We Are Good

Chapter Ten

"Chee, we've been in here for hours." Eddie whined.

"Yea, well get comfortable." Richie said looking through some of his records on the floor.

"I'm hungry." Eddie said standing over him. Richie sighed and looked up at him.

"Fine, come on. Don't be loud I don't want to have any interactions with her unless it's absolutely unavoidable." He said grabbing Eddies hand and walking to the door. He looked down the hallway and saw his moms door was close, it's clear. They walked quietly down the hall, reaching the top of the stairs. Richie stepped down on the first step and the floor board made a terrible creaking sound, loud enough for the neighbors to hear. Mrs. Tozier's door swung open, revealing her in a pink lace night gown with a cap on her head. All her clothes are dirty Eddie noticed.

"What are you two doing?" She asked smiling at them. They didn't respond for a while and her gaze shifted to their linked hands. Eddie went to pull away but Richie refused to let go. Eddie realized hours ago that Richie was only worried about what his dad thought about them, worried what he might do to them if he found out, it was his dad he thought came home this morning that's why he was in such a panic. Richie was in different about his mom, like he'd given up trying to get her to care as much as he wanted her to, like she wasn't really there. To Richie she was a ghost that sometimes you could see, only observing and lingering around the house, disappearing months at a time until you'd see them again, just watching.

"We're hungry." Richie said blankly, continuing down the stairs with Eddie.

"It's almost dinner time yea?" She asked following them, glancing at the clock on the wall on her way down saying "Oh wow you were in your room for almost 8 hours."

"Yea well." They reached the bottom of the stairs turning to the kitchen. Eddie went to let go off Richie's hand but Richie didn't let go, so they went to the cabinets, Richie searching them and Eddie watching him search.

"Let me get something! I'll order a pizza!" She suggested with a clap.

"Um- I'm not sure any place is going too be open...." Eddie said pointing to the window as a crack of lightning struck the ground miles away. "Wait..." Eddie said in confusion, Richie turning from the cabinets to look at Eddie and his mom. "How did you get in this morning? Where ever you were I'm sure you took a plane.... but you couldn't have, there's no way you could have with this storm." Eddie felt Richie get tense next to him so he took his free hand and placed it on Richie's hand that was holding his, making small circles with his thumb. Richie's mom was just staring at them.

"I um got in before it started, late last night at 2 am ish, and took a cab here, they drove slow obviously." She said giving another bright smile.

"That's not possible Mrs. Tozier." Eddie said getting sad as he had a feeling where this was headed. "The storm has been here since last night. From the amount of rain and impact on the house and the time Richie and I were up last night which was around 3am, it was worse than we're seeing today, which means the storm technically started around midnight. Placing you in the worst of it on your plane. Where did you say you were coming from?"

"She was at a convention in- in California. That's what you said- that's what you told me." Richie said hope in his voice. Even after all his mother has done he still had hope.

"I was! It was a miracle I guess." She said stepping a little closer.

"California..." Eddie said more to himself than the room. "You came from California and got here around 12. That flight would've been at least 7 hours placing you at California at 2 am to make it here by 12 because of time difference, plus taxi minutes, meaning you landed in the morning, not "late at night". This would also place you in the air during the storm. So, if you would mind explaining to us how it is you flew from California but got here last night, but got here in the morning, during the biggest storm Derry has seen ever, but right before it started, and got to our doorstep at 12? Your story isn't adding up at all Mrs. T." Eddie was mad now, why would she do this to Richie? Why? She sighed and there were tears in her eyes.