After the Storm {Book 2}

Chapter 4: The Past Catches Up

"Ryan, what are you doing here? How did you get here?" I looked behind him to see if there was a car. Only my car was in the driveway.

"Took the bus." He walked in, not noticing my shock.

"How..what?"

"I couldn't stay there anymore. Grandma wouldn't let me play soccer."

"OK, wait, wait. Are you telling me you took a bus from Creekbridge all the way here?"

He nodded and shrugged. "Pretty much."

"Where are your brothers and sisters?"

"I don't know. Still at grandma's house, I guess."

I sighed. "You know I have to call her to let her know you're OK. She's probably having a heart attack over there."

"Go ahead." He sat on a stool at the kitchen island.

I walked over to the phone and dialed Heather's number. Ryan was spnning in the chair.

"Yeah, Heather. He's over here."

Loud yelling came from the other end and I moved the phone away from my ear.

Ryan was giggling.

"Yeah, Mrs. Thomas. He's fine. He took a bus."

More loud yelling.

"I don't know. He just got here literally one minute ago."

"OK, I will." I hung up. "Lord..that woman has a mouth on her."

"What did she say?" Ryan asked picking up an apple out of the fruit bowl.

I stared at him blankly as he ate the apple. Nice manners. "She told me to tell you that when you come back, she's gonna punish you." She said another choice of words but I didn't want to use that language around him.

"OK."

"So why did you come here?"

"It's the only address I could get a hold of."

"How did you find it?"

"Grandma has it written on a piece of paper on the refrigerator."

Thanks Grandma.

"How's school been? Do you like it?"

"It's OK. The kids are stupid."

I laughed. "Why do you say that?"

"They don't know anything. The stuff we are learning is stuff I learned last year."

"How did you get so smart?"

"Well, when mom actually was able to keep her money she got, she would buy me books. I like to read."

"Oh. Well you know, I have some books."

"I didn't ask you that." He said, biting into the apple.

And to think I thought I was getting somewhere with this kid..

"OK...well, make yourself at home." I said, walking into the living room.

"Aren't you married?" He asked, following me into the room.

My mind wandered to Cindy. "Yeah."

"Where is she?"

I wondered why he was asking such personal questions. The last time I talked to him, he didn't want anything to do with me.

"She's not here."

"I see that. Where is she?" He asked.

I blinked. "At the store."