Nether Regions by Nat Burns

Author:Nat Burns [Burns, Nat]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Retail
ISBN: 9781594934346
Amazon: 1594934347
Publisher: Bella Books
Published: 2015-03-22T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Thoughts of Delora had filled Hinchey’s mind as he drove home that evening. He’d had a few beers—well, four beers—so he was driving cautiously. Pulling into the drive, he breathed a sigh of relief and switched off the engine. Delora. She reminded him of Tinkerbell from the Peter Pan stories. A Tinkerbell with smudges under her eyes and chewed fingernails. He had often wondered about the demons that haunted her. Now he knew.

He’d loved her long before Louie had come into the picture and taken her over, though he’d never told her then. Delora was a different girl today than she’d been in high school. Tinkerbell would have been an apt description then—full of life and laughter. Even with her parents gone, she had managed to find some enjoyment in life. Since marrying Louie, however, she’d become strangely withdrawn. Hinchey still couldn’t believe what she’d told him. Pain stabbed at him as he thought of what she must have endured. God, he hated Louie.

Hinchey sighed again and slid from his truck. His mother was probably watching television so he eased the truck door closed and entered the house as quietly as possible. Passing through the kitchen, he saw, by the light of the range hood, that his mama had left dinner for him, a full meal—pork chops, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn and applesauce. He pressed his hands against his abdomen. Was he hungry again? He couldn’t tell. Knowing how hurt his mother would be if he didn’t eat her food, he sat at the table and ate the lukewarm food, almost every bite.

At seven thirty, Hinchey switched off his bedroom television and took a seat at his desk. He laid the notepad bearing Keychain’s number reverently on the desk blotter. He was looking forward to hearing her voice.

“Hinchey, come help me move this.”

Hinchey sighed, laid down his cell phone and rose. His mother had been vacuuming for the past fifteen minutes and was driving him crazy.

She stood next to her bed, the vacuum roaring. “Lift that end table. It’s been forever since I cleaned behind it.”

Hinchey knew better. He’d lifted the damn thing for her just a week ago. “Mama, what are you doing cleaning house so late at night?”

“I had to work extra this week, you know that. Saturday’s my cleaning day.”

“What about your shows?” he shouted as he lifted the table, allowing her to poke the hose under. With her free hand, she indicated the television on its stand in the room. A fifties-style couple was arguing on the screen. Hinchey shook his head and manipulated the table so it rested in the exact same carpet dents as before. He eyed the clock on the bedside table. He needed to call Keychain in fifteen minutes. He didn’t want to call late, in case she thought he wasn’t interested, and he’d really hoped to get a few minutes to clear his mind and get ready to talk with her.

The vacuum switched off and the sudden silence was deafening. Hinchey looked at the television only to find that it had been muted.

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