But Mike cut me off, “No.” Shaking his head. “Thank you, but you bought lunch. I didn’t realize the ride was that inexpensive. And even though it’s none of your damn business,” his tone turned even more gruff, “your assumption is correct. The mine hasn’t put funds in our company account yet.”
I nodded and started walking back to David who was still waiting, feeling much better about Charlie not traversing the death stairs, even though the vibe from our group at the moment was uncomfortable. But I would rather suffer through that than think about and hope Charlie made it to the top safely.
Getting to the station and paying the fare, we all got in the deep red incline car with at least ten other people. Standing room only. The massive accordion door, so they can also use the incline to transport goods and materials to the top, closed with a slam and we started to rattle up the thirty-degree grade mountain side.
The car was enclosed on all sides with small windows at the front and back, and one slightly bigger window on each side. We were standing more in the middle, so Charlie was trying to peek over people to see out the windows looking out to the city, and its skyline that came into view the higher we climbed.
At the top we jolted to a stop without warning, and everyone swayed but Charlie completely tilted onto me. His constant clumsiness was cute. I lightly grabbed him by the arms from behind and steadied him back up straight again. He whispered a “Thanks,” with a shy smile and pink cheeks. The doors opened and Mike cleared his throat to get us moving since I was in my own little distracted world with Charlie so close and his cute face tinted.
We all walked off and through the station with the crowd, people going their separate ways. We all quietly started zig-zagging our way through the streets of Mount Washington to get to the Village together, which was about a mile away.
While distracted in my own head, thinking about everything that had happened in the last four days, and the attraction I had for Charlie, I didn’t notice that he had slowed down to separate himself from his father to walk next to me, until he quietly asked, “Would you take me to the Library sometime this week if they are open late enough?”
I looked up at his shy expression with a tinge of embarrassment, which I couldn’t handle. I don’t want him to feel any negative emotions around me. I want him to be comfortable, smiling and laughing. When he does, he radiates brighter than a white-hot coal. Answering quickly I say, “Of course. But depending on how fast you read, we could probably hold off until at least this coming weekend.”
I opened the paper bag that was holding the copy of ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ I bought myself, but that wasn’t all I left the store with. I pulled out a copy of a book that I held close to my heart. I hoped when he read it, he would finally know that he was truly safe with me. And maybe it will put some pieces together about me, instead of me having to say them.
I handed him the blue hardback book with the silhouette of a man riding a chariot through the sky, being pulled by Pegasi’s. Weariness started to take over my thoughts.
His eyes enlarged in shock, “You bought me a book?” Sounding confused, which quickly morphed into the biggest smile. “‘The Charioteer’, by Mary Renault,” he read the title before opening the cover to read the description silently with excitement beaming from his face.
Then he dropped the book in shock, coming to a full stop himself, staring at me with his mouth hanging open, giving me thoughts I should not have been having about those lips, again.
But the commotion caught Mike and David’s attention too.
“What’s going on?” Mike had turned fully around, his one eyebrow peaked, arms crossed over his chest. David had a look of confusion, lightly scrunching his face like he was overthinking about a child’s four-piece puzzle and none of them would fit together.
“It’s, ah, nothing, Dad,” Charlie bent to pick up the book, turning it over in his hand, inspecting it. He then held it up for Mike to see, “Jim bought me a book. I just dropped it in surprise, that’s all.”
Mike squinted his eyes at me, mouth down turning more than it already was, giving off a sharpness into the air, so that if I was closer to him, itwould cut me. “Well,” in a growly short dictation, “Wasn’t that kind of him.”
Before he turned around to continue our walk, he shot one last look that I took as a warning.
I heard Charlie audibly swallow and sniffle next to me. I looked at him and he had a tear rolling down his face and he was looking down at the book in his hands. “Charlie,” touching his shoulder gently. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Prying himself away from the book to look at me, he gave me a small unsure smile. “You didn’t upset me,” he gulped out. Then his little smile fell, and took a small step to the side, away from me. “You know,” sucking in his lips, biting down on them. The book started shaking in his hands.
Looking ahead of us to make sure Mike and David were still on their own and not minding us, I grabbed behind his neck, bringing him to a quick stop, making him look right at me. “I don’t know anything, Charlie.” I tilted my head down at him, raising my brows, to try to get my point across that,I knew, but it didn't matter. “But read the book,” giving him a little smile and a wink, to try to put him at complete ease. I let go of him, looking around out of precaution. “Let's get caught up.”
As I started walking away, Charlie grabbed my arm, so I turned back to look at him only to be engulfed in a hug. He whispered, “Thank you,” then sniffed. I wrapped one arm around him with care before he quickly pulled away, wiping away the tear tracks.
This was turning into a dangerous game, and I don’t even know how I got here.
We walked quietly back the rest of the way, Charlie studying his new book, until we came to the cross street at the top of the Village that David takes back tohis place. He punched my shoulder in goodbye, waved to Mike and Charlie telling them he would see them tomorrow.
We got to my place quickly. As we approached, I said, “This is me,” awkwardly pointing to my brick unit with the little side yard, two windows on the bottom floor and two above. The porch area that’s barren, was sided with white pressed board, and had a white door. It was a nice little place. I heard the Pittsburgh Coal company really did set up the workers well. Others that have come to the area like Charlie and Mike had told me similar patch towns were more run down, and practically unlivable.
They stopped and we looked at each other for a second too long before Charlie finally broke the silence. “Thank you for showing us some of the city and for the book again,” with a smile that showed me some teeth, making me feel like I unlocked a padlock to his happiness.
“Charlie, start heading home,” Mike gravelly ordered.
Charlie’s smile quickly disappeared with worry, but I nodded at him , “I’ll see you tomorrow, Charlie. Have a good night.”
He stalled for a moment before Mike cleared his throat and said his name again. He walked off in the direction of their place, looking over his shoulder back at me.
Then Mike grabbed my attention by stating, “What the hell are you doing with my son!” He had wrath in his eyes, as hot as a steam engine fire poker left in the flames too long.
With as much confidence I could muster while staying calm to put forth that he didn’t scare me, I said, “Only what you asked me to do, keep him safe. Protect him.”
