Harry
Brayden had boundless energy. Or was it a sugar high from the hot fudge sundae? Harry wondered if that were ever true of himself.
The Outdoorsman Depot was the largest camping, hunting, and fishing supply store in three counties. And luckily for them, right here in Webster.
Brayden breezed past him and stopped in the middle of the main aisle. The place was so big it had turn stalls like an amusement park. “Which way is the fishing stuff?” Brayden called out louder than necessary.
Harry read the overhead sign with arrows pointing in every direction. “To the left.” However, everything looked like it was to the left according to the sign.
Brayden darted through the sea of heavy camo coats. “Ooooh, cool. Guns!” he shouted, whizzing past the racks mounted high on the wall.
Shaking his head, Harry mumbled, “Oh boy.” The kid’s lack of fear regarding firearms surprised him considering everything, although his mother hadn’t been shot, she’d been bludgeoned to death. Wonderful. What a happy memory. He ought to think of these things more often.
Brayden disappeared down the aisles of fishing poles. Harry caught up with him. The kid stared gap-mouthed at all the poles. “There are so many, how do I chose one?”
“First we can eliminate the ones that are for fly, deep sea fishing, or are too long.”
“How long should I get?”
“I think to start, nothing longer than six foot. Let’s pick out a tackle box and some other stuff you’ll need first.”
They walked to the next aisle. Brayden selected a gray and green box with six trays, and cup holders on the lid. Harry grabbed a basket from the end of the row and threw in the essentials Brayden would need: crawler harness, spin bait, 6 lb. test line, lures, bobbers.
Brayden watched Harry until he spotted a colorful spinner that he had to have. Harry tossed it into the basket too.
“That’s a lot of stuff, Harry.”
“Yeah, but you need it, and I want you to have the best of everything.”
“Really? Thank you.” Brayden threw his arms around Harry.
“You’re welcome. Let’s go check out the rods.”
Brayden held a rod by its grip and practiced casting. The end tip grazed the rack behind him when he pulled back.
“Hey, watch it. Anything we break, we buy.”
“That’s not true, they can’t make you.” He casted again and this time nearly whipped Harry in the face.
“They can.”
“Whatever, that’s what insurance is for.”
“No, it’s not.” Harry caught the pole on another casting attempt from Brayden.
The kid let go and took another one from the rack.
“That’s a good one. I think you’ll like that one. It’s graphite and a little smaller.”
Brayden had an easier time casting, yet didn’t quite understand the art form of casting properly.
“Give it to me for a second, I want to show you how it’s done.”
Brayden handed Harry the rod.
“See, now, it requires a flick of the wrist so the line and lure swing away…out and…over…shit!” His demonstration resulted in the rod going too far out. The contents on the top shelf on the rack next to him clattered to the floor. An overstock of boxes of fishing lures dumped beside Harry. Brayden jumped out of the way.
The noise would bring several employees to the area, Harry imagined.
Brayden laughed. “What was that again about hurting someone?”
Harry picked up the basket of fishing gear and handed Brayden the tackle box. “Keep quiet and keep on walking.”
“Shouldn’t we pick up the boxes?”
“Yeah, keep walking, eyes straight ahead.”
Harry and Brayden speed-walked to the checkout counters, giggling the whole way. The sales clerk asked Harry if they found everything okay.
“Yeah, fine, but you may want to send someone to pick up some boxes on the floor in the fishing section. Someone left a pretty big mess.” Harry glanced at Brayden sideways.
The clerk sighed. “Not surprised. There’s always someone who swings the fishing poles around. Probably knocked them boxes off the top shelf.”
“Huh. The nerve of some people.”
Brayden covered his mouth with his hand and whimpered.
After the items were paid for and bagged up, they left the store. Brayden let out the laughter he was holding the second the door closed behind them.
“Wait until I tell Dad what you did.”
“Shhh…” Harry chuckled. “Don’t tell your dad, he doesn’t need to know.”
“Do you think they got you on the security cameras?”
Crap. Harry hadn’t thought about that. At the time he’d only been concerned with getting out of there. He ran his fingers down his cheeks. Oh well, what could they do anyway, it’s not like he stole anything.
Brayden teased Harry the whole drive home.
“Get the bags and I’ll carry the rod,” Harry told him when they pulled into the driveway.
“Thanks for taking me. I can’t wait for our trip.” Brayden used the keypad and opened the garage door. It squeaked along the tracks as it rolled upward. Brayden ran inside. He was already showing his dad the gear at the kitchen table when Harry came in. Mikey smiled and appeared truly interested.
Mikey mouthed, Thank you, to Harry over Brayden’s head.
Harry nodded. “Grace home?”
“Went to the movies. Should be home soon if you wanna wait.”
Brayden sat at the table opening the packages and arranging the items in the tackle box. “Guess what?” he said without looking up. “Harry broke stuff.”
“Ta ta tah…” Harry tsked.
“What? You did.” Brayden grinned.
“I thought we agreed to keep it a secret.”
“I didn’t agree to anything.”
“Great influence you are.”
Grace came through the garage door, saving Harry from having to explain. Her expression worried him. She didn’t look in his direction when she spoke. “Hi, I didn’t know you were stopping by.”
“Yeah, I took the kid out for fishing gear.”
A smile perked the corner of her mouth. “That’s nice.”
“Guess what your dad did,” Brayden said.
Harry put his hands on the top of his head and smoothed his hair back.
Grace raised her eyebrows.
“I didn’t do any—”
“He totally knocked some stuff off a shelf and left it on the floor. Right in the middle of the store.”
“It was not right in the middle.” Harry shook his head while Mikey chuckled.
“Yes he did,” Brayden protested.
“Oh, I believe you, Bray.” Grace smirked. Her usual upbeat self was oddly absent.
“Is something wrong?” Harry asked her.
* * *
Grace
How could Grace tell her father that his girlfriend may be looking at a serious medical problem? His wife, her mother, had died suddenly nearly twelve years ago. “No. Nothing’s wrong.” It wasn’t a total lie. Natalie had no idea what was wrong with her. It could be something easily taken care of.
“Are you sure?” Harry asked.
When she looked at him, he was standing with his head cocked. “Everything’s fine.” She wanted to tell him everything, but she’d promised Natalie she wouldn’t.
“Okay. I won’t pry.” Her father glanced at Mikey as if he was the reason she was being tight-lipped. “I gotta go anyway. Natalie should be home.”
Her father kissed her cheek and left the house through the kitchen door.
“I’ll pry. What’s up?” Mikey asked when the door closed.
She shrugged and motioned for him to ask Brayden to leave the room.
“I’m going. I saw,” Brayden said. He grabbed his tackle box and headed for the living room. He surprised Grace by not arguing to stay.
“Sorry, I need to talk your dad.”
“Dad. You can just say, ‘You need to talk to Dad, not your dad’,” he grumbled on his way out.
Grace squeezed her eyes shut. “Bray…” she whispered, except he didn’t hear her.
“Uh oh, what’s wrong?” Mikey asked.
Grace pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and sat. “Natalie. I think she may be real sick.”
“She still hasn’t had that checked out?” He came over and put his hands on her shoulders from behind. She laid a hand on top of one of his.
“She asked me to go with her to the doctor’s. I found her in the ladies’ room, leaning over the sink, crying.”
“Are you going to tell your dad?”
“I wanted to.”
“I could tell. She asked you not to, didn’t she?”
Grace pivoted in the chair. “She doesn’t want to worry him unless there’s something serious to worry about.”
“I get that.”
“I just wish I knew what was wrong with her.” Grace wrung her hands, a trait she’d inherited from her father.
“What are her symptoms?”
“Why, are you a doctor?”
Mikey looked away.
“Sorry, I know you’re trying to help. Upset stomach, puking, heartburn, but I’m worried. Hey, you know what? She said she was crampy like her period was coming.”
“Isn’t she like fifty or something?”
Grace tapped his abdomen playfully. “Yeah, I don’t think it’s that because this has been going on a while now.” She swiveled back toward the table and crossed her arms. Her own stomach hurt.
Mikey leaned over her so she tilted her head back and looked at him. He kissed her forehead then her lips. “Mmm…popcorn.”
“Oh, yes. I still got my snack on, despite missing most of the movie.”
He took her hand and helped her out of the chair. She twirled, ending with her hands on his chest. Mikey wrapped his arms around her, weaving his hands into her hair. And brushed his lips against her neck. “Love you,” he rasped in her ear. Grace melded into his embrace. “She’ll be okay.”
“I hope you’re right.”