Page 3 of Property of Raider
“Look, the kid is fifteen and will be fine.I cannot take care of this crazy old lady anymore.Either you come help her or I put her in a home.I’ve got shit to do,” Shea snaps back at me.
“Shea, I just don’t know.You haven’t seen him in nearly ten years.What are you expecting from us when we get back to town?”The dread I feel is suffocating.
“I’m not expecting shit.Get your ass back here, Anastasia.”She sighs, and instantly her tone changes.“Sissy, please.I’m scared, and I just need a little help for once.I’ve been working so hard on staying clean, keeping the guys that would come for you and Rusher off your back, and taking care of Auntie Lynn.I just really need you to come help me for a while.”
I rub my eyebrow, continuing my pacing.“Let me look a few things over, and I’ll get back to you.It’s not something I can just do.”
“You have until tomorrow to decide.Just know that if you choose not to come, Auntie Lynn will be here alone for at least a week.So, it’s up to you.Oh, and remember I can come get Rusher at any time.”
“Looks like we’re coming back to town.”I huff, plopping down onto the couch, fighting all the emotions rolling and mixing deep in my soul.
What have I just done?Why would I agree to go back?That town has done nothing but hurt and take everything from me.The door bangs open, and Rusher comes through the door looking even more defeated than he was yesterday.He drops his bag on the floor, his bats banging together.The look on his face when he comes into the living room breaks my heart even more.
“Practice still that bad?”I ask him.
“What practice?Coach can’t even get those assholes to warm up, much less practice,” he yells, fisting his hands in his hair.
“Language,” I snap in annoyance.
“Sorry.”He hangs his head.“I can’t play for that team.I’ll never get any eyes on me if I do.”
“What if you don’t have to?”I wonder watching him closely.
“What do you mean?There isn’t another high school in this town,” he tells me cautiously.
“It wouldn’t be in this town.I got a call today that Auntie Lynn needs help and there isn’t anyone else to help her.When I went to high school there, the baseball team won state several times.”I shrug as if the words don’t taste like acid on my tongue.
“Auntie Lynn always comes to us.You refuse to go to her and be anywhere near that town,” he states flatly.
Mock glaring at him, I ask, “When did you get so observant?”
“I didn’t.I might have listened to you and Auntie Lynn talking from time to time.There might have been moments I was eavesdropping, and Auntie Lynn loves to fuss about things.”He leans back on the loveseat.
“Well, we both know Auntie Lynn doesn’t mince words.At the end of the day, you need a better school and Auntie Lynn needs our help.So, I can deal with what I’m feeling and my past to make sure you both are okay.”
“Alright then, I’m down.”He smiles wide, pulling his phone out.“What is the name of the school?”
I give him all the information he needs to research the school, baseball team, and the coaches.Then, I shoot a text first to my baby sister, and then to Auntie Lynn.
Me: We’ll be there by the end of the week!
Shea: I knew you wouldn’t disappoint.
Me: why didn’t you tell me things were this bad?
Auntie: It ain’t that bad!Your sister has a big mouth.
Me: I’ll be there by the end of the week and we can talk more.
Auntie: Pish posh don’t be daft
Me: end of the week
“Well, Rush, it looks like we’re going back to Savannah.We need to be packed and on the road by Friday.”Standing, I make my way to my room to take a shower and lose my shit.
I spend the week hardening my heart and working to prepare myself for the fact that I will come face-to-face with Rusher’s father, and praying that my sister has in fact taken care of whoever was threatening Rush’s life.All while my heart is shattering because Auntie Lynn is dying.The only woman to ever give a damn about my sister and me.
She was always our crazy, hippy-dippy aunt who lived her life to the beat of her own drum.That’s laughable.She lives her life to the tune of her very own band.To lose her would be like tearing out my very being, leaving me a shell.This means I need to get back to Georgia and put eyes on my aunt to make sure nothing happens to her for a very long time.
