theyâre on fire.â
âNo, Iâve never seen them.â
âOr a dairy farm in New Hampshire? The grass gets so green that the black and white cows really stand out against it on a sunny day. And itâs so peaceful in the shadeââ
âWhat the hell are you trying to do?â
âJust passing the time.â
âNo, youâre not.â
Guild sighed. âIf you were my boy, you wouldnât be guarding the money, and thatâs for goddamn sure.â He was angry at the three of themâat Stoddard for using his son this way, at his son for being used, and at himself because he could not seem to let things lie where they were.
âIâm not your son and Iâm tired of your running down my dad. I should tell him some of the things youâve said.â
He had pushed too far. He had lost the boy. He could not help the kid now because the kid wouldnât let him.
He said, âYou should ask for a cut.â
âWhat?â
âYou should ask your old man for a percentage of the take.â
âI know youâre trying to help, Leo, and I appreciate it, but youâre really talking crazy.â
âYou work hard, kid. You deserve a percentage. That way when youâre finally ready to leaveââ
âYouâre getting kind of one note.â
Guild stared at him. âYou deserve a life of your own, Stephen. You really do.â
Stephen walked to the door. âIâm going to go get some lemonade. You want a glass?â
âThat would be fine.â
âBig glass or small glass?â
âBig glass.â
âI know youâre just trying to help.â
âI donât seem to be doing a very good job.â
âHe isnât as bad as you claim.â
âMaybe not.â
âHeâs my father. He raised me.â
âI know.â
Stephen said, âIâm going to stay with him till he dies, Leo, and thatâs the way things are.â He spoke with a quiet determination that was all the more convincing for its lack of bluster.
He nodded and left.
Chapter Nineteen
Her four-year-old son said, âYou will go far away?â
âNot far away.â
âYou will go with Victor?â
âYes.â
âI donât like Victor.â
âI know.â
âMaria, she is scared.â
âI know she is scared.â
âAnd Iâm scared, too.â
âI will not go far away, and I will return often.â
âYou promise?â
âI promise.â
They stood in the center of the living room. The place looked better than it had in months. Victor had given her money to fix the place up. There was a new yellow spread for the couch, and two of the windows were fixed with new panes of glass. Where there had been a picture of the Virgin there was now a photograph of Victor. He had asked for it to be this way. Teresa had brooded about this for several days. Something about the Virgin made Victor uncomfortable. When sheâd asked him what, heâd said, âIt makes you look like a cheap Mexican. All these religious things on the walls.â But of course Victor made her uncomfortable about many things. He had struck her several times with exceeding force, and sometimes when his teeth nibbled on her during lovemaking he seemed to take undue pleasure from the pain he inflicted.
Now her mother appeared in the doorway.
Her son ran to the older woman and hugged his grandmaâs thigh. He began sobbing immediately. âShe is going to go, Grandma. She is going to go.â
âYou be a good boy and go play outside,â the grandmother said softly. She knelt down to wipe away the boyâs tears. She kissed him tenderly on the cheek and then patted him on the bottom and sent him on his way outside.
In the doorway the boy looked back at his mother.
Teresa raised her hand and waved good-bye.
The boy stood staring at her as if it would be the last
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