“You want that water, boy?”
The boy nodded. It would do no good, but he nodded anyway as he always did. Maybe this would be the one time when they felt sorry enough for him to give him the water.
“I’ll give you the water if you cry, boy,” Tattoo said, his eyes glowing beneath his black mask. “Go ahead. Cry for it. Cry like the little pansy you are.”
The boy was all cried out. There probably wasn’t enough water in his body to make tears.
But that water—that tall, clear glass of water—pulsed like a heartbeat. It was laughing too, ridiculing him, jabbing at him.
“You can’t have me. They’ll never let you have me…”
The boy closed his eyes, squeezing them together, desperately trying to conjure just one tear, even knowing that he still wouldn’t get the water if he cried. He bore down, clenched all his muscles, trying, trying…
“Come on, boy. Just cry for me. Cry one tear, and I’ll let you have the water.”
The boy didn’t cry.
* * *
The next morning, I rose early and walked into the kitchen to clean up the mess I’d left. I didn’t want anyone slipping and getting hurt. Leaving the shattered glass and water on the floor had been self-indulgent. Two others lived in this house, and I had no right to put them in danger.
To my surprise, the kitchen floor was spotless. Felicia hadn’t come in yet, so either Jade or Marjorie had cleaned it up. My sister wasn’t known as an early riser, but she was used to my outbursts every now and then. I hoped it had been her. Otherwise Jade would come to me, asking a bunch of questions I didn’t want to answer. That I couldn’t answer.
It was a quarter to six, and I wanted to head out to the orchards early since I’d spent all yesterday morning shirking my duties. I had been pretty lax about the orchard lately, and I figured Jonah was due to stop by anytime to give me one of his big brother lectures on pulling my weight. I sure as hell wasn’t in the mood to listen to him, especially since he would be right.
I was rinsing out the coffee carafe when Marjorie loped up behind me.
“I cleaned up your mess earlier.”
Thank God. I didn’t turn around. I measured coffee out of the grinder.
“You might’ve left a note or something. I could’ve cut the hell out of my foot, you know.”
I couldn’t argue. She was right. I shouldn’t have left that mass. What if she—or Jade?—had slipped and fallen on the broken glass? It could’ve been pretty nasty.
I turned. “You’re right. I’m really”—I hacked the dreaded word from my lips as it kicked and screamed to stay put—“sorry.”
“I’m just glad I found it this morning instead of Jade. It would have freaked her out. She should be up pretty soon. I think she meets Ryan over at the winery at nine.”
I poured water into the coffee maker and pressed start. “Today’s Saturday.”
“True. I don’t know if she’s working over there on Saturdays.”
“What are you doing up, Sis? You’re not usually an early riser, especially not on the weekend.”
“Hey, there’s a first time for everything. I thought I’d head over to the orchards with you. I guess it’s about time I started earning my keep around here.”
I let out a chuckle. “Suit yourself. It’s pretty boring right now. Lots of busy work.”
“I don’t mind busy work.”
“Good thing.”
I wanted to ask her about Jade. Had she confided in Marjorie about what had happened between us? My guess was no, or Marj would’ve come to me by now. “Marj?”
“What?”
“Your friend… Jade…”