The End of the Rainbow (Hudson 4)

Harley looked like the roar of rage was making him deaf to any other sound. so I lunged for his hand and pulled him toward the garage where Daddy had the favors in boxes.

"Hey," Harley cried. "Take it easy."

"We don't have all that much time," I said. "They'll all start to arrive soon."

"Right, and we can't disappoint the gang." He looked back at Daddy and Uncle Roy, his eyes still red with fury. "He's always got to say something nasty." Harley complained.

"He means well though." I said.

"Yeah, like a rattlesnake does you a favor by biting you. I can't imagine what made my mother want to marry him. but I guess when you're unwed with a kid, you can't be so choosy. You take the first offer, even if it's from a man who has a prison record."

"He doesn't have a prison record. Harley."

"Sure he does. Military prison is just as serious."

"Well, none of that mattered to your mother. They must have been in love. Harley, and they still are."

He blew air through his lips as if my words were tiny flies annoying him.

"Well. Mommy tells me they were." I insisted. "She said they just seemed to gravitate toward each other. She told me, they took long walks and talked and fell in love just the way people do."

We entered the garage and I pointed to the cartons on our left. He didn't move. Instead, he gave me that curious look, his eyes laughing but his lips stiffly tucked in at the corners.

"What?"

"And how are people supposed to fall in love. Summer?" he asked. "What is there, a formula or something? Because if there is. I'd sure like to know it."

"No, there's no formula. Don't be silly," I said.

"I'm not being silly," he asserted. "Tell me. Really," he said folding his arms across his chest. "What do you think happened to them and what happens to anyone? Do bells go off? What?"

When I didn't respond, he added. "Is that what's happened to you and Chase Taylor?"

"Stop it. Harley."

"Stop what?"

"Teasing me, making fun of everything I say."

"I'm not." he protested, his arms out. "I really want to know." The sardonic smile left his face. "Don't you believe me when I say I wonder about my mother and him all the time now? These days they barely speak to each other, and it's not just because of what happened to Latisha and the way my mother is with her religious stuff. If I didn't ask a question or burp at breakfast, it would be as if we were all in a silent movie.

"They never go anywhere, no dates, no restaurants, no movies. They don't talk about taking a vacation like your parents do. Your mother's in a wheelchair, and she does more than my mother these days. It's just as much boy's fault as it is hers."

"Why is it you never call him daddy or dad or father, ever. Harley?"

"Because... he's not my father. My father is out there," he said waving at the door. "somewhere out there. and I'm not even a passing thought in his head. How do you have a kid and not even be a little curious about him, not care at all?"

"Well. Roy cares about you. He officially adopted you, didn't he?"

"Biz deal," he said. "Who asked him to?"

"He tries to be a good father. He works hard to support you and your mother and he built a nice house and..."

"Forget it. Summer. You'll never understand," he said lowering his head.

"Why?"

"Because you're too..."