On Little Wings by Sirois Regina

Author:Sirois, Regina [Sirois, Regina]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fiction
Published: 2011-12-12T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 26

“The Jacks there?” Nathan asked when I returned. He put down his sprayer and started the futile process of scratching some of the brown stain off of his skin.

“Yeah. I swore allegiance to the Republican Party and they went at each other with fish hooks. Carnage.”

“You said I wasn’t funny.”

“You’re not. I am. Only Glenn was there. He let me meet his boat.”

“That’s an honor.”

“So I gather. You got farther than I thought you would. How much longer do you think you’ll be here?” The stain now covered a good two thirds of the fence.

“Still need to finish this coat. Then a second coat. I’ll be here a few more hours, at least.” He squinted as the sun pierced through a cloud and smothered his face. Beads of sweat shimmered on his skin. “Do you want me to take you home so you can call your mom?”

“Right now? No. I’ll have to think of how to do it first. I’ll call her tomorrow. Probably.”

He frowned in disappointment and mumbled “Uh, huh” before turning his back to me.

“What? You think I won’t do it?” I asked half amused, half offended.

He shrugged without looking at me. “If you say you will, you will.”

I glared as I processed the doubt in his voice. “Nathan, I will. I just have to figure out the perfect way to say it. So it works.” It made me angry how much it sounded like an excuse coming out of my mouth. He slowly faced me, his expression blank but his eyes calling the bluff. His skepticism ignited my pride like a flash fire. I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket. “So you just want me to dial and say the first stupid thing that comes to my mind? Just stand in some stranger’s yard while you stain a fence and tell her to come home? That seems appropriate for such an important conversation.”

“You can do it however you want.” He turned and stepped back toward the fence.

“Then don’t turn on your stupid sprayer because then I won’t be able to hear her scream at me. You really are a jerk.”

By the time he spun around to respond, the phone was ringing. His eyes pulled up, a stunned light in the dark blue centers. “No, I didn’t mean…”

“Oh, what do you care?” I mumbled almost too low to hear and stepped into the shade of the tree.

“Jennifer, stop,” his voice croaked weakly. It felt surprisingly satisfying – this sudden reversal of roles, watching him squirm while I lost my temper. Had he ever said my name before? It sounded good.

“Don’t, Jennifer.” He said it again. “You’re right. Not here.”

The phone rang as Nathan walked toward me, his hands signaling me to stop. “I’m sorry,” he said. I held up my hand and pointed to the phone to shut off his words. My irritation held off my fear until my mother said hello. I fumbled over my opening lines, asking her how she was doing and telling her I missed her.

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