Page 46 of Fracture

I laugh at the image of my perfectly coiffed mother coming this far downtown to slum it in a dirty garage with burlymechanics. “I don’t think this is exactly your scene, Mom. Might get some grease on those Louboutins.”

“I’ll have you know I spent a lot of time in that shop with your father.” Her voice shifts, as it always does when my father comes up. “I used to be a very different woman before I became a mother.”

“Yeah sure, Mom, blame me.” I take a swig of my beer. “Anyway, did you need something or were you just calling to see how my job is going?”

“As a matter of fact, I’m calling to invite you to a party.” Her voice brightens, the Miss America annunciation back. “I’m holding a big celebration for all our old friends.”

“What’s the occasion?”

“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I’m running for governor.”

I nearly spit out my beer, and Dylan’s brows knit together. “You’re running for what?”

“Governor. I think I could do a lot of good for this state, get some order into it. I’m just what the people need.”

“You don’t know the first thing about politics, Mom. You think poor people should be outlawed and that God belongs in schools.”

She takes a deep breath. “I will have you know that I’m much more progressive these days. I have many gay friends. Even the Blacks think I’m fantastic.”

I clench my eyes shut, and roll my beer bottle along my forehead to try and soothe the headache that’s threatening to erupt. “Mom, please tell me you’re joking.”

“I am not joking, Levi. I’d hoped you would support me and attend the party on the 16th. 7pm sharp.”

“You sure you want your son who has obscenities tattooed on his knuckles there? Your friends might think less of me.”

“No one will think less of you. You are my son, and the grandson of Oswald Perlman. That means something to these people.”

“Great, well at least it means something to someone.” I sigh heavily and roll my eyes as Dylan holds up a hand and mouthswhat. “I can’t make any promises, Mom. I have a lot going on right now.”

“But you just said-”

“I’ll be in touch.” I hang up and lean my head back against the chair with a groan. “Fucking families, man.”

“You’re telling me.” Dylan watches me expectantly.

“My mother is running for governor.” The words sound ridiculous as they come out of my mouth, and Dylan’s eyebrows shoot up. “She’s throwing a party to celebrate, and she wants me there.”

“Why the fuck is your mother running for governor?”

“Because theBlackslove her apparently.”

Dylan closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath, putting a hand to his head. “Jesus tits.”

“You can say that again.”

Dylan eyes me cautiously. “You gonna go?”

I shake my head, taking another swig of beer. “Hell no. My Mum just wants to play happy families and I am not into that.”

“Fair enough.” Dylan’s phone dings, and he picks it up. His brow furrows, and his eyes fly over the screen as he reads. “Fuck,” he mutters, and gets to his feet with a frustrated grunt. “My grandfather had a stroke, and he’s in the hospital.”

I spring to my feet. “Shit, do you need to go? Come on, I’ll drive you.”

He waves a hand, putting down his beer to go wash his hands in the sink. “No, it’s fine. They just need me to sign off on the DNR, I’m his next of kin.”

“Do they think he’s going to die?”

“I have no idea, it was his neighbor texting me, I’ll have to see.”

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