“That’s a wonderful thing, Drew,” Maria said with her thick Italian accent. She was coming out of the back holding a large, dry salami. “I think you need to take a break, Sandra, and I’ll thank you not to speak to my customers like that again or you’ll be looking for work someplace else.”
Sandra glowered at Maria, who pointed at her with the salami before placing it on the counter. Sandra gave one final snarl in Drew’s direction, and headed to the back.
Maria almost looked the same to Drew as she always had. Her long hair was black, with a few strands of grey showing, olive skin with wrinkles, maybe a few more than Drew recalled, but her face was still vibrant and her eyes looked young and sharp as ever.
She was beanpole thin, which always amazed Drew since she was a woman who cooked and worked around such delicious food all day. Drew couldn’t imagine working in a place like this without putting on a good twenty to thirty pounds.
“What are you having?” Maria said, pulled a pencil from the back of her ear, touching the tip to her tongue and then pulling a pad of paper out of her apron.
Drew was going to order just a little something for himself, but instead decided to get for everyone. He started to rattle off different types of cold cuts, a few cheeses, asked for a few olives, pickles and a pound of Maria’s famous potato salad. He also asked them to toss in some of their freshly made sub rolls and then, as Maria was writing it all down, changed his mind. “On the other hand, make that two pounds of the potato salad, please.”
Maria nodded, smiled and called over to one of her young staff members. “Oy. Bryan, come here.” A pimply faced boy of sixteen came trotting over. “Here, fill this for Mr. Duncan. He’ll pick it up in a moment. And don’t slice your fingers.” She handed the piece of paper off to the young boy who read it quickly before running off to start putting the order together.
Maria turned to Drew. “You, come over here.” She motioned towards the end of the counter, and headed down that way. Drew followed, amused but at the same time feeling like the same thirteen-year-old boy who had gotten his head handed to him by her.
When she came out from behind the counter, she wore a smile that made Drew relax. “Andrew, it’s been a long time. I was thinking I’d never see you again.”
Drew returned the smile. “I couldn’t stay away from your potato salad.”
Maria laughed, swatted at him playfully, and looked him over. “You look good. Your sister Ashley is too skinny, she needs to eat more. You could stand to eat more, but you look good.” Her Italian accent was still thick, despite having been in this country for at least fifty years. It came, Drew assumed, not only from growing up in Italy, but spending time with her very Italian relatives.
He remembered hearing the story about how she came to this country with her mother and grandmother when she was a teen. She had five younger siblings, each of them spoke Italian with each other whenever together. Her grandmother passed when Drew was a kid, but he remembered the mother was still alive and in fact heard Ollie mention seeing her recently.
“Ashley eats more than I do,” Drew said, then grinned sheepishly. “Don’t tell her I said that.”
Maria only laughed, but it turned into a sigh of sadness. “Your other sister. Kelli, so quiet that one. I want to tell you how sorry I am for what happened. I know how you love your sisters. Whenever you came into my store, you watched them, made sure they were okay. Ashley, she’s a firecracker, she could take care of herself. But Kelli,” Marie shook her head sadly. “She was shy. She never looked me in the eye. She’d get scared and grab your hand. Not your mother’s. I noticed that once, when old Ernie, you remember, the drunk, he came in when you were little. Kelli, she practically jumped into your arms.”
Drew couldn’t remember that memory, but it seemed familiar enough that he imagined it happened just that way.
“Such a good girl,” Maria went on, her eyes getting watery. “Kelli was such an angel.”
Drew nodded sadly. “She was. She was the best. I guess if she was the angel, I was the devil?” He grinned again.
“Ah.” Maria did a swatting motion with both hands. “You? You weren’t as bad as you wanted everyone to think. Always angry.” She stepped forward, put her hand on his cheek. “Still are, I think, but there’s more there. You needed a stern hand.” She removed her hand and pointed a finger in his face. “But a loving one. But you were a good brother. I always thought to myself, that one? He’ll be a good dad someday. A good husband.” She touched his cheek gently, before poking him in the chest. “But don’t think I’ve forgot your trying to buy cigarettes here when you were just a boy.”
Drew laughed. “I was just thinking about that and how you threatened to tan my hide.”
Maria jutted her chin out. “Don’t think I didn’t see you around, still smoking. And you can’t buy them now. I stop selling them, so there.” She flicked her finger tips against the bottom of that chin.
Drew smiled and shook his head. “I quit. Just recently. My sister’s kid is allergic. Haven’t had one since.”
Maria smiled and patted him gently on his chest, right by his heart. “See. Loving a child is good for your health. I’ll bet that boy is the best thing for you.”
Drew thought about Cole, smiled to himself and decided Maria was absolutely right.
Cole’s stomach finally lured him out of his bedroom towards the kitchen. Upset over being told he had to return to school; Cole had only eaten a small bowl of cereal for breakfast. He’d skipped lunch and stayed in his room, trying to avoid his Aunt. She was pissed.
Cole didn’t know why, but he was pretty sure he wasn’t the reason. He’d heard her cursing and using his uncle’s name. At first, Cole tried to ignore it. Aunt Ashley was always riding Uncle Drew, but when a few minutes later Aunt Ashley came into his room to check on him, he knew something was up.
Aunt Ashley was just too cheerful, too nice, and way, way too happy to see Cole was enjoying his book. She clearly wanted to keep Cole distracted. The moment she left, Cole tried to listen to a hushed conversation between Aunt Ash and Lilly, but he didn’t learn much.
“We’ll talk later,” Lilly said quickly. “You remember what Drew told us. Cole’s always listening. I can stay here if you want to go.”
There had been silence. Followed by a strangled sob. “No. I can’t. Not again.”
Had something happened to Uncle Drew? Was he dead like his mother?
Cole started to believe that maybe, just maybe, his uncle would really be there for him. He had begun to believe Uncle Drew could be trusted. He’d seen Uncle Drew get angry, but he didn’t take his anger out on anyone in the house. There had been times where Uncle Drew could have lied, but he’d chosen not to.
Cole desperately needed to believe the idea that a grown man could not be a monster, because Cole knew someday he’d be a man and he didn’t want to be like his stepfather.
Taking his book and throwing it across the room, Cole wanted to scream. How could he come into his life just to leave him? He’d promised to be there for him, to protect him and more importantly to protect Aunt Ash and Lilly. Why did he get himself killed?
Why did you mom?
His mother promised him a better life. Swore things would be different and they wouldn’t live in fear anymore. They’d never have to be afraid of a man like…
Cole didn’t want to think of him. He didn’t want to remember what it was like in that house, hearing his mother’s screams, seeing the things he’d seen. Nobody knew, nobody understood the kind of monster his stepfather was. Not the way Cole did.
As Cole retrieved his book, his Aunt appeared again at his door offering to make him a snack, but he wasn’t hungry. His stomach was feeling sick, thinking not only of what might have happened to his uncle, but upset at himself. He’d gotten angry at his mother for dying. What kind of monster did that make him?
“You sure?”
Cole nodded. “Where’s Uncle Drew?” He tried to make his tone casual.
<
br /> Aunt Ashley’s face went pale, but after a brief moment she’d managed to force a smile onto her face. “He’s out with Ollie’s partner Sam. I’m not sure when he’ll be back.”
Gripping the book he held tightly, he forced himself to smile and go back to pretending to read. His uncle wasn’t dead. He’d just left. Left him, left his sister… again.
Cole should have known better than to believe him. To hope for someone he could trust. To consider even though his uncle never laid eyes on him for so long, that maybe he’d be like a father.
Cole spent the last several hours trying to convince himself he was wrong, but there seemed to be only the two possibilities that made sense. Either Uncle Drew was dead, or he had left them all.
And why was there a part of him that wish for it to be the first over the second?
That thought, and being convinced if he faced Aunt Ash or Lilly while it rolled around his head that they’d be able to read it on his face, kept him in his room until almost one thirty.
But eventually the emptiness of his stomach had him silently padding to the kitchen wearing only socks on his feet. Opening the refrigerator, he saw nothing to eat that didn’t need to be cooked. Lilly and Ashley were locked in the office. He could ask them to make him something, but he didn’t want to see them. He’d finished the last of the cereal this morning, and there wasn’t anything left. No fruit, no leftovers he could stick in the microwave. Cole pulled out an egg and stared at it. Maybe he could stick it in the microwave?
Before he had a chance to ponder that question too long, the front door opened. Cole turned around and promptly dropped the egg which shattered on the floor and splattered his socks.
Uncle Drew was alive! And he had food with him!
Drew smiled at Cole as he entered the kitchen, placing the bags on the counter. “Looks like the yokes on you, kid.”
“Huh?” Cole looked down, following his uncle’s gaze. He felt himself tense. “Sorry.”
Drew came around the counter, grabbed a handful of paper towels and knelt down to pick up the egg. “Pull off those socks and stick ‘em in the hamper. Then grab a wet paper towel and wipe the floor here. Do you even know how to fry an egg?”
Cole shook his head, still nervous and also still hungry. “I was thinking about putting it in the microwave.”
Drew’s eyes widened in shock as he stopped sopping up the egg and looked at Cole, who nearly bolted from the room before he saw the amusement in his uncle’s face, just as he started to laugh.
“That would have exploded inside the microwave,” Drew said as he finished cleaning up the egg. “Tomorrow morning, you and I can make breakfast for everyone. I’ll show you how to cook up some eggs, bacon and English muffins. There’s nothing to it. I’m guessing you’re hungry?”
Cole nodded just as Ashley and Lilly came out.
“Cole sweetie,” Ashley said in that tone that told him he was about to be sent to his room. “Why don’t you—”
“No,” Drew said as he tossed the paper towels in the garbage. “He’s gonna take off those socks, clean the floor and then we’re all going to sit down, have some lunch and talk. He needs to hear what happened. He’s going to hear it anyway and quite frankly, I don’t feel like telling it more than I have to. Besides, the kid’s hungry and so am I.”
Ashley scowled and folded her arms, but didn’t argue. Lilly came in to wash the floor, but Drew shooed her off. “Cole is capable of cleaning up his own mess and it’s not a punishment. It’s just the right thing to do. And you,” He looked at Cole. “Hurry up. You’re not leaving me alone with your aunt.”
Cole grinned as he pulled his socks off, tossed them in the laundry room off to the side of the kitchen and went to clean the mess he’d made.
Drew started off telling them about his encounter with Maria as he’d bought the cold cuts for lunch. He did this with a smile as he prepared Cole a sandwich on the softer bread that he liked and doctored it with mayonnaise. Adding it to a plate, he added a helping of potato salad. “Make sure you eat that,” Drew said, pointing to the white heap of potatoes on the plate. “It’s a sin to waste that. You man enough for a sour pickle?”
Cole nodded, took the offered pickle and sniffed it. Scrunching up his face, he shook his head and handed it back. Drew laughed and took a big bite out of it.
“You going to tell us what happened?” Ashley said, her eyes glaring at Drew through narrow slits.
“You going to eat?” Drew said to his sister.
Ashley sneered. “I don’t know. Is this your last meal?”
Drew laughed, shook his head as he added slices of meat on his crunchy bread, then started to slather on spicy mustard.
Lilly, who helped herself to a small sandwich and just a touch of potato salad, was urging his sister to listen. “Ollie said Drew did nothing wrong.”
“Yeah, that didn’t stop them from locking him up, did it?” Ashley snapped. The moment she had, her eyes went to Cole and her hand flew to her mouth.
Cole looked towards his uncle, not sure if he should run or not. “They arrested you? Why?”
Drew took a huge bite out of his sub, winked at Cole while he chewed and swallowed. He washed it down with a long sip of lemonade Lilly poured for him, before he answered. “That’s actually a very good question and one I’m asking. And I’m not the only one. Let me start at the beginning. And Cole, some of this is going to be hard to hear, but it’s all going to be fine. Trust me.”
Cole nodded, his sandwich now forgotten before him until his uncle tapped his finger near the plate and urged him to eat. Cole took a quick bite to satisfy Drew so he’d continue to talk.
Slowly, Drew explained how he went with Sam to take a look for himself at where they’d found Kelli and calmly explained what happened. He took his time, making sure to emphasize that this time, the sheriff, namely Ollie’s mother, was very much on his side and had already verbally announced he was not considered a person of interest.
Drew could tell it was difficult for Cole to hear, as he only picked at his food when reminded, but he wasn’t panicked or, at least as Drew could tell, angry with him. In fact, Cole was saving his vitriol for the two detectives who arrested his uncle, but when Drew got to the point of the detectives being placed on suspension, Cole became quiet.
“If they lose their jobs,” Cole asked, “Who’s going to find out who killed Mom?”
Drew gently put his hand on Cole’s. “They have other cops. Ones that don’t have their heads so far up their asses they can see their own tonsils,” Drew said, reusing the same line the General had earlier.
Cole snickered at the language, as did Ashley. Lilly frowned.
“After what happened with me,” Drew continued, “I walked away thinking cops were assholes, but working for the General, I ended up working with a lot of different police officers over the years. Most are decent people. They’re just like everyone. Some are good, some aren’t and some are just pricks, like Wilson.
“Sheriff Miller assured me she wouldn’t let my sister’s case get forgotten. She didn’t say who would take over, but she promised me, and I believe her. She raised Ollie and he’s as good of a man as you can find. Besides, I don’t think either Wilson or Harrington were bending over backwards to get justice for your mom. And I’ll keep poking around, see what I can find out.”
“You?” Ashley said. Drew frowned at her and she rolled her eyes. “Drew I know your work with the General meant you dealt with some law enforcement issues, but are you really qualified to do this? And won’t that interfere with the local police from looking into Kelli’s death?”
Drew shook his head. “I’m trained in investigation. I’ve run a few murder investigations before, assisted in even more. Normally, we work with police, but we’ve been hired often to look into cold cases. I’ve dealt with many cops who I’ve learned to respect and admire.”
Ashley smirked. “Yeah, I know you’ve been admiring Ollie’s partner.”
The image of S
am filled Drew’s mind and he felt like he’d been stabbed in the gut. He dropped his fork and glowered into his plate. He saw Cole, ever so sensitive to mood changes, stiffen. He looked over at his nephew and smiled. “You still haven’t touched that potato salad. Trust me, it’s amazing.”
Warily, Cole sampled the potato salad. Drew wasn’t sure if his hesitance was because Cole was still nervous, or if he just hadn’t forgotten the pickle. Tasting his first bite, Cole’s eyebrows went up as he was pleasantly surprised and followed by shoveling a bigger forkful into his mouth.
Drew grinned and was about to say something when the doorbell rang. He signaled to everyone he’d get the door himself and left the table. He walked through the great room, where two leather couches that each sat three to four people, and matching leather chairs all faced a flat screen to go into the small vestibule where the front door was. He wasn’t surprised to see Ollie on the other side, but instead of his partner, Drew quickly recognized a different female companion.
“Sheriff Miller,” Drew said. “Please come in. We were having a late lunch. Have either of you had a chance to eat?”
Both Sheriff Miller and Ollie shook their heads at the offer. “We can’t stay too long, I just wanted to come have a word with you and your family if I may.”
Satisfied they weren’t here to re-arrest him, he invited them into the house. Drew could see the immediate responses of everyone as they saw the new arrivals.
Ashley smiled and quickly went to greet Ollie, clearly pleased to see him. Ashley lit up whenever Ollie walked into a room, how was it they hadn’t gotten together, Drew wondered.
Lilly went directly into host mode, re-offering food and refreshment, which were again, politely refused, until Ashley punched Ollie in the arm playfully. “You love Maria’s potato salad, not to mention her pickles.”
“Pickles?” Ollie said. He looked at his mother and blushed.
“Eat,” she said, hoping it would, if nothing else, put the young child who was watching and nearly shaking, more at ease.
Torn Away (The Torn Series Book 1) Page 21