Page 31 of Break Away
Levi shook his head. “I didn’t know. Musthave been tough on you, though. You were in college and took asemester off.”
“I took a year and a half off.”
“A year and a half, really?” It hadn’t seemedthat long at the time, but when he thought back, he realized Bradhad been there for him in more ways than Levi had ever realized. “Inever really thought about how bad it must have been for you. Orwhy you rode my ass.”
“You were a teenager, and you needed someoneto ride you. You resented me for taking over Dad’s job, but someonehad to do it. Mom was pulling herself together, but then Maddy gotpregnant with Lily, and Lily was born sick. Maddy needed Mom. Jennyhad Derek, so she was okay. You seemed to get lost in allthat.”
The memories tumbled back, but now with adifferent perspective. Maybe coming home meant he was done runningfrom the emotions that for so long had felt like they would rip himapart. “I guess maybe I did need you.” Levi rolled his shoulders.“I’m okay now, and I’m glad Mom is with Landon. She deserves to behappy, even if that means selling this house.”
“Right. She deserves our support. Landon’s agood guy.”
Levi gave a short laugh when he caughtsomething in Brad’s expression. “You ran a background check onhim.”
Brad didn’t look even a little sorry. “Damnstraight I did. I never got any bad vibes about him, but no way wasI going to let some loser take advantage of my mother.”
“Then you probably got the same result I did.I ran my check after hearing they were dating. He’s never been inlegal trouble and is financially secure.”
“And we better keep this between us or we’llboth get our asses chewed.” Brad clapped his brother on the back.“On another topic, we’ve got an important ballgame coming up. Youin?”
“I heard about that. Yeah, I’m in. Who do youhave playing first?”
“You. I want the Guns to win this one, and weneed your bat and your glove. Be at the sports park for practicesix o’clock tomorrow evening. We’re getting pizza after.”
Brad’s phone buzzed, and he pulled it out ofhis pocket. “That’s Jack.” He put the phone to his ear. A minutelater he was slipping it into his pocket. “Fresh tire tracks on theforest service road. There’s a trailhead there with scuffedfootprints in amongst a lot of other footprints, so nothing clear.They found a plastic disc that looks like it could be a binocularlens cover. Logan bagged it and we’ll try to recover prints fromthat.”
“Well, shit.”
“Exactly.”
***
Charissa peered through the binoculars,focusing on one face, then moving onto the next. She took pride inknowing about every person at the gathering in the backyard. Sheturned the lenses to where a long table stood piled with food. Shewas hungry, and the feast made her mouth water. She could havebrought a sandwich, but making it would have delayed her leavingher home and she hadn’t wanted to risk missing anything.
She wondered what she would bring once shewas part of the family. Maybe her strawberry Jell-O and Cool Whipdessert. It was one of her favorites. That’s what people did atsuch events. Everyone brought something special to share withothers. She dropped the binoculars from the strap around her neckto take out her phone and zoom in to take photos.
When she’d been growing up, getting togetherwith her own family had meant she and her mom going to her AuntJudy’s place on the other side of the lake, which also meant beingcareful never to be alone with Uncle Gary and his wandering hands.In a house that reeked of stale cigarette smoke and dirty catlitter box, Maryanne, Judy, and Gary would play cards, smoke, anddrink until late into the night. For a while, when she was little,Charissa would have fun. Granddad had been alive then. He’d sit inhis recliner with the tube in his nose that connected to the oxygencylinder, and he’d talk to her and her cousin Trina about growingup in the Sierras. As a boy, he’d ditched school to ride his horseinto the hills and hunt deer and elk with his pappy.
After Granddad’s death, Charissa would hangout with Trina. They’d play Barbies and talk about school. They’dgo out back behind the garage and smoke the cigarettes Trina hadpilfered from her parents. Trina, who was four years older, hadbecome more interested in texting to friends than spending timewith her cousin. The minute Trina had turned eighteen she’d takenoff, leaving behind the young adolescent girl with nothing to doand no one to talk to.
The Gallaghers weren’t like that. The familysupported each other.
Charissa had been so thrilled to run intoLevi at Maddy’s café. She’dliterallyrun into him. Shehadn’t meant to make him spill his coffee, but he’d been ready towalk out and hadn’t noticed her and she’d had to do something.Accidentally on purpose bumping against him had worked outperfectly except that he’d sloshed coffee onto his uniform pants.She’d felt bad, and the coffee had to burn, but still he’d beenprotective of her. He’d touched her, actually reached out a hand toher shoulder and steadied her. She had relived that moment hundredsof times since, and held the gesture close to her heart. A littlesomething she and Levi would reminisce about when they weretogether.
She continued watching through thebinoculars, pausing every now and then to raise her phone and snapanother picture. The distance was too far to get good shots, butshe liked taking photos of the Gallaghers. She’d taken several ofLevi without him noticing before she’d bumped into him that day atthe café, and now his face was the wallpaper on her phone.
Watching the party, she liked how the kidsplayed together, and that the parents sometimes joined in. “Ooh,someone’s not happy,” she crooned when she saw a little girl in ablue romper take a tumble.
Trish helped the toddler to her feet andwiped the tears. She was a caring grandmother. When the game at thenet switched from volleyball to badminton, Logan Ross held up hislittle boy, a racket in his tiny hand, and helped him hit thebirdie. She could imagine the sound of the boy’s laughter. Leviarrived and even through the lenses Charissa could appreciate allthat deliciously thick hair. She thought she could make out thedeep blue of his eyes even with the distance. Her heart swelledwhen he swept his niece up in his arms. He was a good uncle, andhe’d be a good father.
Charissa gave a start when she spied thathippie woman who lived in the little house the Gallaghers owned.Digging through city records, she’d discovered her name was ZoeyHardesty. Charissa had been careful not to get caught, of course,as she didn’t want to risk her job. Zoey Hardesty wasn’t related tothe Gallaghers. Why had she been invited?
Charissa had to stifle the urge to screamwhen Levi,herLevi, stood by the grill talking with thatwoman with all those beads. They moved to the food table, and Zoeyturned her head to laugh up at Levi. It was so obvious the slut wasmaking a play for him. Charissa felt like a knife was turning inher chest when Levi led Zoey to sit beside him at a table wherethey were joined by others.
Trish and Landon Halloway stood together andLandon said something that had everyone’s attention turning tothem. Charissa wished she could hear what he said. Whatever it wassent Levi to his mother for hugs. Such a good son.
Charissa continued to watch, moving into theshadow of a tree when she found Brad looking in her direction.Diego arrived with another fireman, one with red hair. It botheredher that she didn’t recognize him. Probably someone Diego hadinvited from the fire station. She’d have to use her city job againto access information and find out who he was. It was always bestto know all the players.
The two firemen talked like they were tellinga story and had the others laughing. Anger over being excluded fromthe group at that table, the envy of wanting to be one of thebeautiful people, talking, laughing, having fun, boiled over intorage so fast and so strong it nearly choked her.
