The Biker's Brother
Page 17
The grimacing cop is smirking now. Another cop looks seriously pissed.
“Text me when you get wherever you end up, okay? Don’t say where you are. Just how you are.”
“I’ll be following your football career on the Internet. Do me proud.”
She’s right outside the car now but not getting in just yet.
The half dozen cops around her are getting anxious, but she doesn’t seem to care.
“Remember the moon,” she says.
I’m trembling and don’t really know what to say. I’ve run out of ways to pretend this isn’t happening. I take one last look at Brenda before she gets into the back of the Charger. She looks even more like a goddess than when I saw her in Trollop’s barn, under the Confederate flag, between the tub of beer on ice and the meth whore.
As I get into the Cruze, I’m thinking of how I’d love to disappear down the road with Brenda. I’d love to run far and fast and forever with her but I can’t— not yet. It’s time to go home and patch things up with Mom. There are things about Mom and the way she lives that bother me more than I can say, and the truth is that they probably always will. I still love her, though. Dad left her. Even Carlito left her. I won’t. I’ll head off to university to try to make a go of it in football next year, but I’ll never really leave her or Jamie.
Jake’s texted me and wants to get together later. I have a lot to tell him and I like the idea of hanging out, but right now is for family. He’ll understand.
Mom’s a bit startled when I walk in the front door a couple hours later. She looks defensive and sad and ashamed. I don’t know what to say, so I just give her a hug. We haven’t really spoken since the night that creep was over. It’s time for me to step up. If she says anything about that night, though, I’ll puke.
Mom’s shaking a little and if I hold her any longer she’ll likely start crying so I let go.
With me is Jamie. That breaks the tension. Mom’s smile is so pure and raw and vulnerable when she looks at him that I feel like crying myself. It’s a good feeling, and it’s been so long in coming.
“What are you standing around for?” Jamie says. “Let’s get the barbie started!”
“Don’t boss me,” Mom replies, but I can tell she loves it. Her boys are back in the house, so things are already looking up.
© 2017 Peter Edwards
Cover art/design by Kong Njo
Edited by Lorissa Sengara
Designed by Kong Njo
Annick Press Ltd.
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Cataloging in Publication
Edwards, Peter, 1956-, author
The biker’s brother / Peter Edwards.
Issued in print and electronic formats.
ISBN 978-1-55451-936-1 (hardcover).–ISBN 978-1-55451-935-4 (softcover).–
ISBN 978-1-55451-937-8 (EPUB).–ISBN 978-1-55451-938-5 (PDF)
I. Title.
PS8609.D864B55 2017jC813’.6C2017-901683-0
C2017-901684-9
Cover photos: Motorbike © iStockphoto.com/visual7; young man © iStockphoto.com/dcdp
Published in the U.S.A. by Annick Press (U.S.) Ltd.
Distributed in Canada by University of Toronto Press.
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