Fracture by Aliyah Burke Page B

she’d driven him to the bus station the next town
over so he could escape this one. All those years ago. Her nut
brown skin, smooth and wrinkle free. She had a crocheted shawl
around her shoulders.
    He held her gaze for all of ten seconds before she
opened her arms. His bag fell forgotten to the porch as he was
engulfed by the woman who’d treated him like a son. The scent of
warm gingerbread filled his nose, taking him back to many meals
eating around her table with her daughter.
    “I’ve missed you.” Her statement held no reprimand,
just straightforward honesty.
    “I’ve missed you, too. Sarah told me about Jason.
I’m sorry.”
    She kissed his cheek. “He chose his life.” She
stepped back. “You look exhausted.”
    “Long trip,” he said with a lopsided grin.
    “Uh huh.” She opened her screen door and waited.
    “I’m fine sleeping over there.”
    “That place ain’t fit for anyone right now. You’ll
sleep here, and after breakfast, we’ll get to cleaning.”
    “It’s not—”
    One black eyebrow rose. “You’re acting like this is
up for negotiation.” She snapped her fingers and pointed
inside.
    Chase swiped his bag and entered. More memories
covered him in a deluge. While updates had been done, it was still
home. The only one he’d ever known. The place next door had merely
been his address.
    She left him in the doorway to Jason’s old room with
a kiss. “Sleep as late as you want.” Then, she was gone.
    His body clamored for the bed, and he obliged it.
Stripped to his boxers, he slid between the cool sheets and allowed
himself to relax.
    The smells of bacon, biscuits, and eggs woke him.
Sunlight streamed in the window. He sat up and scratched his chest. I didn’t dream.
    After a quick shower, he pulled out his last clean
set of clothes and donned them. Barefoot, he padded along the
polished floor to the linoleum kitchen.
    “Sit.”
    He listened as he took in the large array of food.
Despite wanting to protest her serving him, he kept his mouth shut
except to say thank you. She joined him and curled her hands around
the mug of coffee before her.
    “Tell me what you’ve been up to.”
    So, he complied and talked as he filled up on the
best food he’d had since he left this place. Chase helped her clean
up then went next door to the trailer he’d come back to. Digging in
his pocket for the key, he unlocked it and swung open the door.
Stale air smacked him in the face, and he frowned. The floor was
filthy. Then again, so was the rest of the singlewide. He walked
through and opened all the windows to help the stench escape.
    He tried to locate a phone book but was
unsuccessful, so he headed back over to Candace’s house. When she
called for him to enter, he did.
    “That bad?” she asked when he walked in the
kitchen.
    “Worse,” he said. “May I use your phone book?”
    “Under the phone. Don’t you have a cellular
device?”
    “Dead.”
    “Are you charging it?”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    She grunted, and he went to look up the number for
the garage. When the pickup of his broken down truck had been all
arranged, he hung up. A noise behind him had him turning around.
Mrs. Candace stood there a leather jacket in her hands.
    “Here.” She held out the item.
    “What’s this for?” He accepted the black leather
from her.
    “You and Jason were similar in size. Use it. And
come with me.”
    He accompanied her to the small garage beside the
house. It was new; she’d not had it when he’d lived next door. She
opened it up and walked in. When she stood beside it, she gestured
for him to remove the tarp. Yanking off a cover, he found himself
facing a motorcycle.
    “I reckon you can drive one of these things?”
    He could. “I can’t use that, Mrs. Candace.”
    She frowned. “Why not? He’s not coming back for it.
I won’t use it, and Sarah has her own. You need something to get
around while your truck is being fixed. Take it.”
    He hugged her and kissed her cheek.