Page 29 of Fueled Hate

“Let’s go take a look at it.” He moves to stand, but I hold a hand out.

“Mr. George is fixing it now.”

“Oh, okay.” He relaxes back into the chair, but doesn’t look at ease in his own space.

“Dad, I’m sorry for what I said.”

His hands rest on the desk in front of him as he looks to them. “You don’t need to apologize. I should keep up with your brother more. You too. I just can’t do everything. She was always so good at everything.”

“She was, but so are you.”

He gives me a half-smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “So, how’s school?”

“Good,” I reply, not wanting to elaborate. It doesn’t feel like anything is good, but I can’t tell him that.

“How’s Kyle?”

“Um. We broke up.”

“Really? What happened?”

“No one thing … for several reasons, it’s for the best, but I really don’t want to talk about it.”

“I understand. Your mom was better at that too.”

“No. Yeah. No that’s not what I mean. It’s not that I don’t want to talk to you about it, I just don’t want to talk about it. There’s really not much to say.”

“Are you sure? You two have been together for a while. Maybe just take some time and y’all can work out whatever is bothering you.”

“I don’t think so.”

“You never know. Just give him a chance. All relationships are work. Your mom and I worked at it every day.”

“That’s different.”

A knock on the door interrupts me from explaining there is no way Kyle and I are working anything out. I know my dad is trying to help, maybe trying to work harder at being involved, so I don’t let it get to me.

The receptionist peeks in, apologizing for interrupting as she explains there’s a customer in the lobby who wants to speak with my dad.

“I’ll be back in a few.” My dad is almost out the door before I can respond.

“It’s okay. I need to head back to school anyway.” I really do. I’m already feeling behind with the rough start of the semester. I just need to get my mind straight, and I won’t be doing that anywhere near here. It used to be one of my favorite places. Now it just feels heavy.

“See you later.” Dad gives me a quick wave as he hurries out the door.

Our relationship might not be perfectly wrapped up with a bow, but I feel much better about it than I had on the drive over here. As I make my way back to the shop, I don’t spot Mr. George until I look over to see he’s already putting the repaired tire back on my car.

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“Yes I did. And remember what I said. If you have any more problems, you just come and see me.” Mr. George gives me a pat on the shoulder as he wraps me in a warm embrace. “Be safe on your drive back to school.”

“Thank you. I will. Please tell Mrs. Martha that I said hi.”

“Sure will.” He gives me another pat on the shoulder before turning back into the garage bay, resuming his work.

How does Mr. George make me feel more at home than my dad? He even makes me miss home.

Dropping into my car, I start it up and drive out of the lot. The small town of Staffordsville passes by quickly since there’s not much of it. Getting comfortable, I zone out while driving the hour back to school. I’m not in a hurry to get there, but I wasn’t exactly wanting to stick around my hometown either.