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When he was finished, they lay there for a bit, holding one another, then cleaned up and put their clothes back on. He put the truck in drive, and without much discussion, drove her home. From what they’d spoken about, she imagined he had a lot on his mind. They just held hands while country songs played back-to-back, and she fought sleep along the short journey. When they arrived, he helped her out of the truck, then walked her to the front entrance of her apartment door. The tall, devastatingly gorgeous, rugged man stood before her, his hands shoved in his pockets. She reached up and caressed his beard, then rose on tiptoes and kissed him.
“I’m proud of you,” she said quietly. “Go home and get some sleep.”
“Iamhome… Home is where the heart is, and now, you live in mine. That makes you my shelter in the storm…”
And then, he walked to his truck and drove away…
“That’s not whatyour mama said.” Jude made his way to his kitchen and took out a bottle of beer. It was a new prototype they were experimenting with at the brewery. “You already saw the school counselor.”
Peter sat on the other end and sighed. “She was pickin’ on me, Uncle Jude.”
“Bullshit. That teacher wasn’t pickin’ on you. You thought you were just gonna skate on by. Another fuckin’ D…” He hissed as he removed the cap, then took a long swig. “We don’t get Ds in this family, Pete. Now, if you’d done your very best, I could work with you on this, but you and I both know that’s not the case. You want to repeat the grade?”
“No.”
“Then act like it. I’ve always had your back. All I ask in return is that you not fuck up in school. We had a deal.”
“Haven’t you ever gotten a D? Damn, Uncle Jude!”
“First of all, we’re not talkin’ about me! I’m not in high school, but for the record, I ain’t never got no damn D in Math, that’s for fuckin’ certain, and secondly, watch your fuckin’ mouth when you’re talkin’ to me. You’d think I’d shot ya out of my own nuts with the discussions we’re havin’ lately. This is crazy. I’m not your father, but I play one on Life’s TV so you listen, and you listen good. No more of this.”
“It’s not like I chose to get that grade, Jude. You think I really wanted to barely pass?!”
“Look, if you’re havin’ problems, I can get you a tutor, but I doubt that’s it. You’ll be servin’ time in detention, too, if you don’t stop mouthin’ off at your gym teacher.”
“My father is servin’ life in prison! That’s an F, if ya ask me!”
“You know what, boy? I’m the king of mind fucks, gaslighting, and deflections. Your father doesn’t have a damn thing to do with you goofin’ off in school. According to you, he barely acted like you existed when he was free, so why get emotional about itnow? I want you to graduate, and not by the skin of your teeth. Now listen, I have to go. I’ll be over there soon. No more excuses. Do ya hear me?!”
“…Yes.”
“Good.” He swallowed the last of the beer and tossed the bottle in the trash. “Get your ass in gear. I’m tired of your mother callin’ me these last few weeks, complaining about you not listening, sneakin’ out the house and doing bad in a couple of classes that don’t strike your fancy. I’m only hard on ya because I know you can do better.”
“You care about me, don’t ya, Uncle Jude?”
Sadness laced Peter’s voice, tugging at Jude. In that moment, he sounded just like his father, Cain, when he was that age.
“You may as well be my own son…” Jude closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Stop all of this bullshit. Concentrate. We had a deal.” Ending the call, he grabbed his keys to head out to Sizzle’s. His phone buzzed, and he paused to check out the strange message.Shit.Change of plans…
Moments later, he was speeding down a backroad, cigarette in hand, to the tune of Jeremy Zucker’s, ‘Deep end.’ He sent a few coded texts and took a few deep breaths. His phone rang. After looking at the caller-ID on his truck screen, he answered.
“Hey, baby. I’m in the middle of somethin’ right now. What can I help you with, sugar?”
“Jude, I won’t keep you.” Iris sounded a bit perturbed. “I just left from Aunt Blue’s house. Cut the visit short. Do you know why?”
“I reckon I do.” He turned down the radio. “You’ll beat ’em to the punch. I already spoke to the delivery company.”
“I… I can’t believe you did this!”
“Why not?” He sped up, going over hills and bumps. “What the hell do I look like leavin’ my lady in a place like that? I grew up not too far from there. I know what it’s like, and each damn year it gets worse, Iris.”
“But you already had security people out here this morning! Now I’ve got a souped-up alarm system that is set to not just catch a burglar, but the whole national army, and motion detectors everywhere, too.”
“You’re mine now, ya hear me?” He jostled as he hit another hilly area, this one more uneven than the last. “I told you the other night that you can think whatever you want, but I’m not going to allow a hair on your head to be harmed. That’s why I gave you a better gun, too. This is non-negotiable, Iris. The world is dark and it’s gettin’ darker. I of all people should know. You won’t move because you plan on movin’ after the school year is over, at least that’s what you told me.”
“Yes, that’s the plan but—”
“So, this works in the meantime. You may as well be comfortable while you wait. It was the next best thing.”
