Obsidian by Rebecca Henry

Author:Rebecca Henry [Henry, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: YA Young Adult Romance LGBTQIA
Publisher: Totally Entwined Group
Published: 2022-09-22T00:00:00+00:00

* * * *

Mom was sitting in a rocking chair on the porch, a shawl wrapped around her shoulders. A trail of jack-o’-lanterns lit the steps, their expressions dancing with the flickering candles inside.

“Hi, sweetheart,” she called out to us as we stomped up the porch steps. “Did you girls have a good time at the farm?” Her voice was thin and ragged, and as I climbed to meet her, I noticed bags under her eyes. I glanced at Billie before lying, the words like dust in my mouth.

“Yeah, it was great, Mom. You look tired. Are you feeling all right?”

She rubbed her injured elbow and offered Billie a weary smile. “I’m fine, sweetheart. I was just about to go inside to bed.” She rose from her chair, the shawl still wrapped tightly around her slender frame. She was skinnier than usual, and I worried she might not have been eating. She stopped as she reached for the doorknob, pausing as her fingers grazed the metal. “Billie, did you bring me my photo?” she called over her shoulder, her voice low.

Billie leaned in, struggling to hear her. “Sorry, Lily. What was that?”

Mom kept her back turned and didn’t answer. Instead, she quietly opened the door and slipped inside the house as if she were a ghost.

I reached for Billie, an apology on my lips. “I’m so sorry. She hasn’t been feeling well lately, and I think she’s still tired from the long train ride.”

Billie offered me a sympathetic smile. “It’s all right. Don’t worry. I like your mom.” She twisted her lips in concern. “She does look tired, though. Maybe she’s getting sick? Hope she gets some rest tonight.”

“Yeah, definitely. She will be fine in the morning.” I hated how the words tasted like a lie on my tongue, sour and salty.

I left Billie to grab a basket from under the porch table and pulled out carving knives and an old tablecloth. Billie settled on the bench across from me as I placed our pumpkin on the table and handed her a knife.

“You know, my dad said that your mom came into the hardware store earlier this afternoon,” Billie said thoughtfully. “She was buying nails. My dad just assumed it was for a Halloween prop since no one is remodeling this time of year.”

I looked up, my eyes meeting her green gaze. “Nails? That’s odd.”

Billy nervously chuckled as she looked down at the table. “Yeah, not like ordinary nails, either. She purchased these wicked large nails, like almost a foot long rosehead nails, the iron kind that you would use to frame a house…” Billie paused, scratching the back of her neck. “It’s not our most common type of nail to sell, so it just seemed a bit odd. Dad thought maybe she was going to build a new fence in your aunts’ garden. Anyways, he asked me to see if she needs any help.”

I glanced at Billie as she bit her bottom lip. “Okay, thanks. I’ll pass along the

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