs filled the dimly lit office. Stacks of folders sat on both corners of the desk and the shelf held a pile of white three-ring notebooks.
    “We were looking for the General the day Juan was admitted into the hospital.” The priest sat down in the chair farthest from the wall, opposite the desk, and Teresa stood in front of the shelving unit.
    Angel immediately focused on two framed photographs near the top of the bookcase. She pointed at the pictures just as Teresa looked up. Teresa’s aunt was oblivious.
    “The General?” Jessie asked Father Benjamin.
    “Yes, he’s an older gentleman who’s been living in the shelter near Washington Street. When he didn’t check in last week Juan was worried. The General was too old for the night air.”
    “Was?” Jessie responded.
    “I hope not. We’re still trying to find him,” the father whispered.
    Angel’s insides were about to explode over the unseen photos until Teresa finally recognized the pictures and pulled