Across a Broken Shore by Amy Trueblood

Author:Amy Trueblood
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Historical / United States / 20th Century / Coming of Age / Social Themes / General
Publisher: Flux
Published: 2019-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

MacCarthy Residence

San Francisco, California

November 8, 1936

Paddy squirmed in front of the bathroom mirror. His wound healed well over the last month, but with only three usable fingers on his left hand it was impossible to get his tie straight.

“Let me help,” I pleaded.

“No, Willy. I’m a grown man, dammit.” He continued to fumble with the knot. “One day,” he lowered his voice, “you’re not gonna be here. I gotta learn how to do this on my own.”

I stepped out of the bathroom unable to watch him struggle. He was like the rest of the MacCarthy men. Stubborn as an old mule.

Mam appeared at the end of the hall. Her eyes lingered on my face. Since the day I’d encountered Mrs. Reilly, I’d walked around her as if tacks littered the floor. Waiting on the moment she’d ask why I was on a streetcar with some woman she didn’t know. Why I wasn’t at the soup kitchen like I’d promised. Every time she said my name, called me into the kitchen, my pulse raced like I’d sprinted at top speed down Geary.

Unexpectedly, a hint of a smile formed at her lips. The flash of happiness I’d long waited to see flickered across her eyes for only a moment, and then like a slamming door it disappeared.

“That dress is a little close to the kneecaps don’t you think?”

I brushed my hand over the pink ruffled hem.

“I may be getting a bit taller, but it still hangs fine,” I said.

“That emerald green dress with the wide sash is pretty. I’ll go into your room and get it.”

I stepped into her path. “It’s dirty,” I insisted.

“Well, what about the yellow one with the daisies on the collar?”

“Spilled soup on that one last week,” I inched closer to my door.

“All right,” she relented. “That is a pretty color on you.”

Every part of me itched to tell her the truth. That I couldn’t wear any of the dresses she mentioned because they either reeked of rubbing alcohol, or were covered in patches of blood.

“My babies have all grown up too fast.” Her voice hitched on the word baby. Her hand moved out like she wanted to reach for me and then it fell back to her side. She swallowed what sounded like a small sob and called to Paddy. “We’re waiting on you, son.”

He appeared in the doorway, the knot in his tie off-center. “We’ll meet you outside in a minute, Mam.”

That forced smile that always made my heart ache flashed over her face before she disappeared down the hallway.

I reached for Paddy’s tie before he could bat away my hands. “I wish that one day she could actually deliver a real smile.”

Paddy’s lips puckered as I yanked on the silk material.

“Careful, Willy. It’s my favorite tie.” He tried to push me away but I held on. “Ease up on her. She’s been through a lot.”

“I know better than anyone what she’s been through, Paddy.”

He reached for my hands and tried to stop me again.

“Let me finish,” I said.

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