“Nic didn’t mention anything the other night,” I said.
“She’s giving up that terrible apartment and coming to live with us for a bit,” he said, clearly pleased with the idea of his little girl coming back to the nest. “I told her she could stay as long as she wants.”
Nic strode back into the kitchen shaking his head. “We’ll have to grab lunch another time, dude. Clara’s car decided to die on her today.”
“What? Is she okay?” Mrs. Snow asked.
“Yeah.” Nic shrugged. “Well, physically, yeah. It kind of sounded like she was crying on the phone a little. But like she didn’t want anyone to know.”
“So you decided to tell all of us?” I shook my head in disbelief. “Also, your little sister is moving today? And you’re not helping her?”
“She’s just moving a few boxes,” he said defensively. “And we had lunch plans.”
“Dick move, bro.” I quickly turned toward Mrs. Snow. “Sorry, ma’am.”
She held up her hand. “That’s all right. Itisa dick move. Go help your sister, Nic. You can play with your friends later.” She winked at me and I laughed. I had forgotten how awesome his mom was. I knew where Clara got her fiery personality.
Nic had mentioned she was back in town, but that was it. I didn’t know she was moving back home or why. My curiosity got the better of me.
“I’ll help,” I said. “Many hands make light work.”
“Whatever you say, fortune cookie.” Nic shrugged. “Get in the truck, then.”
I hugged his parents goodbye one more time and jumped into Nic’s truck. It was older but it ran like a dream. One of the perks of being a mechanic, I supposed.
I was bouncing in my seat, excited as a kid on Christmas morning, but I caught myself before Nic noticed. I just pretended I was shifting to get comfortable.
“So what’s wrong with Clara’s car?” I asked before the silence got awkward. He didn’t need to know I was looking forward to seeing his sister.
“She just said it made a weird noise and then wouldn’t turn back on.” He sighed. “I keep telling her to get rid of it. She’s determined to drive that thing into the grave. I’ll see if I can’t get it started. If not, we’ll just throw her shit in the truck.”
“We should probably do that anyway,” I said. “What kind of men would we be if we let her move boxes by herself?”
“Men with full stomachs. That’s what we would be.” He took a turn down a road strewn with old grocery bags and fast food cups.
“When did Harrison City get a rough side of town?” I asked. “There’s only like three thousand people here.”
“Things are tough all over,” he said. “The town’s not doing as well as it was. Once the oil dried up, all the businesses moved away. We get by, though. We always do.”
“And Clara lives out here?”
“Not for long.”
“What happened?”
He scoffed. “She’s been working at the Helios, downtown. But now the damn theater is falling down. They had to close for renovations, so they shitcanned her. Now she’s moving back in the with the parents, and she is not handling it well.”
“Well, yeah,” I said. “That’s never easy.”
“That kid hates leaning on us for help. Refuses anything that seems like charity. So the fact that she gave in so easily and is moving back home is a huge deal. She wouldn’t do that unless she was desperate.”
“I could have sworn I heard she was in LA,” I said. “Or was my brother just making shit up?”
“No, she was.” He took another turn. “She was killing it out there, but then she broke up with this guy, and it blew up her whole life. She doesn’t like talking about it. Please don’t bring it up.”
“My lips are sealed.”
“She’s been talking about going to New York for the last couple years,” he said, running his hand through his hair. “I don’t know, man. If anyone can make it happen, it’s her.”
