to go. Zach had been an outcast for most of his life. As the son of the town’s “Jezebel,” he had been called every vile name in the book. Also, being poor just seemed to piss some people off. Now it was time to prove that he had something inside of him. Something that didn’t involve scraping, stealing, or wheeling and dealing just to survive.
His number one priority had always been his half brother, Josh. From the time his mother had walked in the door with the small blanket-wrapped bundle, Zach had felt responsible for him. His mother had reinforced those feelings when she’d placed the infant in four-year-old Zach’s arms and said, “You’re the big brother. You’re supposed to watch out for him and protect him.” And that’s exactly what Zach had tried to do. When Eric Adams, Josh’s father and Zach’s stepfather, had walked out on the family, Zach’s responsibilities as a big brother had taken on even more importance.
But now Josh was sixteen years old, a star football player who had an excellent chance of getting a football scholarship. With Leonard paying the family expenses, Josh would be taken care of until he was out on his own. That peace of mind had given Zach the permission to pursue his own dreams.
The cellphone in the console beside him blared out a loud ring. Zach glared at the thing. He didn’t want to answer, even though he knew he would. He had resisted getting a cellphone because he knew he’d be on call 24/7, and he had been right. His mother thought nothing of calling him, no matter what time or for what reason.
Grabbing the phone before it could blare out another ring, he answered, “Hello?”
“Zachie honey, where are you?”
“I’m headed home, Mom.”
“Well, what’s taking so long? Your shift ended twenty minutes ago.”
That was because he’d sat in his car for a full five minutes and just enjoyed the quiet. No one asking for anything, giving orders, or making demands. Solitude was a precious commodity.
Explaining that would do nothing but make her cry, so he said instead, “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Leonard’s already called to say good night, and Josh probably won’t be home for hours. I’m lonesome.”
Zach held his tongue.
“Could you stop and pick up some milk and cigarettes?”
“I thought you told Leonard you had quit smoking.”
“That’s only after we’re married. Till then, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”
So much for honesty in a relationship. “I’ll stop for milk. Not cigarettes.”
“You’re such a fuddy-duddy, Zach Tanner. I’m an adult and your mama. You’re supposed to mind me and do what I tell you to do.”
If only that were true. Zach had been nine years old when his stepfather had up and left the family for another woman. That day, in between sobs of despair and curses at her husband, his mother had announced that Zach was now the man of the house. From that moment on, his life had not been his own. Francine had depended upon him for everything.
Zach had recognized early that resenting her demands or control over his life accomplished nothing. His little brother needed to eat. Zach had become an expert on bargain shopping. The monthly swap meet on the outskirts of town became his hunting ground. Paying pennies for dented or unlabeled cans of food or a quarter for day-old bread at the bakery thrift store had sustained them. When even those hadn’t been available or money had been scarce, he had resorted to various other avenues of obtaining food, some legal, some not. He’d learned early that pride or fear couldn’t get in the way of survival.
Social Services had been a constant visitor in their home for a while. Zach had learned to lie about their circumstances. His mother had told him horror stories of what could happen if the family was split up. No matter how hard his life got or what he had to do, the thought of never seeing his little brother again wasn’t something Zach could accept. Eventually they had stopped checking on them.
“Zach, you still there?”
He shook himself out of his stupor. “Yeah, I’ll stop for milk. Anything else?” Before she could say it, he added, “Besides cigarettes?”
“That’s it. Don’t be long, okay?”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Zach ended the call and blew out a tired sigh.
Despite his happiness that the well-to-do Leonard was serious about marrying Francine, Zach had felt honor-bound to have a long talk with him—he couldn’t