“Yeah. She tries, I guess. She’s pretty well off, so we have everything we could want. I just—I don’t know, I feel like I’m more of a burden. That’s part of why we never toldher about our dad. It felt like we’d be inconveniencing her more.”
“Damn, do you think she actually didn’t know?”
“At first, no. I don’t think she did. She knew what kind of guy he was, but I think she hoped he’d be different with his kids. After a while, though… I mean, she saw what we were like when we came back after the summer with him.” She picks at a string on her shorts.
“That sucks. Does she know now?”
“Yeah, we had to go to court, so she heard it all, but it was Shane’s case, so I didn’t have as much to do with it. I just confirmed his story, mostly.”
“Was he like that to you, too, or just Shane?” I almost don’t want to know. I’ve heard rumors, but Shane doesn’t talk about it.
“Not as bad.” She shakes her head. “I’m pretty lucky. I was always good at staying out of his way. Also, Shane would step in anytime he turned on me. The worst I ever got was a hand across the face a few times.”
My heart drops, and I rest my hand on her leg. “Fuck, Ash. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine. I was only here in the summer. Shane had to deal with him all the time. That’s the part that pisses me off. My mom didn’t want to deal with him, so she shipped him off to that house.”
“Yeah, what Shane went through was awful, but you matter too.”
The faintest smile spreads across her face. “I’m fine.”
When she lifts her eyes back to mine. I say, “I know, but if you ever aren’t, I’m here.”
She smiles, nodding.
Taking a step back, I start putting tools away. “Anyway, want a ride home?”
“I drove.” She jumps down. “Want to go to Dee’s?”
“Dee’s? Like the diner?”
“Yeah, duh, we’ve both been here all evening. I’m starving.”
“Uh, yeah, I guess. I just have to lock up first.”
When we slide into the cracked leather of the red-and-white booth, she beams at me. “This is my favorite place. Shane and I used to hide out here sometimes if we knew Dad was in a mood. It kind of became my comfort place. Dad never came looking for us, so I knew we were safe here.”
She plays with a straw wrapper.
An old country song plays over the jukebox. The waitress is topping off the only other customer’s coffee when she sees us and smiles. The old man in a flannel shirt and a baseball cap nods to her before she walks away, heading toward us.
She’s about my mom’s age. She has dark hair pulled up and is in a blue-and-white dress with a white apron. The name on her tag says Lorraine.
“What can I get you, kiddo? Your usual?” the waitress asks.
Ash nods, smiling. “Thank you.”
“And you?”
“Uh… same.” I hand her my menu.I’ve been here a few times but obviously not as much as Ash. I don’t have a usual.
Ash stifles a giggle. Covering her mouth with her hands.
“What?”
“Nothing.” She shakes her head, her curls bouncing around her.
I can’t help but smile. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever smiled as much as I do when I’m with this girl. Which I know is a red flag. I should definitely be pumping the brakes on whatever is going on here, but I can’t. When she’s not around, she occupies most of my thoughts. “No, what’s that face for?”
