Page 38 of Day Break

He leaned back while I reached down and picked up the stick Byron had dropped at my feet. After tossing it, I asked, “What information?”

He waved his hands. “I’m not going into any of that now.” He glanced towards the house, and we both watched Chloe suddenly move around as if she were dancing.

The strangeness of such a carefree move when our discussion had been so deep and dark made us both smile.

“That girl reminds me of my Florence,” my grandfather said, surprising me. Then he glanced over at me again. “And our Sherry.” I felt my heart kick as I frowned. “She deserves happiness. Whatever happened in her past, she deserves it. I can tell.”

Neither of us wanted to return to the deep topics, so the conversation turned towards the weather and sports.

We sat around the table and ate the chicken lasagna that Chloe had made. The fresh bread she’d baked was the best I’d had in years.

After dinner, I helped her clean up again while my grandfather went into the den and watched the news.

I went upstairs and retrieved my laptop and sat at the table replying to a few messages while Chloe disappeared into her rooms for a while.

“I can help you print out whatever you need for the bank,” I suggested when she came back.

I watched a look of fear cross her face, and she gripped her hands together so tightly that her knuckles turned white. I was instantly afraid that she was going to pass out again.

CHAPTER EIGHT

“For the mind disturbed, the still beauty of dawn is nature’s finest balm.”

- Edwin Way Teale

Chloe

My fear burst into me when Lane offered again to help me print out my paperwork.

If he helped, he would know my name. Know things about me that I wasn’t ready to share. Ready to admit to anyone just yet.

Thankfully, at that moment, George came in asking for dessert. I busied myself getting each of us a slice of the apple pie that I’d made the morning before along with a scoop of ice cream. I also made a fresh pot of coffee, since I knew George liked half a cup after dinner. He usually took it with creamer and claimed that it helped him sleep better.

We sat around the table chatting about a storm that would be coming in late the next day.

I was very thankful the conversation remained lighthearted. The ease of conversation between George and Lane allowed me to relax and joke with both of them about sports, something I had always enjoyed. But because sports were a “man thing,” I’d never been able to share my love of it with anyone else.

I had learned over the past year that I’d been kept from a lot of wonderful things in my life. Things I hadn’t known I’d been missing out on.

I was raised with sternness and taught that faithfulness and devotion were my only good qualities. Then, being married so young, I’d continued to live by the rules that had been ingrained in me.

I had been, in essence, a slave with no rights.

This last year had opened my eyes, and there was no way I was returning to the darkness. I was free. In every sense.

“When are you heading back to the city, boy?” George asked.

Lane glanced at me quickly, then answered, “Late Monday. I’ve got a few things to deal with here. Chloe needed a ride into town, and we need to discuss a few things as well. Which can wait until tomorrow.”

I liked the way George called Lane boy. Each time he did so, the corner of Lane’s lips curved up ever so slightly. I wondered if he knew that.

“You can always take the truck,” George said to me.

“I…” I took a deep breath and decided to tell him the truth. “I don’t have a license.”

George narrowed his eyes at me. “Well, I’m sure they can update…”

“I’ve never had one,” I admitted, knowing that it might complicate things.