Page 12 of Shattered Dreams

Jolynn

“What happened, Jo?” Mom asked as I came back inside.

I sat back down in the chair and took a drink of my juice. “The boys hit a ball over the fence and broke Miss Jean’s window.” Tears flooded my eyes. “I don’t know how I’m going to pay her back for it.”

The house phone rang and my mom smiled as she answered it.

“Hello, Jean.” She gave me a wink and listened for a moment. “I understand. I’ll let her know.” Mom hung up and set the cordless handset down.

“Well?” I picked up my napkin and blew my nose.

“No charge. She said Harrison was working off his debt.”

“Them boys busted out our kitchen window a time or two, as I recall.” Dad said, coming into the kitchen for more coffee.

“Goodness.” Mom shook her head. “That was many years ago now. But Dad’s right. They sure did.”

“Miss Jean looked good.” I wiped the tears away and ignored my cell phone vibrating on the table.

“Once that son of a bitch got cancer a lot changed over there.” Dad leaned against the counter. “Jean even threw a party when he died.”

“No!” I laughed. “Really?”

“Sure did.” He nodded. “Her and the two boys built up a big ‘ol bonfire and burned his shit.”

“She needed that.” Mom nodded. “So did the boys. I do know it hurt her feelings that Cooper didn’t come home.”

“Could you blame him?” I thought back to the beatings I knew all of them sustained. “She’s lucky Jeremy and Richard stayed close.”

My dad chuckled. “Where’s Richie going?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I looked over at him.

“It means I still don’t understand why you left him.”

“Ed.” Mom turned and looked at him. “Let it be.”

The house phone rang again, and my mom answered it. “Hello.”

Her eyes closed slowly and she handed it to me.

Shit.

“Hello, John.”

“When you plannin’ to get your ass back home, Lynn?” My husband yelled through the phone.

“I’ll be home tomorrow.” I held my head up with my hand.

He grunted. “Yeah? Why you ignoring my calls?”

“I was outside with the boys.” The lie slipped off my tongue.

“Lynn, You know I don’t like when you take off. And you left me with nothing here. No food, no beer.” He growled. “That’s not upholding your vows.”

“No, John, I left you a roast in the crock-pot and there’s a case of beer beside the fridge.” I’m trying to keep my voice low enough that my parents can’t hear. Tears are filling my eyes, and my body trembles.

When I get home tomorrow, he’ll let me know exactly how pissed he is.

---