[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

mattered. He looked up at Mom, but she watched Autumn coming toward them.
He couldn’t forget his first sight of her as she’d walked down the hallway in junior
high. Her flowing blonde hair had looked pale silver in the light. Her full breasts had
been covered by a green, stretchy sweater and her short skirt hadn’t done much to hide
her long legs. For the first time his male instincts had reared up and taken notice of a
woman in a different way he didn’t quite understand.
He liked and respected Autumn more than anyone he knew. Maybe even more than
Mom and Dad. The idea shocked him down to his athletic shoes.
Sometimes he didn’t like Mom or Dad at all. Especially not the last year while they
fought all the time and never seemed happy about anything he did. Autumn gave him
respect.
“Hi,” Autumn said as she stood in front of them. She shook hands with Mom. “It’s
great to see you again. Jack and I finish up with lessons in about two weeks.”
He didn’t want to hear that, because every time Autumn mentioned it his heart felt
like it might snap in two. ‘Course he knew it wouldn’t really do that, but jeez. It hurt to
think about it.
Mom pressed his shoulder. “Won’t that be great?”
“Yeah, great.” A better idea made him smile. “Mom, can she sit with us?”
Mom frowned. “Autumn must have other plans.”
To his surprise, Autumn shook her head. “No, actually I don’t. My Dad’s here, but
he says he’s got some things to do. I’d love to sit with you guys if you don’t mind? I’ve
got some lunch to share, including some apple pie.” She held up an enormous picnic
basket.
Jack thought his heart would explode from happiness. “Cool!”
Autumn laughed. “I know the place to sit. Come on.”
Jack sighed in relief as she led them to a spot close to a tree and far away from the
Mafia Boys. Once they’d spread out their blanket and picnic basket, Autumn said, “I
didn’t think you wanted to sit close to Todd and Micky.”
Jack smiled. “See, Mom, even she knows about them.”
Instead of looking irritated, his mother grinned. “Where on earth did you get that
name for them anyway?”
Autumn cleared her throat. “It’s my fault, Mrs. Dillon. I called them that after I saw
how awful they were treating Jack.” She took a piece of fried chicken and munched. “Did
he tell you what they’ve done to him in the past?”
“He’s told me some things. I thought he might be exaggerating a little.” Mom looked
at Autumn with clear curiosity. “Maybe Jack hasn’t told me everything.”
As Autumn told Mom more about the Mafia Boys, Jack filled his plate with two
pieces of fried chicken and a big helping of potato salad. Then he looked at his plate and
felt guilty. He’d tried to avoid eating so much junk. Now that he had two pieces of
chicken, though, he couldn’t put one of them back.
Autumn left nothing out as she described the first day she’d met Jack. “Those boys
were standing over him ready to kick him. They’re horrible boys. I think they’ll be in jail
one day.”
He couldn’t read Mom’s expression at first. He thought maybe she didn’t believe
Autumn. Then Mom’s expression softened a little as she reached inside the picnic basket
and brought out a napkin. “I’m sorry, Jack. I should have helped you more this year. I
was distracted.”
His heart eased a little. Mom rarely apologized for anything, so he felt better right
away. He shrugged and smiled. “It’s okay.”
Mom patted his back. “No, it’s not. I didn’t realize what those boys were doing to
you.”
A warm glow replaced the uncertainty. “Autumn helped me a lot, Mom.”
His tutor smiled and took another bite of chicken. “Jack’s a great kid, Mrs. Dillon.
He’s smart and funny and very nice.”
Jack’s face filled with heat. He looked down at his plate and realized he felt full
before he’d even started eating.
Mom sighed. “Yes, he is a great boy. And you’ve helped him so much this year.”
“It was my pleasure.”
As Mom and Autumn talked about the play she’d auditioned for, he looked back to
see if the Mafia Boys and Jeremy and Cindy still sat around acting like jerks. They’d
drifted away, though, and he sucked in a grateful breath. Good.
“I didn’t get the part.” Autumn’s mouth looked thinner and almost pale. “Cherry
did.”
“Cherry Guillett?” Mom asked. “Really? I didn’t know the girl was even interested
in theater.”
“She wasn’t. Until recently.”
Conversation drifted to Autumn’s plans for college, and Jack felt his insides sink. He
didn’t want to think about her leaving.
“You’re going to be an engineer?” Mom asked Autumn.
“I want to be a firefighter like your husband, and my Dad, Mrs. Dillon.”
Jack glanced up at his Mom as he shoveled potatoes into his mouth. Mom frowned,
and that weird tension rose inside him again. He once heard someone say a person could
feel like they walked on eggshells. Well, that’s what he felt like right now.
Mom’s expression hardened. “Firefighting is dangerous. In more ways than one.”
Autumn looked uncomfortable. “That’s what Dad says. I know he doesn’t want me
to do it, but I’ve always wanted to.”
“There are plenty of sacrifices you make in that job.” Mom put her paper plate aside.
“Your family might have to make allowances. Are you sure you want that?”
“It’s what I want. I’m not sure I’ll have a family anyway. I mean, a husband and
kids.”
Since Autumn broached the subject, Jack jumped into the ring. “I’m going to be a
firefighter, too.”
Autumn’s teasing grin said it all. “You’ll make a great one.”
Mom didn’t speak, but he felt her anger and her unhappiness. He always could tell
when she didn’t like what someone said or thought, even when she didn’t say a word.
Conversation faded, and as high clouds spilled over the park, the wind picked up.
Several people dashed toward their cars as if they expected rain.
“I’d better go, Mrs. Dillon. Jack, see you next week, okay?” Autumn stood. “I’m
sorry I invited myself like that.”
Mom smiled, and Jack felt a surge of happiness that she didn’t look mad anymore.
Sometimes his Mom’s feelings made him react like a puppet, and he didn’t like that. But
he didn’t know how to stop it.
“We loved having you here with us, didn’t we Jack?” Mom asked.
“You bet.” Jack hopped up. “See ya next week, Autumn.”
As Autumn waved goodbye and walked away, Mom returned food items to the
basket. “We’d better get home, Jack.”
“Aw, Mom, do we have to? There are games and rides and things.”
“Rain is coming.”
He looked into the sky and realized clouds moved into the sky over their heads. A
strange feeling, dark and nasty, came to life inside him. He didn’t say anything, though, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]