Page 18 of Homebound
Chapter 6
Aunt Herise was home when Gemma finally made it back from work. Wrapped in her apron, Herise was vigorously kneading dough. Water was boiling on the stove, and two bulging grocery bags stood next to a chair.
“Aunt Herise, you’re home. Am I that late?”
“Not too late to help,” Herise threw over her shoulder. Gemma was never quite sure when Aunt Herise approved or disapproved of something. She sounded the same - curt and with little inflection.
“Of course. Let me wash my hands and I’ll peel the vegetables.”
“We are having shepherd’s pie,” Ravi announced. “Weare. I don’t know if you can have any. You aren’t a McKinley,” he added snidely, and when he realized that she actually was, backpedaled. “Not our sort of McKinley.”
Gemma tried to smooth over the awkward silence that ensued. “Shepherd’s pie? Aunt Herise, you’ve gotten beef?”
“Yes,” she replied and pursed her lips. “Someone has to worry about things like dinner.”
“The kids are so lucky to have you,” Gemma flattered her aunt. “They are so well provided for.”
Her flattery achieved the desired effect, and Aunt Herise’s pinched lips relaxed a little.
“I do what I can. Here, you can help by putting things away.” She indicated the bags.
Gemma washed her hands and began unloading the groceries. The boys swarmed around like flies, trying to see what they can snatch for a snack.
“Wow, fish! Mama, what kind of fish is it?” Desh poked the mackerel in the eye. “Eww, slimy.”
“Don’t touch, Desh. Away with you!”
Ravi was already pulling vegetables out of the second bag. “Radishes? Hurrah, we have radishes!”
Herise turned and pointed a floury finger at her son. “Do not touch. Let Gemma put away the groceries.”
Deflated, Ravi set the radish down.
Desh suddenly focused on Gemma. “You had a notice today.”
“From who?”
“The Comm Center. The mailman says a message came for you from Meeus.”
Gemma’s breath hitched. “It must be from Zeke.”
Aunt Herise turned and looked at Gemma speculatively. “Do you know anyone else from Meeus?”
“No, I don’t. It is from Zeke! Oh, Aunt Herise, may I go now?”
Aunt Herise waved her off. “Sure. Run along.”
Gemma dashed to her room and haphazardly threw on her coat and hat. Yanking open her dresser drawer, she dug behind her meager belongings and pulled out a tin can with her life savings grabbing a few coins to pay to retrieve the message.
She dashed out of the door nearly colliding with Uncle Drexel mounting the stairs. “See you later, Uncle!”
Buoyed, Gemma ran down the street, disregarding her limp and mindless of the pain the running caused to her foot. Her waiting was about to be over. She was going to leave the McKinleys and start living her own life, together with and protected by her Zeke. Soon, she’d say goodbye to her job at the prison for good.
Simon’s pale image floated through her mind like warm breath, and an unexpected reluctance slowed her steps. Leaving prison would mean never seeing him again. How would he survive? Arlo for sure wouldn’t finger-feed him gruel. The life force she’d barely detected in his bony body would be quickly extinguished.
But elated by the promise of a bright future, Gemma selfishly forced concerns about Simon aside.
She practically stormed the door to the busy Comm Center, and, after twenty twitchy minutes waiting in line, approached the counter and paid her messaging fee. Armed with a password, she went to a free terminal and punched in the code.
