Page 57 of Hollow Heart

“But you finished it.” Felix’s words are not judgmental, but they are solid and direct.

It isn’t a question.

“Yeah,” Bobby sighed, leaning back against the cushions.

I look at him, seeing the glimmer in his eye of sadness, of pain.

Felix’s lyrics reverberate in my brain once more, the ones from Black Sea, about trying to be a shark, but being weak.

Right now, I can’t deny my kid looks beat in more ways than one. My heart hurts to see him like this, and anger and frustration ebb in me that there isn’t anything I can do to take that pain away.

“What happened?” I ask softly.

Bobby’s gaze catches mine and he frowns. “Not everything needs a reason, Dad. Sometimes people are just assholes.”

Felix’s voice carries through the air, the truth in his words loud and clear. “True that, Bobby. True that.” Felix parks the car. He says nothing else as he gets out, heading into the shop, leaving Bobby and I alone for the moment.

Giving us space.

The notion isn’t lost on me, and I have to admit, I’m surprised.

Just when I think I know Felix, he mystifies me yet again.

“I’m not mad at you, you know,” I say softly.

Bobby looks at me from beneath his lashes. “I didn’t think twice. He hit me, and I just... I couldn’t justlethim get away with it like everyone else does. Just because I’m...”

His words disappear, and for a moment I think he’s going to tell me the truth, but instead he changes his path.

“Just because I’m different.”

Something about the way he says the words feels like he means something else, but I’ll be damned if I know what.

Why can’t kids just say what they mean?

Why do they have to make everything so complicated?

A part of me wishes Marci was here. She’d know how to handle this situation.

I look through the windshield, through the window of the cafe. The place isn’t terribly busy at this time of day, but then again, school’s still in session.

It’s pretty much just Felix and a couple other folks—women.

He smiles as they take selfies with him. Then he looks directly at me, and I can’t help but look away.

“What happened to the truck?” Bobby asks softly.

I sigh. “Wouldn’t start.”

Bobby huffs as he rolls his eyes at me in disdain.

“See, if I had a car, I could just drive myself. Maybe even have picked you up.” He tries to change the subject.

“If this is your way of trying to get me to buy you a car, you need to try on a day you don’t get suspended from school,” I declare as I open the door.

Bobby follows, huffing his own sigh of annoyance as I head into the cafe.

My stomach growls, and I hate to admit I am kind of hungry. I didn’t really eat much more than a bowl of oatmeal before heading out today.

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