The Ledberg Runestone by Patrick Donovan

Author:Patrick Donovan [Donovan, Patrick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781635761771
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2017-11-06T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

I stood on the porch for a long time, staring up at the sky, losing myself as the last of the sunset melted away, the reds and purples fading into a starlit darkness. I didn’t want to think about what my father had said, but I felt uncomfortable going back in and facing him. My coffee had long since gone cold, which was fine. I’d all but forgotten it anyways. There was no reason for what he said to bother me. It was utter crap. My father was just being over protective. I was in some shit, and probably in over my head. Hell, he’d come home and found some crazed nutbag in his house beating the bejesus out of his kid. That was enough to make anyone try and lay blame somewhere.

But I’d done it for him. If it weren’t for me, he’d have lost his business, his livelihood.

“How’s your face,” Melly asked, stepping onto the back porch. She had a fresh mug of coffee, which she carried over and set down on the banister next to me. She picked up my cup from earlier, dumped it out, then held the mug loosely in one hand, arms crossed over her chest.

“Attached. Mostly, anyways,” I said.

I wasn’t really in the mood for company. I picked up the coffee from the railing and took a sip. Say what you will about Melly, she was a wonder when it came to making just about any form of consumable liquid.

“Well, that’s something,” she said.

“Yeah, I suppose it is.”

“So this is where you grew up, huh?”

“Yeah. Well, sort of. We lived in Oregon for a little while, then New Orleans, both before my sister died. It’s mostly been here, though, for about as long as I can remember. Guess a better way to put it is that it’s all I remember.”

She nodded.

“It’s nice.”

“Yeah, maybe. It’s not all happy memories, though. Lot of bad happened here, too. I guess that’s what makes it home.”

“That tends to be how it works,” Melly agreed. “I wanted to say thanks.”

“For?”

“Everything you and your dad have done. I appreciate it. Especially your dad. He’s a character.”

“That’s one way to put it.”

“Seriously, thanks,” she said again.

“Yeah, don’t mention it.”

There was a long, awkward pause.

“I wanted to thank you for not blowing up in there, too,” she added.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“When I was talking about…about what happened.”

I nodded.

“Didn’t seem right. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t bother me, but,” I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

“Yeah,” she said. “I get it.”

“Good, cause I’m not a hundred percent sure I do.”

She snickered.

“It means a lot.”

I nodded.

“Look, not to be rude, I’m not really in the mood for chit chat right now.”

“I know,” she said. “Still, wanted to say my piece.”

“I’m sorry,” I said finally.

“Don’t be.”

“Just not a good time,” I admitted.

“Anything you want to talk about?”

“Not really.”

“You sure?”

I wasn’t. I wanted to get it off my chest. The problem was, I wasn’t sure exactly what it was. There

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.