Read Online Breakdown by Katherine Amt Hanna - Free Book Online

same.”
    “Thank you.”
    “And then they expect you to pay them back for your jail time,” she said, as much to her mother as to Chris.
    He nodded again, sipping the water and honey. It felt good going down. He put down the mug and opened his duffel. “Cooper—ah, Michael—sent you some things.” He pulled out a bag of salt, packets of yeast, a sack of sugar, razor blades, several boxes of matches, and a jar of mixed seasonings, piling them on the table. Grace came over and exclaimed in delight. She picked up the seasonings and unscrewed the cap to smell it. Chris found the bar of scented soap and small bottle of shampoo. “He said these were for you, especially,” he said, handing them to Pauline. She smiled, held the soap to her nose, closed her eyes for a moment.
    “I’m not always such a mess,” she said lightly. “Where did he get them?” She held the soap out for Grace to have a sniff. Chris let the question go, not having an answer for it anyway. He pulled the ration books out of the side pocket of his bag.
    “Here, take these.”
    “Two books?” Pauline put the soap and shampoo down on the table.
    “Michael sent one. The other’s mine.”
    She chewed on her lip, took them from his hand, looked at the blank one thoughtfully. “Mum, do we have a pasty left, for Chris?” When her mum had turned away to get it, she looked back at him. “Where did he get it?”
    Chris sipped at his mug and shook his head. “I don’t know.”
    “I don’t want him to get in trouble.”
    “He’s clever. Anyway, it’s done, right?”
    “Clever, yes.” She frowned. “Was he in jail, too?”
    “Not with me. I don’t know. But I suppose so.” He had another coughing session, a bad one, and it hurt his ribs so much he clutched at his chest and leaned over in his chair, his eyes watering.
    “You’ve cracked a rib, haven’t you?” Pauline said.
    “I expect so.”
    “You need to be in bed.” She dropped the books onto the table, went to the sink, washed her hands. “Mum, I’m going to make up the bed in the spare room. Get Chris fed, would you? I’ll be back down in a bit.” She kicked off her wellies by the back door and picked up two buckets sitting there. “I’m taking the water up,” she said. She went out of the kitchen in her socks. Chris could hear the stairs creaking as she went up.
    Grace brought a pasty over on a plate, and a fork. “It’s still a bit warm. She’ll take good care of you, dear. I’d advise you do as she says.” Chris looked up at her and saw that her eyes were crinkled up with a smile.
    “I will do,” he assured her and managed a smile in return. “Thank you, for everything.”
    She patted his shoulder, and he took up the fork. The pasty was, of course, delicious.
    * * *
     
    Pauline led him up, and Chris climbed the stairs behind her, gripping the rail. He had to stop to cough halfway. She waited for him at the top.
    “Here’s the loo,” she said at the first door and let him look in. “Wash up in the basin. There’s soap there and clean water in those buckets. Dirty water goes in the loo if you need to flush, or in the bucket in the tub if you don’t, for the next flush. Do you have an old flannel?” Chris nodded, and she went on. “You can hang it here,” gesturing to a bar within reach of the toilet that already had four hanging on it. “Paper’s a luxury we don’t often have, of course...You’ll keep your towel in your room. Have you a towel?” He nodded again. “Good.” She left the doorway and went down the short hall to the end. “This will be your room.”
    He followed her in. It was tiny, with barely room for a bed, bureau, and a chair next to the bed. The closet door was half the width of most doors.
    “The closet’s full, but there’s room in the bureau; the top two drawers are empty. You can hang your towel here.” She gestured to a short chrome towel bar attached to the half-sized door. She put her hands on her hips. “Do you need