Chapter 22

Joseph was ultimately unable to get a single word in with Winona, even as the art exhibition drew to a close. He was just about to follow after her when his phone suddenly rang. His caller ID displayed "Dad" on the screen. So he eventually answered it. Neither Joseph nor Isaac spoke immediately, each silently listening to the other's breath. It was Isaac, from the other end of the line, who finally broke the silence, saying, "Your time is almost up, Joseph. Are you still unwilling to return to Brightwood?" Joseph's relationship with Isaac had always been somewhat distant, as Isaac's absence during his childhood had left them with little to bond over. Moreover, Isaac's rigid nature meant that he rarely made an effort to connect with his son. Thus, their estrangement eventually deepened. Upon hearing Isaac take the initiative to ask him a question, Joseph felt a flicker of unfamiliarity. He remained silent for quite a while before replying, "I'll return to Brightwood, but not before