Flicker by T.D. Holmes

Author:T.D. Holmes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
Published: 2022-05-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

I get up early and skip my morning shower because I had one last night. I am hosting the coven tonight, so I make some preparations and do a stock take for drinks and snacks. I make sure I have the number for the upholsterer in my contacts before leaving for work. I will call him during my break.

When I arrive at work, I put my bag and jacket away and go check in with Noah. He is fasting, getting ready for surgery to remove the piece of bone that broke away from his fall. I ask him how he is feeling? How his dad took to seeing him yesterday? And why he was afraid? He doesn’t meet my eye and when I put my hand on his arm, he looks up with tears in his eyes. I was glad that he didn’t flinch when I placed my hand on his arm. That is a good way to tell if a child has been physically abused. I am relieved. Though it doesn’t explain his fear or his tears. I don’t say or do anything. I just wait for him. He sighs, telling me that before his mum passed from cancer, his father took it hard. He was working longer shifts to make ends meet and he had a full-time career during the day to help his mum. But it was just them at night. His mum had trouble keeping food down and needed help with everything.

It was stressful for him. That much is clear. He is only ten. To go through all that, so young…poor kid. His dad never faltered. He sounds like an amazing man. The next words Noah tells me explains everything. In the last month of his mum’s life, she was taken into hospital. She wasn’t eating or drinking. She was seriously dehydrated and had to have fluids pushed intravenously. They were there by her side twice a day, every day. Noah can read lips and saw his dad say he never wanted to see a hospital ever again. He was protecting his father.

Satisfied, I get to work. He is for surgery early, so I prep him first. Then I go about my day and complete my duties. When it’s time for my first break, I call the upholsterer.

“Hey, Jack, it’s Lexi,” I say when he picks up the call.

“Lexi, long time. What can I do for you?” his familiar voice comes through.

“You remember my grandad, Phil?” I ask.

“Yeah. He passed a couple years back. Your mum’s side, right?”

“Yeah, that’s the one. Well, I inherited a deep-buttoned chair and footstool from him. It needs to be spruced up. It’s currently a worn-out leather but I’d like a nice fabric. Maybe a grey velour.”

He confirms he has it in and we go through the motions. Price, pick up, how long it will take him and pleasantries. It’s nice to catch up. I haven’t seen him in years. We hang up making plans to pick up later tonight when I get off work.

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