Page 3 of Break Away
“I love you.”
“Always the perfect thing to say when youcall your mother.”
“You brought me groceries and flowers.” Heopened cupboard doors until he found the plates.
“I did. I knocked, but when you didn’tanswer, I figured you were sleeping so I let myself in. There’sFrench bread to go with the lasagna.”
He found a spatula to scoop lasagna onto aplate, then put it in the microwave. “It looks amazing. Thanks,Mom.”
“When are you coming over? Landon and I wouldlike to see you.”
He was still trying to get his head aroundthe reality of his mom having a boyfriend. “Not today, butsoon.”
“Have you seen your neighbor, Zoey?”
“I have. She’s got an oversize attitude,weeks-old injuries on her forehead and arm, and a limp. What’s thedeal?”
“She was in a nasty accident a week or soago. She was crossing Main Street, at a crosswalk, mind you, andwas hit by a car. The driver was speeding around the corner anddidn’t stop. The blow was glancing, thank goodness, but she wasbadly bruised. She’s lucky she didn’t end up with broken bones orworse.”
“Jesus. No one saw it?”
“No. Your brother is fit to be tied.”
“I bet. Brad likes his city all neat andorderly.”
“Since he’s police chief that makes sense. Hedoes his best to keep us all safe, Levi.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m not criticizing.”
“Good.” There was a long pause. “Rest up,come by anytime, but put Sunday on your calendar. Landon and I arehaving everyone over to my house and that includes you. Show uparound noon. It will give you a chance to catch up with yourfamily. We’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too. I’ll be there. Bye,Mom.”
Trish Gallagher had shown exceptionalrestraint during that conversation. Levi could all but feel hercompulsion to ask him a million questions. Was he eating properly?Was he able to sleep, or was insomnia still kicking his ass? Whatwere his plans now that he’d quit the force?
She’d held back, for which he was immenselyrelieved.
Levi found the bread, cut off a hunk, andsince beer hadn’t been among the groceries in his fridge, he madedo with a glass of milk. The microwave dinged, and in less than aminute he was sitting at the dining table eating the lasagna, whichwas excellent despite the vegetables Trish had slipped into thedish. Staring at the bouquet of bright flowers, he reviewed hislife for the ten thousandth time. His career was in the toilet, hehadn’t had sex in four months, and the little stray dog that hadadopted him had died two weeks ago. Now Levi harbored guiltwondering if feeding him potato chips had contributed to hisdemise. Sounded like a bad country western song.
But despite all that, he felt better than hehad since his giant fuck-up.
Chapter Two
With the engine idling, Levi sat in thedriver’s seat staring at Lucy lying in the middle of the road. Shewas on her stomach in a patch of bright sunlight with her frontlegs stretched in front of her and her back legs splayed behindher, once again blocking his way. This time to an important step inhis plan to get his shit together.
Driving home, he’d had the forethought todrape the cleaned and pressed chinos and shirt still in theirplastic from the laundry service across the boxes. That had lefthis primary challenge of the morning locating his good shoes andthe appropriate socks. He’d even donned a tie, and god knew hehated ties. A sport coat was draped over the passenger seat. Hehoped Brad appreciated the effort.
His plan had been to hit his sister Maddy’scafé for coffee and a muffin before heading to the station for hisjob interview. Which he’d have time for if not for the dog doing abear rug imitation and blocking the damn driveway.
He rolled down the window and leaned out.“Lucy, move it.”
Lucy lifted her head, seemed to consider heroptions, then opened her mouth in a huge yawn.
He didn’t have time for this.
A quick look behind and under the seatsdidn’t turn up any bags of chips. He didn’t care what the hotearth-chick said, he’d use chips as a bribe if it got the furmountain to move. He opened the glove box. Score. No chips, butsomething even better.
Stepping out of the vehicle, he made sure thedog was watching when he peeled back the plastic. “Look what Ihave, big girl.” He held it up so the dog could see the yellow andred wrapper. “Ever had one of these? What we have here is a SlimJim, also known as pure American processed meat brilliance.” He bitoff a hunk, chewing slowly.
