Vital Lies by Ellen Hart

Author:Ellen Hart [Ellen Hart]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 2940012027450
Google: UZhrP1iiQ6cC
Amazon: B004GNFF48
Goodreads: 1159498
Publisher: Ellen Hart
Published: 2010-12-17T03:00:00+00:00

19

About an hour before the lunch crowd was due to arrive, Burton found himself downstairs venting his growing frustration on the basement wall. It looked as if the wine cellar was never going to get finished unless he pitched in and did some of the work himself. The worst scenario he could think of was that the police would descend later in the day and rope the entire cellar off. If that happened, it might be weeks, even months before any more work could be done. The schedule for completion and stocking was already tight. Burton could see his plans crumbling before his very eyes. Wearing a ragged sweatshirt and heavily patched jeans, he slammed the sledge hammer next to the small hole Elmer had started.

“What are you doing, Daddy?” called Dylan. He jumped down the stairs step by step, watching his bowl of Jell-O jiggle.

“I want to open up this wall,” said Burton. He hit it again, sending chips of brick flying. “Stand back, son. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Why would I get hurt?” asked Dylan, one hand on his hip.

“Go sit over in the comer,” said Burton. He pulled a section of bricks onto the floor.

“Don’t!” cried Dylan protecting his Jell-O from the dust. “That’s not nice.”

“Dylan, if you’re going to stay down here, you’re going to have to do as I ask. Now sit over there in that corner.”

Dylan ran to the spot and twirled around, putting his face in the bowl.

Burton watched him for a moment. “What did I tell you about eating with your face? You should have a spoon.”

Dylan shrugged.

“Agh,” he said, shaking his head. He returned to the wall. As more of the bricks crumbled to the floor, he began to clean away some of the rubble. “You can help Daddy now,” he said, pulling a wheelbarrow closer.

Dylan licked the bowl clean before setting it down. “Can I see inside?” he said, pointing to the hole.

“I suppose. It’s pretty dark in there. Elmer threw some makeshift lighting up yesterday, but since Daddy couldn’t figure out how he had it connected, he’s having to tear this shit out — excuse me, Dylan — these bricks out almost in the dark. See if you can find a flashlight over on that work bench.”

Dylan nodded, running to the table. “Here it is,” he said, finding it almost immediately. Holding it tightly in both hands, he skipped over to his father.

“Okay. Let me take a quick look first. Then I’ll lift you up and you can peek inside. I don’t know why someone bricked this up in the first place. It was a stupid thing to do.”

Dylan stood, holding on to his father’s leg while Burton shined the light into the darkness. “Jesus Christ,” he said, leaning further into the hole. “I don’t believe it.”

“I believe it. Dad,” said Dylan, finding a marble in his pocket. “Wanna see my favorite marble?”

“Dylan, let’s go upstairs.”

“Okay, but can I see?”

“Not right now.”

“But Daddy!” said Dylan. “You promised!”

“You

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