The Downside Ghosts Series Books 1-3 by Stacia Kane

Author:Stacia Kane [Stacia Kane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2012-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

This was when the Truth finally came out; this was the moment when the eyes of humanity saw it.

—The Book of Truth, Origins, Article 1520

Standing beside the utility shed on top of her building, sheltered by its small roof, was like standing in the mouth of a cave, watching the silent snow fall a foot away. Without the wind, the air around them felt almost warm, the curious warmth that always seems to exist when it’s snowing, as though the snowfall provides insulation.

And like people in a cave, they were hidden. Hidden from the eyes of Downside by the sheer height of Chess’s building. From their viewpoint they could see the entire city, blurred and softened by flurries and thick smoke pouring from chimneys, but they might as well have been invisible themselves, tucked in the shadows. At least she hoped so.

The roof was her idea. Inside he’d seemed restless, caged, and his unease made the walls shrink around her as well. So up they’d come, with the twelve-pack she’d bought him earlier and a bottle of bourbon he’d pulled from his trunk, and they leaned against the shed and stared out at the dusky sky together.

“Knew it ain’t work,” he said, breaking the silence. “Felice, meanin. Rich girl, thought she were darin comin down here. You know. Liked her, though. Me an her, we saw each other maybe five, six months, she came up pregnant. Only find out causen I run into her one day—she quit on my calls, dig, when she found out. Ain’t wanted to tell me. Ain’t wanted me involved. Can’t say as I blame her. My life ain’t nothin for a kid. Ain’t even got a name to give her, aye?”

Chess didn’t answer, afraid that if she spoke, he would stop.

“So finally we agreed ourselves a deal. She already seein Bill—seein him the whole time, but knew the baby weren’t his, if you dig—an he wanted to marry her. I kick in some lashers every month, I see Katie when I can. Ain’t such a bad deal. Least I get to see her. To know her, dig?”

“She doesn’t know?”

He shook his head, took a long drink from the now half-empty bottle in his hand. “For the best, aye. Nobody know cepting Bump. Nobody else.”

“Thanks.”

He glanced at her, nodded.

“She’s really pretty, Terrible. And smart.”

“Ain’t she? Go to college one day an all. Ain’t get that from me. Tall, though, like me.”

“She has your eyes. And your smile.”

In the glow from his lighter flame she saw him flush slightly, but he didn’t reply.

Chess leaned forward so he could light one for her as well. “You ever think about having another one?”

“Naw. Had em cut me, dig. Right after I found out. Only reason any dame want a baby off me is money. Got lucky with Felice. Ain’t takin chances on havin luck again.”

“Me either,” she said, watching her exhaled smoke mix with the snow.

“What?”

“I’m not … I can’t have children.”

“Thought no Church dames could, aye?”

“Well, no, not exactly.

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