by Beth Flynn
“You can call me Grizz. You don’t tell anybody about what happened tonight. Is that clear?”
Tommy nodded.
Before ten minutes had passed, a shiny light blue Camaro pulled into The Red Crab and parked a few empty spaces away from the truck. Grizz got out and walked to the car. Tommy noticed he held up his hand like he was telling the driver to stay put. The man did just that, rolling down his window. Grizz rested his forearms above the opening, leaned down and spoke. Tommy’s window was up now, so he couldn’t hear them. Eventually, the other man got out of the car, then he and Grizz walked toward Tommy. Grizz opened Tommy’s door.
“I’m going inside to get your food. This here’s your big brother, Blue. You’re gonna live with him now.”
And with that, Grizz walked back into The Red Crab.
Tommy stared at Blue with a look of trepidation. He wasn’t as big as Grizz, but he looked just as scary. Should I have kept my mouth shut and stayed with Karen?
Blue must have been reading his mind.
“Don’t be scared, runt. I won’t hurt you.”
Chapter Five
2000
The ringing doorbell brought Tommy back to the present. For a moment he allowed himself to think Ginny was back, that she had just locked herself out of the house. But instantly he knew there would be no truth in that split-second thought.
A young man with bright red cheeks wearing a courier’s uniform was at the door holding a clipboard, a large package on the porch next to him.
“I have a delivery for Dillon. Can you please sign here, sir?” the courier said as he swiped his brow with his forearm.
“Not expecting a delivery.” Especially not on a Sunday. “Who is it from?”
“Don’t know. Just initials from a Florida address. Should warn you though, it’s heavy.”
After Tommy signed his name, the apple-cheeked courier took the clipboard from him and stuck it under his right arm as he struggled to pick up the weighty package and deposit it in Tommy’s hands. He whistled to himself as he sauntered down the front steps and out to the driveway, got in his van, and left.
Tommy stood there wondering what the package could possibly be. The kid was right. It was heavy.
Kicking the front door closed behind him, he headed for his home office as he easily hoisted the mystery parcel and set it on the desk. Did Ginny order a set of exercise weights or something? Without looking at the return address label, he ripped it open, then sat down with a heavy sigh. This was unexpected. What did it mean, if anything?
“Shit,” was all he said.
Chapter Six
1969
“So how’s the kid doing at night? Still having nightmares?” Grizz asked Blue as they sat at the bar and drank their beer.
“He’s getting better, but he still won’t go to bed unless the door that connects our rooms is left open,” Blue answered, then paused to give Grizz a look. “You never mentioned a little brother before.”
Grizz thought carefully. He would have to be cautious with his answer. He never told Blue that Tommy was his little brother. He’d just told Blue the boy was going to be living at the motel and that Blue should pose as his older brother. Blue had just assumed Grizz was the kid’s older brother.
Grizz took a sip of his beer and answered casually. “Wasn’t around much. Was gone by the time he was born. You know I didn’t stay in touch with my family. I don’t think he has any memory of me.”
Of course this was all a lie. Tommy wouldn’t have any memory of Grizz because Grizz didn’t even know he existed until a few months ago. Before Blue could reply, Grizz added, “You keep working on him. Keep convincing him. He’s young enough that he’ll believe what we tell him.”
Blue didn’t say anything, just nodded. He’d known Grizz as long as he could remember and he’d never heard him mention a family. Didn’t mean he didn’t have one. He just never talked about them. He also knew Grizz would never let people know he had a younger brother who lived at the motel. It would make Grizz too vulnerable and probably wouldn’t be safe for the kid. Grizz had some serious enemies.
“You know Misty’s been picking on him.”
“Yeah. It’s okay. It’ll make him tough.”
“Did you know how smart he is? I mean he’s, what, ten and he was arguing with Chip about the Cuban Missile Crisis. Made Chip look like an idiot. Everyone is starting to call him grown-up runt instead of just runt.”
Grizz looked directly at Blue. “Is that where they came up with Grunt? Short for grown-up runt?”
“Yeah, a couple of the guys are calling him that. I don’t think they mean anything by it. It’s just easier to say. Want me to make ‘em stop? It’s kind of rude.”
Grizz didn’t answer right away. He took another sip of his beer and stared at something on the back wall of the bar. With a nickname like Grunt, there was no doubt he would probably get picked on by someone. “No, let them call him that. Like I said, the kid needs to be tough.”
Blue didn’t reply. He disagreed with Grizz on this point. The kid had been through enough. The first time Blue saw him without a shirt he’d had to hide his surprise. The kid was full of scars and mottled bruises. If he let himself think about it, Misty’s bitchiness was probably nothing compared to what he had already experienced. Still, maybe he’d tell her to back off in spite of what Grizz said.
When they got back to the motel, there was a small group gathered around the pit. As they approached the fire, Blue asked no one in particular, “Where’s the kid? Did Sissy get back with him yet?”
Sissy was Blue’s girlfriend. She’d driven the little boy down to Miami to get him some more clothes and books. The kid wouldn’t be attending school, but he’d still be getting some lessons. Upon first arriving at the motel, he’d immediately asked for books. “Learning books,” he’d called them. When Grizz and Blue saw the type of books he picked out, they were shocked. Nobody at the motel would be giving the boy lessons. The books he’d selected were out of their range of knowledge. They got him what he’d requested and left him to educate himself. He’d already devoured the ones he’d received when he first arrived. This was his second shopping trip.
“Yeah,” someone answered. “Sissy left. I think he’s in Misty’s room folding laundry or something.”
Blue gave Grizz a sidelong glance and Grizz signaled him to let it go. Damn. Why isn’t Grizz stepping in here? And why do I care so damn much? If Blue was honest with himself, the boy was growing on him. He was a smart and gentle child. He’d fascinated everyone in the couple of weeks that he’d been at the motel, dazzling them with his intelligence and showing a strong resilience to Misty’s verbal abuse. Even Chip was more captivated by him than mad when they’d started discussing politics and world events.
But truth be told, if the kid was going to be living here, he would have to be tough. Maybe Grizz was right to let some things go. To let him have an undignified nickname like Grunt.
It wasn’t until a few weeks later, after Grizz cut out Misty’s tongue for an off-the-cuff comment, that the child’s true intelligence came out. Without any medical experience, or at least none Blue knew of, the kid somehow managed to nurse her back to health by himself. Nobody had really liked Misty and most of the regulars weren’t even fazed when Grizz had come out of his room that night with blood all over him. Grunt was the only one who jumped up immediately and, seeing Grizz wasn’t hurt, had enough intuition to know something was terribly wrong. Misty hadn’t come out of Grizz’s room.
That night, Blue had watched from the pit as a hysterical Misty leaned heavily on the child she had been so mean to while he slowly and gently guided her back to her room.
That kid is way too good to be living here. Blue sighed and took another swig of beer.
Chapter Seven
2000
In the car outside the strip mall, Ginny dried her eyes with the last of the tissues she’d found in her glove compartment. She needed to clean up before going to pick up J
ason.
She got out of her car and headed for the yogurt shop at the end of the mall. Without looking at anyone, she headed straight for the ladies room and locked the door behind her, almost gagging at the overwhelming scent of lavender air freshener. The mirror showed her eyes were still red and swollen, and her nose was starting to run again. She unwound some toilet paper and blew her nose, then splashed cold water on her face. She had already cried off all of her makeup. Thoughts of Grizz, Tommy, the kids, everything, all swirled around her. She didn’t know how long she stood there, bent over the sink, taking in large gulps of lavender air.
Someone jiggled the door. “Be out in a sec,” she said flatly.
She used a paper towel to dry her face, then headed back out to her car without making eye contact with anyone in the store.
Less than ten minutes later, she pulled up to Max’s house and beeped her horn. She could’ve gone inside to get Jason. She liked Max’s mother. Denise Reynolds was genuinely sweet, but Ginny just didn’t have it in her to make small talk. Besides, she couldn’t trust herself not to fall apart. She needed to talk to someone. Carter. She would call Carter when she got home.
Sarah Jo wouldn’t have been a good option. Ginny knew how much Jo loved Tommy. Jo and Tommy had a special history, and even though Carter had become close to both Ginny and Tommy over the years, she could be counted on to be more loyal to Ginny.
Did Sarah Jo know? Ginny’s heart pounded. Oh no. She couldn’t even bear to think about that. No. She wouldn’t jump to conclusions.
Just then, the front door of Max’s house swung open and a miniature version of Tommy bounded out, calling over his shoulder, “Later, dude.”
She stared at her son. The son that Tommy had suggested they name after Grizz. Now she knew why. Grizz was actually Jason’s grandfather. Her head started spinning. This is not happening.
Something nagged at her as she watched Jason approach the car. When they made eye contact, he broke into a wide grin. Her heart swelled with love for him. He looked just like his father. She had a déjà vu moment of a memory she couldn’t place. She’d had it before, but could never conjure up a specific incident. Was it something she remembered about Tommy at this age? No. It couldn’t have been. She didn’t know Tommy when he was this young.
It was something else, but for the life of her, she couldn’t remember what it was.
“Hi, Mom!” Jason tossed his bag into the back seat and climbed into the front passenger seat.
Ginny smiled at him, leaning over the console for a hug. He was such an affectionate child. Just like his father. She kissed his forehead as he started to buckle his seatbelt.
“How was your stay with the Reynolds? Did you have fun with Max?” she asked as she backed out of the driveway.
Max’s mother had come out to the front porch and waved. Ginny beeped the horn twice in acknowledgement as she drove off.
“Yeah, a lot of fun. Mrs. Reynolds made homemade ice cream last night! Can we do that some time? It was really good.”
“Yeah, sure, I guess.”
“Mrs. Reynolds told me to tell you all my clothes in my bag are clean. She did laundry last night. She didn’t want me to go home with dirty clothes.” Before Ginny could comment, he added, “I got to help Polly wash her car this morning after church.”
Ginny glanced at her son. “You got to help her?” she asked, laughing.
“Yeah, she said I was the best washer!” he replied excitedly. “And an even better drier!”
“I’m sure you are, honey. I’m sure you are.” Ginny smiled to herself. Max had two older sisters, Sarah and Pollyanna. Jason had been in love with both of them since he was eight. He could never decide which one he loved more. Of course, they were way too old for Jason. Polly was a senior in high school and Sarah was in college. She was sure both girls loved Jason like a little brother. More than likely, they found him as annoying as a little brother, as well. But they were nice girls. Always sweet to him. She appreciated that.
She wished Mimi were nicer to Jason, she thought as she drove the short trip back to the house. It wasn’t that Mimi wasn’t nice. She just wasn’t interested in her little brother. Ginny couldn’t explain it. It was something she had discussed more than once with Tommy. Mimi was never outright mean to Jason, but she wasn’t a loving older sister. At least not anymore. Call it mother’s intuition, but to Ginny, it sometimes seemed as if Mimi was incapable of feelings. Ginny couldn’t put her finger on it. And to make matters worse, Tommy couldn’t see it, always saying she was imagining things. Once he’d even told her she was too paranoid about Mimi being Grizz’s biological daughter.
“Gin, you are subconsciously afraid that Mimi is too much like Grizz,” he’d said. “I told you more than once that Grizz wasn’t born that way. Grizz had a horrible childhood. Mimi didn’t inherit Grizz’s inability to care about people. It was something he turned off as a result of his abuse. Stop thinking about it.”
But she couldn’t help it. She knew about Grizz’s childhood. He’d told her a little bit about it when she was pregnant that first time and they were still living at the motel. It was a neglectful childhood, not abusive. But Ginny had been neglected as a child, too, and she didn’t murder people.
Mimi hadn’t always been that way. Something had changed in Mimi a couple of years ago, almost as if a switch had been flipped. Mimi went from being a sweet, thoughtful child to a distant and detached one. Ginny wanted to have her daughter talk to someone, but everyone insisted that Mimi was just being a typical teenager.
Jason chattered non-stop the entire ride home. Ginny felt a little guilty for blocking him out, but her mind was elsewhere. She hoped Tommy would be gone when she got home. She didn’t think she would be able to face him.
“Mom? Mom? How come you won’t answer me?”
Ginny gave Jason a sidelong glance. “Sorry, sweetie. Did you ask me something?”
“Yeah, I asked if you thought Dad had the strap on my helmet fixed. He promised before you guys went out of town that we could take a ride on his motorcycle when I got home today.”
Before she could even answer him, Jason continued, “Where were you guys the last couple of days?”
“I don’t know about your helmet, but if your father told you he had it fixed, then I’m sure he had it fixed. And you know where we were. We told you we went to see an old friend before he left town.”
“That’s not what Corbin said.” And before Ginny could respond, he blurted, “Corbin said you and Dad went to see some guy get fried.”
Chapter Eight
1969
Grunt had been living at the motel for a couple of months when Grizz said to him one day, “C’mon, kid. Let’s go for a ride.”
“On your motorcycle?” Grunt asked excitedly.
“No, we’ll take one of the cars.”
“Okay, let me check on something real quick.” Grunt hurried off.
Grizz shook his head. He watched as the boy went into Misty’s room. Why the kid gave a damn about Misty was beyond Grizz’s understanding. Enough time had passed. She had healed and was fine. Grunt could be a mystery.
Grizz headed toward the cars he kept parked on the far side of the office. He wouldn’t be taking his red convertible Mustang. With its loud engine and shiny chrome wheels, he’d stick out like a sore thumb. He wouldn’t take the Cadillac either. Just a little too classy for where he was going. Might get noticed. He settled on the average-looking four-door sedan. He didn’t say anything when Grunt climbed in the passenger seat.
“Where are we going?” Grunt asked.
“To check on a friend’s daughter.”
Grizz then turned on the radio at almost full volume. The kid was a talker and he just wasn’t in the mood for conversation. A couple of miles before they reached their destination, Grizz glanced over at the kid. Grunt. That was his new name and it was starting to stick. He turned the radio volume down.
“Friend of mine died a few years back. Left behind a
daughter. Her mom and stepdad aren’t real stable. Kind of neglect her. I made a promise before he died that I would step in when I could and just keep an eye on things. Make sure she’s being taken care of.”
Grunt didn’t say anything at first. Grizz could tell that he was thinking. Finally, he said, “What do her mom and stepdad think about you checking on their daughter?”
This surprised Grizz. The kid was perceptive.
“They don’t know. And it’s not something I can do myself. Besides, when the hell would I have time?” He glanced over at Grunt. “Mavis keeps an eye on her for me. Just tells me when she thinks I need to do something. That’s why we’re checking on her today.”
Mavis was an older woman who did the bookkeeping for the couple of bars Grizz owned. They were his only legitimate businesses and the older woman had grown on Grizz. Mavis was rail thin and overly tanned. She had short cropped bleached blonde hair and the kind of gravelly voice that came with sixty years of chain-smoking. Grizz had realized early on that Mavis could be trusted and was only too eager to take on the role of Gwinny’s guardian angel. A widow with no children and no family, she had worked at a convenience store near The Red Crab. Grizz used to go in all the time to buy cigarettes. He didn’t remember exactly how the friendship started. Probably Mavis first engaged him in small talk, knowing her. Later, he found out through casual conversation that she’d run an accounting business with her husband before they retired. Her talents were being wasted behind a cash register. Offering Mavis a job was one of the best decisions he’d ever made. She used the office at The Red Crab and was dearly loved by even the roughest characters.
Not just that, but Mavis was also more than happy to insinuate herself into Gwinny’s life. She managed to get a part-time job at Gwinny’s elementary school, as the cashier in the cafeteria line, and was loved by all of the children. It was one way she could keep an eye on the little girl and strike up an occasional conversation with her without being obvious. Mavis looked forward to the days she got to work at the cafeteria. She loved not just Gwinny, but all of the kids. Except for one. She was having a hard time warming up to the school bully. As she said, that Curtis Armstrong was a troublemaker.
