Page 11 of Shattered Dreams

No matter how shitty life with our dad was, she always remained kind and caring. It never jaded her the way it did with us boys.

Turning back to the grill, I absent mindedly flipped and turned the meat. Not realizing Jeremy came back outside.

“Fuck.” He groaned. “Asshat’s back.”

“I thought you left.” I grumbled as Libby’s man flopped into a chair.

“Ollie asked me to come back.” He lit a cigarette and sat back in the chair.

With a roll of my eyes, I closed the lid to the grill and felt a tug on my shirt. Looking down, I am met with Jo’s beautiful eyes on a little boy.

“Yes, Harrison?”

“I’m done. My arms feel like worms and Mrs. Parks said you would lift me over the fence, please.”

Chuckling, I reached over and ruffled his hair. “Sure, kiddo. C’mon.”

We walk down to the fence, and I hoisted the young man over. He ran towards the Whitman’s house, yelling over his shoulder. “Thanks, Mister!”

He didn’t see me nod or continue standing there waiting to see if she would come back out. It wasn’t until I smelled burning meat that I snapped out of it. I turned and jogged back to the grill, watching Jeremy shake his head.

Great. He’s not gonna let this go.

As I get closer, I heard what he’s telling William. “…this one time in high school, Dick over there was kissing and making out with Jo and they burned ma’s best pot…” he bent over laughing. “You know how? They let the water boil so long it evaporated!”

Sneering at my brother, I get the meat off the grill and storm into the house with the charred burgers and dogs, grumbling.

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