“I can’t.” He was pressed against the door. “You look like you’re gonna cry again so I gotta stay.”
“I’m fine, really. I don’t need you,” Andie was yelling and crying all at once.
“Um, okay but I’m not getting out.”
“Damn it, Flynn!”
“You gonna yell at me now? Uncle Brett already did so I guess you’re gonna too.”
“Brett yelled at you? What for? Why are you huddling over there?”
“I saw what you did to him. Dad said you dislocated his shoulder and it must have hurt a lot. I guess you couldn’t twist me around like that in the car but I don’t want you to do something else to me.”
Andie looked horrified. “You’re afraid I’m going to hurt you? I dislocated his shoulder?”
“Man, you looked really pissed. I gotta warn Charlie so she doesn’t screw up when you give her piano lessons.” Flynn couldn’t contain his grin.
Andie groaned. “I would never hurt either of you. I shouldn’t have done that to him.”
“You must have had your reasons.”
Andie took a moment to consider how bizarre it was to be sitting here, with a boy who refused to budge from her car, having this conversation.
“It was so cool when you flipped him like that.” Flynn giggled. “I bet Uncle Brett didn’t even see it coming. You think Jesse could teach me to do that?”
“Probably but I think you should talk to your dad first. He could teach you himself. Jesse only showed me how to do that in case I’m out alone and run into trouble. I know better than to attack someone like I did.”
“That other guy was so scared. Did you see the way he ran away? Joey’s gonna be so jealous that I got to see all that and he missed it.”
“Why don’t you hop out and go tell him all about it?” Andie suggested as she cringed inwardly. She’d never be able to come back here.
“Nah, I’m good here.”
“I’m not going to sit here and argue with you. Get out.” Flynn ignored her and looked out the window. After a prolonged silence, Andie put the car in gear and said, “Fine. I’m going home. Someone will have to just come get you later.”
“Well, okay,” Flynn paused. “You live in the city.” Andie nodded and kept going. “I guess it’ll be all right as long as you don’t stop anywhere. I can always duck down when we get close.”
Andie was too tired to try to figure out what he was talking about. “What’s that supposed to mean? What’s wrong with the city?”
“I’m not really supposed to tell.”
“Tell what?”
“Uh, about how I used to live. Before Dad.”
“Flynn, I’m tired. Just say what you mean and don’t play games with me.”
“Can we maybe go to Uncle Jordan’s? It’s kinda a long story and—”
“No. I can’t go there.”
“Yeah, I forgot. Jesse says Uncle Brett didn’t tell him nothing about the mess he’s in.”
“What?”
“Jesse got there right when Uncle Brett was done yelling at me. He was really mad too but I don’t think he would have hit him, even if I didn’t say something. He told Uncle Brett some stuff and said he should get cleaned up and then he took me off so we could talk. He wanted me to know so I would forget about the stuff Uncle Brett said to me.”
Andie pulled to the curb and stopped again. “I’m sorry, Flynn.”
“You didn’t do nothing.” He shrugged.
“What did Jesse tell you?”
“That some crooks were scamming Uncle Brett to get his money and wreck his life. He said you found a way to prove they were lying but Uncle Brett screwed up and wouldn’t let you tell him about it. Jesse said he came here to hide from you ’cause he was mixed up about something with you. Jesse said he was taking him back to get it all fixed up. I know he left some stuff out but he said I didn’t need to know the rest of it. It must have been pretty bad for you to be that pissed.”
“I don’t believe he told you all that.”
“Hey, he knows I can keep my mouth shut. I do about the stuff I did before.”
“But you were going to tell me.”
“Yeah. I figured it would be okay. I know about you so it would make us even if I told you about me.”
“Sounds big.”
“I guess. I’m kinda hungry. There’s a good place to hang out at the creek. We could get something at the diner and go out there to eat. I got money so I’ll buy for you too.”
“You don’t have to buy me breakfast.”
“But I invited you. Uncle Jordan says when you invite a pretty girl out, you gotta be a good guy and pay.”
Andie’s mood was instantly lightened. What a charmer this kid was going to be in a few years. “I don’t think that counts with me.”
“Why not? You’re pretty. I asked you to eat with me. We’re going to talk and stuff.”
“Fine, you win.” Andie almost laughed. “Thank you, by the way. I know I must look like a red, puffy mess.”
“Yeah, but you don’t usually. Dad says you gotta remember how girls look when they’re happy since it’s mostly our fault when they cry and their faces get all messed up.”
“You, Flynn McKade, are going to be a very fine man if you remember all this when you grow up.” She pulled into the diner lot. “I’m going to splash my face. Why don’t you order for me? French toast and some juice.” Andie noticed he hadn’t opened his door. “What now?”
“I can’t get out of the car. You might take off.”
“I promise I won’t do that Flynn. All I’m doing is freshening up a little. I’ll meet you at the counter before they have our food ready.” He still didn’t budge. “How about if you keep the keys? It’s the only set I have. You can search my purse if you want to.”
Flynn took the keys she offered and opened the door. “No thanks,” he said ignoring her purse.
They were settled on rocks next to the creek a short time later, Flynn again in possession of the car keys. “Dad wasn’t really my Big Brother like we say he was. I was part of a gang and Mom came to take some pictures of us. I was supposed to follow her around and spy on her but we ended up hanging out instead. She told me to talk to Dad when she was done with her stuff. He was a cop then but she said he would be cool with me. I used to call him and ask about her. He kept telling me he could get me out and that I should let him know when I was ready. I started feeding him what we were doing, you know, places we were gonna hit, drops we were gonna take over, that kind of stuff. They figured out that he was always around when we got busted up so I was supposed to kill him.”
“Oh Flynn,” Andie gasped.
“I didn’t shoot him!”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s cool. Mom thought I did it too. Anyway, we were in an alley and I told him I couldn’t do it and he was gonna take me out but somebody was in back of me and popped both of us. Dad called Jesse right away. In the hospital I had to tell some guys everything I knew. They put out that I died so nobody would come looking. Dad took me to the grandparents until Mom came home from chasing after tornadoes. They got married right away and then went and got Charlie. Me and Dad already got us the house before she got back but she likes it so we’re staying.”
“And you can’t go back to the city in case someone sees you and realizes that you’re not really dead.”
“Yeah but I don’t think they’d know it was me. I used to keep my hair really black and kinda long. I had me a black leather biker coat that I never took off. Man, did it get hot in that. It was all I had and I knew it would be lifted if I left it somewhere so I kept it on.”
“I can’t imagine you like that.”
“Mom has some pictures if you want to see them sometime. Dad and Jesse don’t think any of them would really know I’m who I was but they say it’s better not to take chances.”
“Absolutely,” Andie agreed quickly. “Thank you for trusting me with this. I won’t ever repeat any of it.”
“He did but it wasn’t entirely his fault. I could have forced him to listen to me. I thought I was doing the right thing by letting him, ah, do things to make himself feel better. He didn’t understand why I was trying to help him and he left before I could explain it all to him.”
“You gonna go talk to him now? Jesse said he was taking Uncle Brett to get rid of that Tish woman but Uncle Jordan has a key. We could hang out there and wait for him to get back. I’ll stick with you.”
“Thank you, Flynn.” Andie hugged him. “I appreciate your offer but I need some time before I talk to him again. He does too.”
“Jesse says he might have screwed up bad enough that you won’t ever talk to him again. He said he probably blew his shot with you. Does that mean you and Uncle Brett were gonna get married like Mom and Dad but now you’re not?”
Andie’s shoulders slumped. “I honestly don’t know, Flynn. Yesterday I would have told you that I loved him enough to get through anything. I don’t know any more.”
“But if you loved him then don’t you still love him now?”
“I just don’t know. He said some things I may not be able to forget.”
“He was mean to me too. But Jesse said he is so messed up he doesn’t want anybody around him and he’s trying to chase us all away. Jesse said that’s why Uncle Jordan and Dad don’t know any of this stuff. I don’t think they’d ever stop being Uncle Brett’s friends, no matter what he did.”
“Me either but Brett seems to have forgotten that. What did he say to you?”
“Stuff about how I’m not a normal kid and I’m lying to everybody by pretending I am. He said he wasn’t gonna waste any more time on me and how I got to f— ah, mess up my life and got a new one. He said most people don’t get that and are stuck with what they get the first time.”
“You know he was only trying to hurt you so you wouldn’t see how bad things were with him, right?” Andie said as her mind screamed questions of how Brett could try to damage this boy with all he had already been through in his life.
“Yeah. I used to do that to Dad and the grandparents before I started to believe they were being straight with me.”
“I guess it was hard for you to trust them in the beginning.”
“I kept thinking they’d start acting like my other mom and dad did.” Flynn explained how his parents had deserted him. First his mother left and wound up in a life of prostitution and drugs. His father found a new family and excluded Flynn. He was sent to his paternal grandparents who abused him until he ran away to find his mother. When she tried to force him give his body for her drugs, he ran again, only to wind up with the gang.
“I don’t know what to say.” Andie was heartbroken for him.
Flynn shrugged. “Worked out good in the end. Uncle Brett was right about the second chance I got when Dad took me home with him. I got Mom and Charlie too so I figure it was worth it.”
“You are an amazing young man. I never would have guessed you’d been through all this. I knew you were very aware of things but I had no idea.”
“Yeah, well.” He was uncomfortable with her praise. “So, you gonna come give Charlie lessons? We got a piano and she bangs on it all the time. You gotta come teach her to play real songs.”
“I’ll call your mom soon and set something up. Even though I want to, I know I can’t hide forever. You went through much more than I did and look at you. I can get back to my life too.”
“Think Uncle Brett will?”
“Yes, if he decides he wants to. Flynn, I have no right to ask this of you, but when he tries to talk to you about what he said earlier—”
“Jesse already made me promise to let him and go easy. We’ll be okay. Jesse thinks he’s gonna ask how he can make it up to me. Would it be bad if I had him work on the tree house with me and Joey? There’s some stuff we can’t reach. Uncle Brett said he would help but he never did.”
“I think that’s a great idea. You’d only be asking for something that he’d already offered to do. Brett could probably use some time with you and your friend without having to be entirely grown up. Did you ever bring him here with you?”
“Nope. I showed Dad once so he wouldn’t worry when I said I was hanging out here but you’re the only other person I brought.”
“I think Brett would really like to come here with you.” Andie could already picture the kind of sketches he’d do if Flynn shared this spot with him.
“He’d draw stuff here,” Flynn concluded. “Maybe I’ll bring him sometime. Or you can when you’re ready to talk to him. It’s real private.”
“Well, I, uh…” She was flustered. “I’ll think about it. Ready to go?”
“I guess.” He looked at her closely. “You okay?”
“I will be. Jesse was right. My feelings are very hurt. And I’m still angry with him too but I’m reasonable again. I’m not going to do something stupid driving home so you don’t have to worry.”
“Jesse said I should stick with you.”
“I’m sure he meant only until I was calmed down. I promise I am. You did a great job taking care of me, Flynn. I’m glad you hid in the car like you did even if I did yell at you when you first sat up. I can call you when I get home if you want me to.”
“Really?” He seemed amazed.
“Sure,” she answered. “You gave up your whole morning for me. The least I can do is let you know I got home safely. Friends do that sort of thing for each other. Now that we know each other so well, I hope we’ll keep on being friends.”
“Cool,” Flynn decided. “I don’t have any other friends who are girls. Mom and Aunt Kiley don’t count, since they’re family. Can I ask you stuff sometimes, about girls I mean?”
“Of course you can. As long as I get to ask you about guy stuff too.”
“As if.” He rolled his eyes. “What would I know?”
“Don’t doubt yourself. You are already more of a man than some I’ve met who are a lot older.”
“Grandpa says I have an old soul.” He snickered.
“He’s right. You’re very wise too.” Andie laughed with him. “I’m going to enjoy watching you grow up. I hope I’m around to see it.”
“I think you will be. If I gotta give Uncle Brett a break, shouldn’t you too? Maybe he’ll do good enough that you come live here with him. That would be so cool.”
“I can’t make you any promises about that but I will speak with him at some point. After he gets past all this other stuff and figures out what he really wants in his life. Want me to drop you off at home?”
“Can I go to Joey’s instead? I was going over there this morning.”
“All right, but you have to call your parents and let them know where you are.”
“Oh. I forgot. You said you’d call me too.”
“I’ll call them when I get to town and you at supper time. How’s that?”
Flynn agreed as they drove to his friend’s house.
Chapter Nineteen
Tish breezed into the building where Brett’s office was. He sounded so different when he called her, excited almost. He had asked her to meet him there, saying he had a surprise for her. Though she had tried, she couldn’t get him to reveal anything more.
“Hello, Tish.” Brett stood as soon as he saw her in his doorway. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you coming here like this.” He had the biggest smile on his face.
“Goodness, Brett. You act like I wouldn’t come to you if you asked me to. We’re about to be married. If you were going to be in the city, I’d probably make a nuisance of myself, dropping by just to say hi.” She used her most pleasant tone and gave him an innocent smile.
“How sweet,” Brett muttered, taking her arm. “Ready for your surprise?”
“Yes.” She laughed. “Where do we have to go for it?”
“Not far.” He stopped by a do
or down the hall from his office. “It’s just in here.” He motioned for her to enter first and followed her in. Jesse closed the door behind them and stood in front of it, blocking her if she tried to leave.
“Sit down,” Brett ordered as he watched the color drain from her face. “You already know Jesse and Craig. This is Mark Grendle, the owner of this agency. Now that you’re here, we can get started,” Brett paused but she remained silent. “If you would all open the packets in front of you.” He gestured. “It seems that you’ve been less than honest with me, Tish.”
“Brett—”
“I wasn’t done speaking,” Brett silenced her. “You failed to mention your roommate in all the times we spoke of you being a woman on your own. I guess you preferred to let me think that. If you’ll look inside, you’ll find a copy of the lease that includes both your names and was initiated six years ago. Next, you’ll see the insurance papers for your regular STD tests as well as pharmacy receipts that indicate your ongoing usage of birth control.” Tish remained silent, not meeting his eyes. “Fine. If you’ll all indulge me just a few more minutes, I’d like to play something for you. If you turn the page, you can follow along on the transcript.” Brett played the recording of the conversation from the restaurant. When it was done, he continued, “The rest of the folder is a pictorial account of your poker game, Craig. Mark, please take note of the other players. I’m sure one will be of interest to you.” Brett was referring to Mark’s nephew, Walt, who was also employed at the agency.
“Can I ask you to all remain here?” The older man was openly furious. Without waiting for a response, he called his nephew and asked him to come to the conference room.
“Hey,” Walt said, looking around the table. “What’s up?”
“I understand you’re already acquainted with this young woman.” Mark waited for his nephew to nod. “I would like you to tell me who she is, if you don’t mind.”
“Oh, well, all right. She’s Tish.”
“And what else can you tell me about her?”
“Ah, she’s been seeing Brett. I think I might have heard that they’re, um, getting married or something like that.”
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