Page 83 of Cash

“He might be a little of both.”

She chuckled. “So might you, you feckin’ eejit.”

“I love you, too.”

“Apologize to your friend, and hope all isn’t banjaxed. Does this lass have a name?’

“Kimberly.”

“Bring Kimberly for dinner, will ya?”

“First things first, ma. I need to apologize to Reno.”

“Well, listen to ya.” She laughed. “You’re not an eejit after all.”

* * *

For a manwho didn’t apologize, it sure seemed I was doing a lot of it lately. I stood over Reno’s bed truly embarrassed about how I reacted to his remark.

Both eyes were black, his lips were swollen, and it appeared he was missing every tooth that a smile would reveal.

But, he wasn’t smiling.

“All I can do is apologize. I’m not making excuses, Brother, but I blacked out. I was mad as hell, don’t get me wrong, but I never should have done this to you.”

He rose to his elbows, took a sip of water, and gazed down at the floor. “I get drunk and thay thit I thouldn’t. This ain’t the first time.”

“Little kids and drunks are the two most honest fuckers on the planet, Reno. You wouldn’t have said it if you didn’t mean it. I’m not here to blame you for--”

“I was raithed differently than you,” he interrupted. “I’ve heard your thstories about Belfatht, and about how they treated the Catholics. How your mother uthed to tell you bedtime thstories and thit. Well, I grew up different. A black family moved into my grandfather’s neighborhood. He burned a croth in their yard. Went to jail for it, but he went proudly. It wathn’t nineteen fifty, either. It was about ten yearth ago. In my family’s eyes, blacks are nig—" he paused. “I was raithed lithenin’ to it, but I don’t want to believe it. I’m thorry, Brother.”

“She ain’t speaking to me right now,” I explained. “If she decides to one of these days, I’d like for you to give her a chance.”

He nodded. “I’ll do it. Duth tshe know what I thaid?”

I shook my head. “I didn’t tell her.”

“Can you not? Not tell her?”

Making up with her – if that time came – would come a lot easier if I could explain what actually happened. Protecting her from Renos family’s hatred would be far more important, though.

I gave a sharp nod. “I’ll keep it to myself.”

He sat up. “I’m sorry, Cath. I truly am.”

I extended my clenched fist. “Not as sorry as I am, Brother.”

He pounded his fist against mine and grinned.

“You might want to keep from smiling until they get some teeth in that mouth of yours. You look like hell, Brother.”

“Feels worth,” he said. “It’s hurth like hell.”

It sure does.