Ch. 1A - July
It was the third of July, two days from Shaun’s nineteenth birthday, and the night of Defaced’s big debut.
It was ten am, Thursday morning, and Shaun was in the bathroom. He’d just climbed out of the shower and he stood over the sink, peering critically at himself in the mirror.
Eli had taught Shaun to shave when he was fourteen. He hated doing it, but his facial hair had been so scraggly and unattractive that he’d gotten into the habit of taking it off every few days. It was one of the only hygiene habits he followed religiously.
But Shaun’s facial hair was growing much faster as of late and it was coming in thicker, as well. He’d switched from shaving two or three times a week to once every day.
He ran a finger along the dark stubble grazing his jaw and upper lip. It was starting to grow in on his cheeks, too.
A lot of big names in metal rocked facial hair. James Hetfield of Metallica, Kerry King of Slayer, Johan Hegg of Amon Amarth… Shaun pictured himself with a manly beard and he didn’t hate it. Gretchen kept whining about corpse paint, but he wasn’t sold on the idea. Maybe he could toughen his image with some facial hair.
Shaun skipped the razor today. He could always shave tomorrow if he didn’t like it. He brushed his teeth, applied the Old Spice deodorant Eli had picked out for him, then used a dime-sized squeeze of Ruth’s hair product. She didn’t use it often, but it helped tame her frizzy curls.
Shaun combed the serum through his damp hair. It had a pleasant, neutral smell. His hair was growing fast, too, and it went just past his shoulders when dry. There was a wild wave to it and Jesse loved to run his fingers through his hair. He said it was sexy.
He went to his room next and got dressed in a T-shirt and fitted jeans. He was wearing a lot of T-shirts now that it was summer, and everyone approved. Ruth had gone out of her way to get some new ones at the Walmart, and Eli had given him some of his old, vintage tees. Lynyrd Skynyrd, Grateful Dead, The Doors. Shaun was getting compliments and it was weirdly flattering.
Not a single person had mentioned the scars. Shaun wasn’t even sure anyone had noticed, but if you looked closely, it was obvious, especially the ones along his inner arm. The skin there was delicate and scarred terribly. When Shaun looked at himself, the scars stuck out like glowing brands.
He glared at the marks as he finished dressing. For the first time in his life, they were starting to bother him. This was his nineteenth year in this hellhole of a town, but it was the first summer he’d willingly dressed for the occasion. He’d started cutting when he was still in grade school and since then, he’d chosen long sleeves and dark colors over anything else. Over the years, Ruth had stopped trying and his wardrobe had remained unchanged.
Everything was different now. Shaun’s closet. The band. His social life…The fact he hadn’t felt the need to cut himself for over a month…
Shaun left his room and made his way down the hall. In the kitchen, Eli sat at the table with a cup of coffee while Ruth fried eggs at the stove. Shaun slumped into the chair across from Eli. “Morning.”
“Good morning.” Eli casually sipped his steaming mug of coffee. “How’d you sleep?”
Shaun shrugged, then glanced at his grandmother as she transferred the eggs onto plates.
“Off to Jesse’s this morning?” Eli asked.
Shaun turned back with a sigh. “Yeah.”
Eli nodded, then took another sip of his coffee.
Shaun had developed a regular schedule now that school had let out for the summer. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays were practice days. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays were spent at Jesse’s. Sundays were their days off from the kids. They spent them with the band or at Shaun’s house. Eli knew this.
This week was different from the others, however. Defaced was playing three songs at The Foundry on Saturday so they’d moved practice to Friday night. The same night as Shaun’s birthday dinner. Ruth had suggested he invite Jesse, but Shaun didn’t want him to know about it, so, he was going to Jesse’s today and making up an excuse to stay home tomorrow until the stupid birthday dinner was over. Then, he was picking Jesse up, definitely not mentioning the birthday crap, and taking him to Ben’s house to practice, party, and prepare for the big show the following evening.
Ruth brought the plates to the table. “How’s your friend? I haven’t seen him in a while.”
“His mother took the kids out of daycare so she could save some money,” Shaun grumbled as he attacked his eggs with the flat of his fork. “So she expects him to watch them for free.”
Ruth tisked as she turned back to the counter and poured a glass of juice. “That woman is a hot mess. I saw her leave at ten in the morning yesterday and didn’t see her pull in the drive until well after midnight. Those poor kids.”
“Were you spying again?” Eli chuckled.
“I wasn’t spying,” Ruth scowled as she came back to the table with the juice. She set it beside Shaun, then took a seat in front of her eggs. “I was up getting a glass of water. I saw headlights through the kitchen window.”
“Umhmm. I believe you.” Eli dipped a piece of toast into his yolk with a little smile, then glanced at Shaun as he jammed his toast into his mouth. “In a hurry, son?”
His mouth full, Shaun glared at the old man.
“I guess that’s a yes.” Eli laughed as Shaun choked down his toast with a long swallow of his OJ.
He wasn’t knocking on Jesse’s door until he was sure Monica was gone for the day, but it wouldn’t be long now. Her shift didn’t start until two, but she usually left much earlier. She said she was running errands, shopping, paying bills, but Jesse said she was skipping out to spend time with her boyfriend.
Shaun finished breakfast as his grandparents talked shit about the neighbors. He chugged the last of his juice then pushed back from the table. “I’m going out.”
“Did you invite your friend to dinner tomorrow?” Ruth asked.
“No,” Shaun said quickly. “I ah… don’t want to make a big deal out of it.”
Ruth gave him a strange look. “It’s your birthday.”
“So what?” Shaun grumbled.
“Well.” Ruth snatched Shaun’s plate and his empty glass and bustled to the sink with it. “I just thought it’d be nice if he celebrated with us.”
Shaun disagreed. He hated his birthday, and he didn’t want to celebrate. The other kids always had parties and balloons and presents, but Shaun celebrated with his grandparents around the dinner table. It was lame and he wasn’t inviting anybody. With the way things were going at his house nowadays, Jesse wouldn’t be thrilled to learn Shaun was officially over eighteen, anyway, unemployed and with no concrete plans to move out.
Life was generally improving, but even so, Shaun felt no excitement for the special day. He got up from the table and stalked to the door with a scowl on his face.
“Have a great day, son,” Eli called out jovially. “And say hi to Jesse for me.”
“And kiss sweet little Lissa on the cheek for me?” Ruth said wistfully, starting the water in the sink with a deep sigh. Ruth was obsessed with that baby. She couldn’t wait to see her again and Shaun cursed Jesse’s bitch of a mother every time Ruth mentioned her. His grandmother wasn’t the most pleasant of people, but she adored children. It was such a shame Monica couldn’t see past her own selfishness.
Shaun left the house to see it was another miserable, sun filled day. The humidity was killer, and he narrowed his eyes against the brilliant sunlight as he peered across the lawn. Monica’s van was gone, and the garage was open. All was clear and he jumped off the porch.
The grass separating his and Jesse’s house was teeming with bugs. They’d cut a rough path through the thicket with their constant back and forth but midway through, a grasshopper the size of a quarter landed on Shaun’s bare arm. He flicked it off, so it flew through the air at high speed.
As he approached the house, Sam came out of the garage pushing a mower.
“It’s about time you did something around here,” Shaun sneered, and Sam looked up in surprise.
“It’s new,” he muttered. “Mom and Cliff picked it up last weekend.”
“So, you’re in charge of lawncare?” Shaun drawled. “Congratulations, I guess this means you get to be the man in the relationship.”
“What?” Sam snickered as he bent down to open the gas tank.
“Jesse’s the one watching the kids all the time,” Shaun sneered. “You’re turning him into a little bitch.”
“Is that how you see it? He’s the bitch in the relationship?” Sam snorted.
“He’s the bitch in our relationship because he takes it up the ass,” Shaun said through his teeth.
Sam looked up with a raised eyebrow. “That’s bordering on homophobia.”
“Right.” Shaun barked a laugh.
Sam wandered back into the garage and returned with a tiny gas can. He poured it into the tank, then closed it up. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to get started. Mom’s paying me twenty bucks to do this.”
“Since when do you brats get an allowance?” Shaun frowned. “Jesse works for free.”
“He made a deal with my mom,” Sam said with a shrug. “He’s got to help her with the kids if he wants to stay. Or pay rent, I guess. I’m not going to feel guilty about it anymore.”
“He’s not even out of high school yet,” Shaun snapped. “What kind of fucking deal is that?”
Sam smiled meanly. “Didn’t he tell you yet?”
“Tell me what?”
“Jesse’s responsible for those kids in there, just as much as mom is,” Sam said, his smile widening. “I’m not getting stuck in the middle anymore. I’m allowed to go out and have fun if I want. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Shaun bared his teeth. “What the fuck are you getting at?!”
“Tyler!”
Shaun and Sam turned for the house.
“Uh oh, sounds like he needs a hand,” Sam said with a chuckle. “I wish I could, but…” He gestured helplessly at the lawn mower. “Duty calls.”
Shaun scowled at him.
Sam pulled the starter rope. “See you later, lover boy.” He pulled the rope again and the mower started with a thundering roar. Sam tipped an imaginary hat and pushed the mower into the grass.
Shaun turned and strode for the house. He could still hear yelling from inside even over the rumble of the lawnmower and he forgot all about Sam as he opened the door.
“...you would push her like that?!” Jesse yelled from the carpet. He had Lissa, her face red and blotchy, cradled to his chest as she wailed with distress. “Look how upset she is!”
Tyler and Allison stood by the stairs with their heads down. “I didn’t mean to,” Tyler said timidly, playing with his grubby little hands. “It was an accident.”
“Yeah, Jesse,” Allison spoke up. “We’re sorry,”
“Nothing with you two is ever an accident,” Jesse muttered, then looked up and spotted Shaun in the door. Relief flooded his expression. “Oh, thank god.” He struggled to get up with one hand supporting the baby and the other caught on the pink and white knitted blanket on the floor. “Damn thing, get off me…”
Shaun rushed forward to help him. He hesitated for just a beat, then he took the screaming baby out of his arms.
Jesse shook the blanket off with a huff. “Thanks.” His face was flushed, and Shaun felt an enormous wave of guilt wash over him.
Jesse was stressed. It was all over his face. And Shaun was responsible for it. He’d picked music over a job flipping burgers and now that Defaced’s big debut was just days away, he felt like the pressure was mounting. Jesse was depending on him and he didn’t want to fail…
“Hey. Calm down, Lissa.” Shaun carried the baby to the couch and rested her against his chest. “It’s ok. There, there,” he murmured in a deep, rumbling voice.
Lissa looked up with her big tear-filled eyes, then curled a lock of Shaun’s hair around her finger and pulled it toward her mouth.
“Watch it, snot monster,” Shaun said sternly, then carefully extracted his hair from the baby’s grasp and let her hold his finger instead.
Lissa gave him a gummy smile.
Jesse pushed his fingers through his long, auburn hair as he watched the scene on the couch. Tyler fidgeted with something in his pocket and Jesse whirled around. “Alright you two. Upstairs.”
“Why?” Allison whined, but Tyler pulled an epic pout. He knew what was up.
“Because you’re going to sit in mom’s room and Tyler’s going to sit in the nursery. For an hour,” Jesse said sharply. “You’re both in time out.”
Tyler stomped his foot. “That’s not fair!”
“I don’t care if it’s fair or not. You hurt your little sister. Get upstairs.”
“I don’t want to!”
Jesse grabbed each child by the hand and dragged them to the stairs. “Go!”
Allison pounded up the stairs. The sound of the door slamming followed shortly after, but Tyler wouldn’t go. He went boneless and fell over as enormous crocodile tears streamed down his face. He cried loudly as Jesse scooped him off the floor and carried him up to the nursery. Shaun cringed as he listened to Jesse and his five-year-old brother bicker all the way.
Brian poked his head out of the kitchen. When he saw the coast was clear, he tip-toed across the room and climbed up on the couch beside Shaun.
“Hey,” Shaun said as Brian stroked the baby’s strawberry-blonde hair. “What happened?”
“The twins were chasing each other around the living room while me and Jesse tried to get Lissa to pull-up,” Brian said in a rush. “Then Tyler bumped into Lissa and knocked her over. I think she hit her head.”
“How’s she doing with the standing?” Shaun asked.
“Really good!” Brian said excitedly. “We had her standing for almost thirty seconds!”
Shaun nodded. Jesse had mentioned it in passing, but he hadn’t seen the baby try to stand yet. He tried to be here for Jesse and Brian as much as he could, but he was committed to getting a respectable setlist together. He’d spent the last month practicing as much as possible so they could start playing shows and making money as soon as possible. Jesse was getting more and more impatient to get away from his family and Shaun was determined to make that happen. He’d never played this hard in his life. His fingers had never been so sore.
Shaun took the baby away from his chest and sat her on his knee. Lissa looked back at him with curious brown eyes. She looked so tiny in his big, calloused hands. “Well,” Shaun said slowly. “She looks alright.”
Brian leaned into Lissa’s eyeline. “I don’t like the twins either, Lissa. We’ll keep them away from you. Don’t worry.”
Shaun ruffled Brian’s hair with a laugh. “Wish I’d had a big brother as cool as you.”
Brian beamed with pride as Jesse came wearily down the stairs. He looked up as the older boy shuffled across the room, then slumped onto the couch beside him.
Jesse buried his face in his hands. “I’m exhausted.”
“It was pretty quiet last night when I left,” Shaun said slowly. “Didn’t you get any sleep?”
“No.”
Shaun tucked the baby under his chin as he settled in for the oncoming tale.
“At the stroke of midnight, that one starts crying,” Jesse said, gesturing to Lissa and Shaun rubbed her back soothingly. “She must have had a nightmare. I don’t know. But she was inconsolable for an entire hour. Woke the whole house up.”
Brian leaned into his side for comfort and Shaun understood, he felt the tension building on the other side of the couch. A cloud of negative energy hovered over Jesse’s head every time he was in this house.
“I couldn’t get the twins to get back in bed, so I brought them down here and turned on the TV,” Jesse said. “Brian was crying and upset. He wanted to get in bed with me, but how am I supposed to lay down when the twins are trying to play flashlight tag in the living room?”
“Er… I don’t know?”
“Well, let me tell you,” Jesse said with a big, manic grin. “You don’t lay down. You don’t get any sleep at all.”
Shaun sighed as Brian made a sound of distress and shrunk further into his side. The baby blew bubbles with her lips, oblivious. She was getting spit all over the front of Shaun’s vintage Rolling Stones tee.
“And then mom comes in the door at two in the morning. Drunk and pissed off because everyone’s still wide awake.” Jesse dropped his head. “We got in this big argument about who’s pulling their load. She says I’m not doing enough. She says I’m irresponsible and a terrible parent.”
“Pfft! Are you kidding me?”
Jesse sat up, his blue eyes going wide. “What?”
“She’s a total piece of trash, that’s why! You’re irresponsible? Pot calling the kettle black.”
“Oh.” Jesse relaxed. “Yeah. Right.”
“Where did she say she was going this morning?” Shaun bounced the baby in his lap as his level of agitation grew. “Another Wal-Mart run?”
“She said she was going back to the garden center.” Jesse rolled his eyes. “She wants some flowers to plant along the front walk.”
“When’s she going to have time to do that?” Shaun spat. Monica was never home anymore. Jesse was trapped in this house Monday through Friday. Sometimes, she came home before ten Friday night and Jesse could leave the house, but that was happening less and less.
“Cliff mentioned it,” Jesse said tightly. “He said the house could use a little curb appeal.”
Shaun snorted.
Upstairs, a door creaked open.
Jesse stood up. “That’s probably Tyler,” he said with a sigh, then started for the stairs. “I’ll be right back.”
“Hey, Brian. Could you spread that blanket on the floor for me?” Shaun asked as Jesse jogged upstairs.
Brian jumped off the couch and parachuted the tiny baby blanket. He giggled as it settled gently on the floor.
“Lay it flat,” Shaun instructed. “I’m going to sit her on the floor. Let’s see if we can get her to stand up again.”
“Okay!” Brian spread out the wrinkles and Shaun set Lissa on the blanket.
Jesse’s voice floated down the stairs. “What are you doing?”
“Going to the bathroom,” Tyler said snottily in reply. Shaun couldn’t even see the kid, but he grit his teeth in annoyance just the same.
“Alright, well, I’m going to be standing right here when you’re done,” Jesse said authoritatively. “So, don’t try anything.”
Tyler grumbled something in reply, but Shaun couldn’t hear what was said. It wasn’t important anyway; it was all bullshit. He did his best to forget about the argument upstairs and focused on the baby instead.
When Jesse came back down several minutes later, Shaun and Brian had coaxed Lissa into standing. She held onto the edge of the sofa with a single pudgy hand. Jesse knelt beside Shaun on the floor and kissed him on the cheek. Shaun looked at him in question.
“Having you two days in a row is like a dream come true,” Jesse said wistfully and Shaun turned to face him fully, studying his face as Brian chatted with Lissa. Jesse had tears in his eyes and Shaun felt his heart drop into his stomach. He stood up.
“Brian. Watch your sister. I have to talk to Jesse in the kitchen.”
Brian’s little expression was very serious. He nodded firmly and Shaun took Jesse’s hand and led him into the other room.
Jesse looked over his shoulder at the kids. He couldn’t let them out of his sight. Something inside him compelled him to look again every few seconds, just to assure himself they were alright.
“What’s up?” Shaun asked with a sigh. He already knew what was coming. He cupped Jesse’s cheek to draw his attention.
Jesse reluctantly met his gaze, his eyes shiny and wet. “I’m tired, Shaun. Nobody helps me anymore. Not my mom. Not my fucking brother…” A solitary tear tracked down his cheek. “I don’t know what to do,” he sniffled. “I told my mom I’m looking for jobs so I can move out and she said she’d toss my stuff on the lawn if I went to an interview.”
“I don’t even know why the fuck you’d say that to begin with,” Shaun huffed. “Fuck, Jesse…”
“Because I’m frustrated!” Jesse cried. “I just want somebody to help me!”
“We’ve talked about this,” Shaun growled. “Since your so adamant Brian comes along, we’ll have to make sure one of us is always available to watch him.”
Jesse nodded solemnly.
“So, once I start making steady money with the band we’ll find our own place, and you can get a little night-job to help out. We’ll switch off on the babysitting and schedule around my shows.”
“And that’s a great plan,” Jesse said with a deep sigh. “But I don’t think you have any idea how stressed I am. You’re here three times a week? For a couple hours? I’m here all day, every day. And I’m fucking losing it!”
“Well, antagonizing your mom obviously isn’t helping, so cut it out with the threats,” Shaun hissed. “Just hold on a little longer, Jesse. We’re playing our first show on Saturday and we’re getting paid. That’s not the end of it either.”
“Yeah.” Jesse gazed over his shoulder at the children, sighing.
“You don’t believe me, do you?” Shaun clenched his teeth. “You don’t think I can make this happen.”
“I believe you,” Jesse said simply, watching Brian and Lissa with a somber expression. “I’m just wondering if it’ll happen before mom breaks up with Cliff and sells the house.”
“Jesus Christ, our days are numbered.” Shaun rolled his eyes. “When’s the breakup happening? Before or after they plant the flowers along the walk?”
Jesse turned back with a pout. “You think I’m making this up?”
“I think you’re being dramatic,” Shaun spat. “I’ll never understand why you’re so obsessed with taking Brian with us when you’re sick to death of babysitting.”
Jesse continued to pout.
“I know you’re miserable but just try to be patient,” Shaun said through his teeth. “Let me get my shit together, and I promise, I’ll get you out of here as soon as I can.”
“I wish it would happen sooner,” Jesse grumbled.
“Well, if you’re trying to motivate me,” Shaun growled. “It’s working wonders.”
“Shaun…”
“I’m doing everything I can to make you happy,” Shaun hissed. “Everything but getting a fucking job.”
“I know you are,” Jesse whined. “But I don’t know how much longer I can stand this! It isn’t Brian and Lissa I’m talking about. If it were just them, it’d be another story.” He covered his face and took a deep breath. “I have to deal with the twin terrors. Every day. On my own.”
“I fucking hate your mother,” Shaun spat. “Those little brats are demon spawn.”
“I have to get away from her!” Jesse cried. “I’m so sick of being used all the time!”
“Goddammit, Jesse!” Shaun barked and Jesse sniffled pathetically in reply. Shaun ground his teeth and tried to reign in his anger. “I’m being selfish,” he said under his breath.
“What?” Jesse asked in a little voice.
“If I had a job right now, we’d already have an apartment,” Shaun said darkly. “Everything would be perfect and happy. Rainbows. Fireworks. Parades. The whole shebang.”
“Alright, just—”
“I’m being selfish!” Shaun spat. “You’re suffering because of it!”
“You’re not being selfish.” Jesse looked worriedly over his shoulder at the children again and Shaun growled deep in his throat. Jesse spun back with a start.
“Don’t fucking placate me,” Shaun spat. “I’m being selfish and your miserable because—”
“Because my mom took the kids out of daycare!” Jesse yelled. “She’s never done that before. She usually tries to send everyone to summer camp or something. I get to sleep in, and nobody harasses me to babysit… This summer though.” Jesse shook his head. “Did you notice? Mom bought a whole new wardrobe. Work clothes, casual stuff, a new set of heels. I saw her in a fancy negligee the other morning.”
Shaun shrugged. He’d been avoiding Monica like the plague. Every time he saw her, he was filled with a white-hot rage. She was so fucking irresponsible. He was dying to give her a piece of his mind.
“She got her hair done last week and has an appointment at the nail salon tomorrow. She got new jewelry and a couple handbags on Amazon. She’s doing all this stupid research about curb appeal…She’s trying to impress Cliff. At our expense,” Jesse bitched. “We’ve been cooped up in this fucking house all month long. She takes the van first thing in the morning and leaves us here with nothing to do, then Sam’s out the door minutes later. I’m always on my own,” he said sadly. “You’re the only one I have, Shaun. Don’t feel guilty, okay? I’m so glad you’re here.”
“We wouldn’t even be here if I wasn’t such a loser,” Shaun said bitterly.
Jesse pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don’t want to argue with you, Shaun. I just want a solution.”
“All I have to do is win over a huge crowd of rowdy, drunken metal fans Saturday night,” Shaun said sweetly. “Then we’ll be getting gigs left and right. No big deal. I’m always so fucking popular.”
“I’m leaving,” Jesse said briskly, then whirled for the living room.
“Fuck you, Jesse,” Shaun hissed. He was angry with him, with Monica, with Sam, but mostly with himself. “Don’t you fucking walk away from me!”
Jesse stiffened with his back turned. “Please don’t curse in front of the kids. All of them have been using the F word lately. I think it’s the TV.”
“Fuck that.” Shaun stepped into the doorway and clenched his hands into tight fists at his side. He kept telling himself he was doing this for Jesse — writing songs fervently into the night, playing until his fingers bled, practicing the same song with the band over and over until it was perfect — and he was. He knew he could give Jesse anything he could ever want if he could reach the top, but that wasn’t why he was doing it. Shaun wanted Jesse to be happy, but he wanted to follow his dreams even more and when he thought about how selfish he was being, he fucking hated himself. “I’m fucking sick of kids hour, Jesse. The goddamn censor’s off.”
“Shaun, please…” Jesse crouched protectively over Brian and Lissa as the two young children looked around his slender body.
“Do you know how much fucking pressure I’m under to make this debut absolutely perfect?” Shaun asked, his voice growing louder as he continued. “You’re tired? You’re stressed? All you have to do is sit here on your sweet ass and wait. I’ll fucking make this happen, Jesse. Just give me a minute! Fuck! I just started my band two months ago!”
“I know.” Jesse peeked over his shoulder. “I trust you.”
“No, you don’t!” Shaun screamed and the children flinched, Lissa began to cry, and Shaun saw red. “Motherfucker!” He slammed his fist into the wall and the drywall gave like cardboard. “Fuck!” He dropped his hand the second he realized what he’d done.
“Did you just put a hole in the wall?” Jesse stepped away from the kids.
“Yes!” Shaun threw his hands up. The wall was dented next to the doorframe. The plaster was spiderwebbed from the impression of his knuckles. “I can’t believe…motherfucking shit!”
Jesse pursed his lips. “Shaun…language.”
“Fuck! Alright!” Shaun crossed his arms and hugged himself tightly. “No cursing… Gotcha. That’ll be easy-peasy.”
Brian snorted in amusement, then covered his mouth right after and glanced at Shaun in a panic.
Shaun took a deep breath and felt his anger drain away. He took another look at the hole and sighed. “Shit.”
Jesse edged into the kitchen and turned to assess the damage. “Wow.”
“I’ll get grandpa to fix it,” Shaun grumbled. “He can patch a hole in five seconds.”
“How do you know that?” Jesse smiled.
“I’m sure you can imagine.”
Jesse looked down at Shaun’s hand. “How are you?”
Shaun flexed his right hand a few times. It wasn’t broken anymore, but his pinky finger wasn’t as straight as it used to be. “I pulled the punch at the last second. Sorry. It didn’t help the wall any.”
“Oh, Shaun…”
When Shaun called home to get Eli on the case, Ruth jumped on the phone.
“What’s going on?”
“I put a hole in Jesse’s wall,” Shaun grumbled.
“You did what?!”
“Tell grandpa to grab some drywall and to get over here,” Shaun barked. “Now.”
“You’ve got one hell of a nerve, boy,” Ruth snarled, and Shaun hung up on her. He wasn’t in the mood to be chastised.
