by E. J. King
“How old is Sadie?” I said, unable to restrain my surprise that she had a grown son.
Jim grinned. “I’ll never tell. She was young when she had him. About your age.” He pointed a finger at me. “Don’t you dare make that mistake.”
That shouldn’t be hard considering I’d sworn off guys many months ago. “Careful, Jim. She’s going to talk you into having some kids of your own.”
“You’re the only bratty kid I need,” he said. “Unpack. Settle in. Make yourself at home.” He waved and disappeared without further hassle.
It took me all of ten minutes to get settled in. Clothes went into drawers and on hangers in the closet. Books on the shelf above a large wooden desk. Laptop plugged in and booted up. Shampoo and toothbrush in the bathroom. My old chest full of random things was shoved to the foot of my bed. It had an old but secure lock, so I didn’t have to worry about Jim or Sadie getting nosy. After setting a picture of my parents on the bedside table, I was officially unpacked. Home sweet home.
I wasn’t in the mood to answer more of Sadie’s questions and it was still too early for bed. I grabbed my cellphone and headed back though the house.
“I’m going for a walk,” I called out in case anyone cared.
“Wait.” Jim hurried down the hall waving a set of keys. “You’re old enough that I’m not going to give you a curfew or a lecture, but you should know that this town is small enough that I’m going to find out if you do something stupid and it’s not a good place to hang out after dark.”
I took the keys. “No guarantees, Jim.”
“I’m serious, Izzy.” He stared hard at me, not at all bothered that he had called me the wrong name. “Keep your head about you at all times. Don’t get into trouble after dark.”
“I don’t know anyone in town, Jim. I’m sure I’ll be back in an hour. Don’t worry.”
He held his stare a moment longer and then took a step back. “I’m your guardian now. I have to worry. That’s the rule.”
“Since when do you follow the rules?” I said, turning away from him. My hand was on the door, but his next words made me hesitate.
“In this town, if you don’t follow the rules you might end up dead.”