Witch Way to Turn

by Karen Y. Bynum

  “Myles!” Jenny called from the kitchen.

  They who? Know what? Soon she’d need pen and paper to keep track of all her unanswered questions.

  Oh well.

  She needed some time to process anyway.

  His smile returned. “Rest. I’ll go check on breakfast.” He gently moved her blanket-wrapped legs off his lap and, lickety split, sped out of the living room.

  Jenny’s high-pitched chortle sounded from the kitchen. She’d taken a hard slap to the face and bitten off a hunk of Scumbag’s calf, but now she laughed like nothing had happened.

  Myles was right. Breena wished she had a tenth of her sister’s resilience. Instead, anger consumed her. Anger at Norma for being horrible-parent-of-the-year. Anger at scum-bucket-square-pants for attacking her and Jenny. And anger at herself for taking Norma at her word.

  If she let herself, she’d sit around all day thinking about how things should be different.

  With a quick flick of her wrist, the blanket rumpled at the end of the couch and Breena headed over to the kitchen. She peered into the room and caught a rear view of Myles’s broad shoulders and short tousled black curls. Jenny gibbered away in his ear, while bacon crackled in the pan and a timer for something buzzed next to the stove.

  “Bathroom, Bree?” He kept his back to her.

  How’d he–

  “Uh, yeah.”

  “First door on the right.” He cut off the timer before flipping the French toast.

  “You okay, Jenny?”

  “Right as a rainbow.” Jenny spun around, her ponytail swished to and fro and her big eyes sparkled. She loved their special language, and so did Breena.

  Breena walked down the hall and shut the bathroom door behind her. She noticed a window over the toilet and peeked out. Myles’s duplex backed up to a graveyard, the largest one in Granite Falls and Rhodhiss. They weren’t too far from the pharmacy.

  Sitting on the closed toilet, she noticed her work shirt was torn and covered in dried blood and suddenly the reality of what had happened last night crashed down on her. She buried her face in her hands. In the darkness behind her eyes, she saw Jenny. Crumpled on the floor. Stan looming over her.

  She remembered the anger. The blue light. The moment she’d wanted to end Stan’s life. She fingered the ripped edge of her shirt. The messed up thing…one of the messed up things was that she had no idea whose blood was on her shirt. She had to get Jenny away from this.

  Breena had spent almost half her life trying to protect Jenny–most often by taking her beatings before she’d turned eighteen and moved out last October–and she would do anything, short of selling her own soul, to keep her foster-sister safe. Only that was bullshit, because Breena knew, she’d always known that with just one look into Jenny’s puppy dog eyes she’d hock the thing for a penny.

  Taking a deep breath, Breena stood, walked to the sink and splashed cool water on her face. As she stared in the mirror, she didn’t see a community college student or pharmacy clerk. She saw a survivor. She was getting her shit together. College. A job. Her own place. Now, if she could only get legal custody of Jenny… Being under twenty-one, with no money and no relation to Jenny, so far she’d been shit out of luck. But, you know, that was too freaking bad. She’d make her own luck. She’d find a way.

  Breena dried her hands and pulled her long brown hair into a low knot. Norma liked to call her hair color burnt-piss-brown, but one day in the pharm Breena had seen a box of L’Oreal hair dye that matched her color perfectly. Ash brown. That’s what she was. She’d made the decision the day she walked out of Norma’s house that she wouldn’t let that bitch define her one more minute.

  She smoothed her ash brown hair, took one last look in the mirror then spun on her heel for the door.

  The smell of breakfast summoned a loud and long roar from her stomach. When she walked into the kitchen, Jenny and Myles were already at the four-person, round dining room table, pigging out.

  “Hey,” Breena said with feigned indignation, hand on hip.

  “Snooze you lose, sis.” Jenny bit off a piece of bacon and playfully growled.

  Myles laughed and pushed the chair next to him out with his foot.

  Breena looked at both of them, since she didn’t know who’d stacked her plate full of sinful goodness. “Thanks for getting my food.” She sat in the chair she’d been offered.

  “Myles did.” Jenny puckered her lips and made a kissy sound.

  Hmm. What would she think of Breena having a boyfriend? Not that anyone was asking. Then Myles flashed his killer smile at her and Breena glanced away because her cheeks grew warm from the thoughts his lips brought to mind.

  Damn grin.

  Chapter 3

  Breena cleared the dishes after breakfast while Myles settled Jenny on the couch with a soda and the remote.

  Without a word, Myles appeared at Breena’s side, towel in hand, causing her to nearly drop the stack of plates she was loading into the dishwater. “Da–” She caught herself mid-curse. “You’ve got to stop sneaking up on a girl. You’re liable to give me a heart attack.”

  His laugh sounded light and carefree. It didn’t match his eyes. “I seriously doubt it. You’re a little young for a heart attack.”

  Breena rolled her eyes, ignoring the age comment, and bumped his shoulder playfully. “Well, now that we’re alone–”

  “Yes?” He waggled his dark eyebrows at her.

  “This is a whole new side of you, Myles Young. I like it.” After rinsing a plate, she handed it to him.

  He stuck it in the dishwasher. “Me too.”

  “Can I–” Dammit. She was not going to be put off again. Whatever was happening could just take a hike. She cleared her throat and tried again. “Can I ask a question?”

  “Ask away.”

  She didn’t hear hesitation in his voice but, somehow, she felt it deep inside. Definitely odd. “How’d we end up here?”

  He nudged her to the side with his hip so he could scrub the pan. Happy to oblige, Breena hopped up on the counter next to the sink to watch him.

  “I found you.”

  “In the woods?” She grinned. “Were you stalking me?”

  “Yes.”

  She stared at him. “Say what?”

  He flicked some water at her. “Conceited.” He laughed. “Joking.”

  She reached over to teasingly smack his shoulder. “You little–”

  Before she could grip the edge of the countertop, she lost her balance and toppled face first toward the ground.

  In seconds he’d put the pan in the sink, moved in front of her and caught her.

  “You’re fast,” she said, clinging to him.

  Spooky fast.

  She tried to steady her breathing and resettle herself on the counter without actually moving. Myles still had his hands on her shoulders and she didn’t want to startle him.

  Her pulse raced even faster when he stroked the curve of her neck. Breena’s heartbeat pounded against his skin. Surely, he felt this heat between them? How much she wanted him?

  Myles stood utterly still, staring at her. His hands on her. “You’re so beaut–” He looked down and backed away.

  “I’m so what?”

  “Distracting.”

  “Distracting? I think you were gonna tell me how beautiful I am.” She smiled, positive she had full-on dimple-age going.

  “I want to… I mean, you are. But–” He sighed heavily. “Weren’t you grilling me?”

  Breena decided it best to move on. She could almost feel his desperation. “Yeah. Grilling, right.”

  Myles stepped back over to the sink and finished washing out the cast-iron pan. Then he dried the clean cups in the dish rack, handing them to her to put in the cabinet above her head.

  “So how did you know to look for us?” Breena scooted a glass onto the shelf.

  “I called your cell after work, but you didn’t answer. I was concerned because you were pretty upset when you left.”
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  “Oh.”

  “You didn’t call back, so I drove over to the house.” Myles had gone with Breena to pick up Jenny on one of the many days her Beetle had been on the fritz. “Stan was passed out on the floor, but you were nowhere to be found.”

  Passed out. Guess Stan wasn’t dead. Too bad.

  She put the last glass up and, when she looked back, he stood in front of her. Breena opened her legs wide enough for him to get closer and, to her surprise, he edged to her. His hips brushed the inside of her thighs and his hands perched on top of them.

  Heat prickled her cheeks. “So, uh, how did you find us out in the woods?”

  “I heard Jenny crying.”

  What would she have done if Myles hadn’t come along? Jenny could have spent the entire night in the woods alone. Or Stan could’ve found her while Breena lay unconscious… “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” he said.

  Breena leaned against him and he cupped her waist with one hand, curling the other around the base of her neck. His body pressed into hers, and it felt like a gravitational force drew them together.

  “Whatchya doin’?” Jenny came out of nowhere.

  Breena’s head flung back, but Myles’s hand cushioned the blow before it could hit the cabinet behind her.

  “Fast,” Breena muttered.

  “Putting up the last of the dishes.” He’d already whirled around to face Jenny. “Any good shows on?”

  “No. I’m bored.”

  “Why don’t we go to the park?” Myles looked at Breena.

  “Sounds like a wonderful idea.” She jumped down and walked over to Jenny to squeeze her shoulder. “Give Myles and me just a sec, okay?”

  “Breena and Myles sittin’ in a tree. K-I-S-S-I–”

  “Alrighty. Out.” Breena gave her sister the stink eye.

  Jenny scuttled back into the living room with an obvious pout.

  “You should’ve let her finish the song.” When Breena spun around, Myles was inches away.

  Kiss him, her libido chimed in.

  She ignored it.

  “Myles, I hate to ask you this, but do you think you could watch Jenny today? I need to go get us a change of clothes and then I’ve got to work this afternoon.”

  He smoothed her hair away from her face. “I’d be happy to. Matter-of-fact, why don’t you both stay here the rest of the weekend, since Norma’s away?”

  “I don’t know–” It’s a small town. People will talk. But it would be safer for Jenny and me. “You sure you don’t mind?”

  “Of course not.” He tweaked her nose.

  Breena rolled her eyes.

  “It’s settled. I’ll tell Jenny.”

  “You’re a good friend, Myles.”

  She waited to hear a “Maybe more than friends?” or “I like you, Bree,” but he only smiled and walked into the living room. So much for finishing Jenny’s rhyme.

  Guess she shouldn’t have expected any sudden declarations from him. When he’d started at the pharm, it’d taken him three days to stop looking away when she caught him staring at her. Then another two days to actually talk to her. Granted, Breena hadn’t made a move either, but shouldn’t the guy act first?

  His hot and cold routine was driving her insane, and not in a good way. Sometimes she wished she liked a guy who knew exactly what he wanted. A guy who wasn’t afraid to take a chance. A guy who’d risk everything to be with her.

  * * * *

  The thought of going back to Norma’s rocked Breena to the core. She didn’t want to remember the freaky blue light and what had nearly happened there. Frankly, if she never set foot in that house again it would be too soon, but her practical side said Jenny shouldn’t have to wear the same outfit all weekend. Besides, she’d have to take Jenny back there eventually. Better to face it alone first, and hope it would prepare her for next time.

  There were no cars in the driveway, but Breena still crept through the house, taking a deep breath on the stairs then holding it in as she edged into Jenny’s room. She took in the mess, the glass, the blood. Breena shivered as the burnt smell of tobacco singed her nostrils. She had a flash of Stan leaning over her, his sour breath on her face. The image brought Breena to her knees. She clutched her stomach. Hunger unlike anything she’d ever felt seized her, bringing with it an ache so intense it made her cry out.

  She forced herself to stand. Inched her way to the dresser and then the closet. She was okay. “Never better,” she told herself.

  Once Breena had packed Jenny’s clothes for the weekend, she shut and locked the front door, even though it’d been wide-ass open when Myles and Jenny had dropped her off on their way to the park. She couldn’t get out of the house fast enough. She’d have to get the place cleaned up before Evil One and Evil Two returned, but not today.

  She drove to her shoebox apartment by the Rhodhiss Dam. Not too many people liked renting close to the noisemaker but Breena didn’t mind. It’d always been a peaceful hideout for her, no matter the noise level. It seemed to recharge her batteries somehow.

  She tossed some of her clothes into a bright orange duffel, grabbed a sweater she could wear over her work polo, along with a few toiletries, before hustling outside. Shoving the bag into the backseat of her car and donning the sweater, she hopped in and the VW puttered and fumed the five miles to the drug store.

  * * * *

  “You know you’re supposed to pay for those first, right?” Breena’s coworker, Tammy, huffed as she walked around the counter to the register.

  “Yeah, yeah. Ring me up.” Breena handed Tammy an empty bag of Doritos and started on another. She scanned the candy rack in front of the register, grabbed a Snickers, a bag of M and Ms and a Butterfinger. “These too.”

  “Geez Louise, I thought I was the pregnant one.” Tammy laughed.

  When Breena didn’t respond, her coworker asked, “Everything all right? That’s a lot of chips. Those aren’t exactly fun-sized bags.”

  “I’m fine. How much do I owe?”

  “Six fifty.”

  Breena dug in her pocket for a ten dollar bill, handed it to Tammy and went back to stuffing her face.

  “Breena, did you hear me? Here’s your change.” Tammy waved the money at her.

  “Oh, right sorry. Thanks. Hey, are you cold?” Breena asked, tightening her sweater around her.

  “Hello, summertime. It’s hotter than the inside of a hog,” Tammy said, giving Breena her best whatever-look. Tammy swept her thick auburn hair into a low ponytail then leaned against the counter, pretending to fan herself. “Oh, hey, speaking of stinky things, what’d you make on your character traits paper?”

  “Shit.”

  “What?” Tammy dropped her hands to rub her belly, something she did recently when she seemed confused.

  “Ugh. I totally forgot about class tonight.”

  “Whoa, howdy. Watch out. Breena’s got big plans.”

  Guess she wouldn’t be spending quality time with Myles and Jenny tonight. “Not anymore. I gotta make a phone call.” Breena tossed the now-empty Doritos bags in the trashcan behind the counter, grabbed a tissue from the box by the register and wiped the orange powder off her hands. She scooted the candy bars out of sight and opened the M and Ms.

  “Okey dokey.” Tammy kept on rubbing her belly.

  Breena walked past the greeting cards through the Radio Shack portion of the pharmacy–in a town without a Wal-Mart, other stores had to compensate–and into the stockroom to retrieve her cell.

  In the employee bathroom, she called Myles. “How’s Jenny?” she asked between handfuls of M and Ms.

  “She’s great. We went for ice cream after the park and picked up Japanese take-out on the way home. Jenny wanted to wait for you before we ate though.”

  Her stomach rumbled at the thought of hibachi and she shoveled in more M and Ms. “Actually that’s why I’m calling. I completely forgot about class. You mind keeping an eye on her until I get back?”

  “Of course
not. But, Bree, be careful.” He sounded concerned.

  “I will.”

  “Call if you need me.”

  “Thanks, Myles, you’re really great.”

  “For you, Bree, anything.”

  She flipped the cell shut and slid it into her back pocket, smiling to herself as she popped another handful of chocolate candies and thought about his last statement. Then, she got annoyed. Hell’s bells, was he giving off mixed signals or what? If he liked her, why didn’t he say it?

  Or kiss me? her libido offered.

  Whatever, you need a relationship like you need a hole in your head, Breena told herself sternly.

  Too bad she didn’t believe a word of it.

  It would be nice to have sex again–to lose herself in the brief moment when nothing mattered except the desire. The feel of skin to skin. Closeness. Her first and only time had been with a computer geek in her junior year of high school, so the desire hadn’t exactly been satisfied.

  It had just kind of happened one awkward night. He’d been tutoring her in algebra and in exchange she’d helped him with his English homework. It was their fourth or fifth study session and they’d been sitting on his bed in the basement of his parents’ house. He’d suddenly grown quiet, turned to her with a nervous expression on his face and cupped his hand over her shirt. It had taken a second to realize what he was doing. He wasn’t exactly the guy she’d pictured losing her virginity to, but she’d longed to feel a connection to somebody and he seemed to care about her.

  He didn’t last long enough to get her jeans pulled down but after an hour of him apologizing he’d been ready to go again. It hadn’t been all that great, and she couldn’t honestly say it was worth the guilt and rejection when he stopped calling and avoided her at school, but it had awakened a need.

  Dammit, Breena. This is so not the time to be thinking about your sex life.

  On her way back to the front counter, Breena stopped to break down a palate of boxes. The cart of aspirin she and Myles had been loading was still there. She pushed it out of the way and thanked her lucky stars again for listening to Myles yesterday and leaving when she did. If she hadn’t gotten to the house…she couldn’t even think about what might’ve happened.