Read Online Breakdown by Katherine Amt Hanna - Free Book Online Page A

anything?”
    Chris shook his head. He set his duffel on the bed and looked around the room. Lace curtains framed the window. A tray on top of the bureau held an oil lamp, a drinking glass, and a plastic bottle of water. The chair had a crocheted cushion, the bed a white chenille spread and a fat pillow. Two nondescript landscapes hung on the wall over the bed, and a framed mirror over the bureau. The room in his grandparents’ house had been only fractionally larger. He had shared the bed with Kevin. Jon, the youngest brother, had slept on a pallet on the floor. “It’s brilliant,” he said. He sat down on the edge of the bed.
    “Is it?” She glanced around her as if seeing it fresh. “How long have you known Michael?” she asked him, out of the blue.
    “A couple of months is all.”
    “What did he tell you about us?”
    Chris wasn’t sure what she meant. “Um—”
    “I mean about him and me,” she clarified.
    “Ah. That it didn’t work out, that he wishes it had, that you’re still friends.” He stopped there, it seemed enough.
    She crossed her arms, leaned against the doorframe. “We grew up together. He lived just down the road.”
    “Yes, he told me.”
    “It’s been almost a year since I’ve heard from him. He always did that, disappeared, for months, or years.” She stared off out the window, deep in thought.
    Chris was quiet, looking at her. She had changed into jeans and a pale-green knit shirt that hugged her curves. She had muscular arms, a slim waist, trim hips. Her face had a strong jaw and a pale wash of freckles. Her eyes tended toward green. Once he had a chance to look more closely, he could see that Pauline seemed older than George only because she had an elegance to her looks, whereas George had a boyishness. She had to make herself look stern; when she didn’t think about it, her mouth turned up at the corners. He could see why Cooper had liked her. He had to stop looking for a round of coughing. A little groan escaped him.
    “Let me get you some aspirin,” she said, concern in her voice.
    “I don’t want to use up your medicines.”
    “Don’t be stupid,” she said. She left him abruptly and came back a few moments later. She poured water from the bottle on the bureau into the glass and handed it to him with two white tablets. “Take them.”
    He did. “Thanks.”
    “We boil the drinking water, of course. Now, have a wash if you want, and get into bed. Stay there. I’ll bring you up some supper if you’re awake. You need to rest if you’re going to get better, right?” She smiled at him a little, or maybe she just wasn’t thinking about it.

CHAPTER 7
     
    C hris huddled in the bed, coughing, ribs aching, unable to fall asleep, watching the light fade and the window finally go as dark as the room. Later, there was a soft knock, and Pauline came in with a plate and a mug, barely visible in the soft light from the hall. Chris coughed and struggled to sit up without hurting his ribs more.
    “Did you sleep at all?” she asked, setting the plate and mug on the dresser.
    “I don’t think so.”
    She lit the oil lamp, then pulled a second pillow out of the closet and put it behind his back.
    “Thanks.”
    “Do you want to eat?”
    “Please.”
    She brought him the plate: two fried eggs, a slice of ham, and a thick slice of bread with butter on it. He hadn’t seen food like that since before Portsmouth. The aroma of the food filled his nose. He picked up the knife and fork.
    Pauline got the mug from the bureau. “Cider.” She set it on the chair next to the bed and did a double take. “Is that a torch? Does it work?” she asked, as if she didn’t believe it.
    Chris nodded, his mouth full. He had got the small black torch before he left Portsmouth. The batteries were the rechargeable kind. He’d put it on the chair in case he needed it after dark. He swallowed his mouthful. “The chap I got it from said it’s a good charge. I don’t know how long it will