Chasing Spring(27)

I was about to cross the street to get a closer look when I heard my name.

“Lilah?”

I turned to find Trent standing outside of a house a little farther down the street. He was at the top of the stairs, holding the screen door open and narrowing his eyes in confusion. It took me a second to connect the two worlds. I hadn’t noticed her apartment the last time I’d been at his house.

“I forgot you lived over here.”

He nodded and let the screen door slam closed behind him. We met in the middle of his sidewalk and then turned toward the direction of my mom’s old apartment. We stared in silence for a moment and then he spoke up.

“What are you doing on this side of town?”

I glanced at him and then back to the apartment complex. “I’m not really sure.”

“You can come inside if you want. My mom’s at work and she won’t be back for a few hours.”

I shook my head. I hadn’t walked across town to distract myself with Trent. I’d willingly walked into my past and it felt good to stare it down, to remember that day and realize that my mom had never apologized; hell, she probably didn’t even remember it.

I pointed to the curb in front of the apartment. “Do you remember seeing a little girl sitting there years ago? All by herself?”

Trent followed my point and shook his head. “No, but that’s not really a place for kids. I’ve seen some shady shit go down over there.”

I stared at the rotted wood and crumbling brick of the complex and remembered the way that man had gripped my mother’s neck in the doorway. He could have snapped it in two right in front of me.

Trent was right.

It was no place for a kid.





Chapter Thirty-One


November 2009

Blackwater, Texas





Chase Matthews ran up the gravel drive just as the setting sun finally disappeared behind the row of houses across the street. He was supposed to have been home already, but the baseball game at the park had run over time. He knew his dad would pop him for being late, but he hoped that if he slipped in unnoticed through the back door, his dad might assume he’d been home all along. He pulled open the screen door and cursed the squeaky hinges. He kicked off his muddy shoes and tiptoed toward the kitchen.

His parents’ voices carried over into the hallway, so he pressed against the wall and listened to their conversation, trying to make out if they were talking about him. They were usually so careful; Chase rarely overheard their arguments.

“I don’t think you should go. She’s a grown woman, Hannah. You can’t change her.”

“She’s my oldest friend, David. I can’t just leave her there.”

Chase knew right away they were talking about Elaine, Lilah’s mom. She’d been getting worse lately, calling his mom at all hours of the night.

His dad cursed under his breath and Chase crept closer to the kitchen. He stayed pinned to the wall as he peered inside. His dad was hunched over, gripping the side of the kitchen island. His mother wound her arms around his waist and rested her head against his back, right between his shoulder blades.

“I promise I won’t be gone long. I’ll just make sure she’s safe and then I’ll come right back home.”

His dad didn't say anything for the longest time, but then he nodded and wrapped his hands around hers. “Hurry back. I'll finish dinner and we'll wait to eat until you get home.”

She kissed him quickly and then grabbed her keys from the counter. When she rounded the doorway and saw Chase standing there, she tilted her head to the side.

“You need to go wash up,” she said, licking her thumb and wiping his cheek where dirt was caked from playing baseball outside all day.

“Can I come with you?” he asked. He didn’t know where she was going, but he didn’t like the idea of her seeing Elaine. She was always protecting Elaine, but who was protecting her?

His mom cupped his chin and bent down to kiss his cheek. Soon she wouldn’t have to bend at all; he was nearly her height and growing faster by the day. He couldn’t wait for the day he could tease her about being shorter than him.

“I need you to go help your father with dinner,” she said before whispering, “He's helpless without you.”

He smiled and shook his head before she moved past him, toward the door.

“Love you. Be good,” she called back.

He moved after her, holding the screen door open and watching her walk toward her car. The motion-sensor light above the garage kicked on as she closed her car door. Her engine revved and he was left with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Even at thirteen, Chase knew Elaine was a bad lady. She’d left Lilah and she’d leave his mom too. One day.





Chapter Thirty-Two


Chase





Ten days. Lilah and I walked to school together for ten days before she finally paused her music. I was running late thanks to a missed alarm. I threw on my shoes and ran out the door, prepared to have to book it to catch up to Lilah, but she was still at the end of the driveway, fidgeting with her shoes.

She stood as I approached and I noticed her headphones were still in place, but there was no music playing, at least none that I could hear.

We started to walk together in silence. We passed her neighbors’ houses and I tried to come up with something interesting to say, something so good she would have to take her headphones out to listen.