Broken Heatbeats by Lindsay Becs

Author:Lindsay Becs [Becs, Lindsay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-10T16:00:00+00:00

Part II

The Connection

Chapter 10

SUSAN

It’s almost the end of the school year, and I’m ready for it to be over. Not that it’s been bad, but I’m just done. It hasn’t felt the same. Not with the war and word of boys from our town leaving and not coming back each month. Not with Ru still not talking to me. Not with lots of things.

“What is my brother doing here?” Donna Lynn asks as she, Betty Jo and I walk out of the school.

My head immediately snaps up, and I take him in. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him, this close at least. Has he gotten taller? Is that even possible? I take a deep breath as we walk closer to him.

“You girls need a ride home?” he asks. I’m sure he’s directing his question to his sisters, but he doesn’t stop looking at me when he asks.

“I’m sitting up front!” Donna Lynn yells, but Ru stops her and tells her she’s sitting in the back so I can have the front.

I don’t fight him, knowing that will do me no good, and slide into the front seat. Confused when we pass my street, I give him a questioning look, but he just keeps on driving until we reach their house. Guess I’m walking from here. But when I move to get out, he grabs my hand to stop me. He has a sad, pleading look on his face, and I can’t fight him. I relax into the seat and look forward as he makes his way back onto the road.

We pass my street for the second time, and this time I can’t let it go. “What is going on, Ru? Where are we going?”

He doesn’t say anything but keeps driving until we get to the lookout and he parks the car. I watch as he looks out over the town below, his chest expanding as he takes a deep breath.

“I got my draft notice for the Army yesterday,” he says after what feels like hours of silence.

I can’t stop the gasp that exits my lungs or the tears that instantly form in my eyes.

He turns then to look at me and gives me that sweet smile I’ve missed, taking my hand in his. “It’ll be alright, Susie.” He whispers the words, and I know right then that he’s trying to convince himself as much as he’s trying to convince me.

“Betty Jo didn’t say anything.”

“I haven’t told my family yet. I will tonight. I wanted to tell you first.”

“Why?”

He huffs a laugh then. “I don’t really know. You are the person I’m saddest to leave behind, I guess.”

“What about Linda?” I ask, knowing that I shouldn’t, but I can’t help myself.

He shrugs, letting go of my hand. “She’ll be fine.”

I let out another breath I didn’t know I was holding and join him in looking out over the town. We sit there quiet and lost in our own minds until the sun starts to go down. Wiping a lone tear from my cheek, I ask Ru to take me home.

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