Read Online Our Daily Bread by Lauren B. Davis - Free Book Online Page B

Bill Bodine. “Where is that asshole? Supposed to be changing oil for Pataki, but do you see him anywhere? Probably in the can with a joint again. I’d fire his ass if he wasn’t such a good mechanic. Don’t go. I want to pin down a date.” And he stepped away to serve his customer.
    Tom turned and unhitched the nozzle from the gas tank when the pump hit twenty-five dollars.
    â€œHey, Tom, long time no see,” a woman’s voice said. He looked up to see Rita Kruppman—correction—Rita
Cronin
standing in front of him, tossing her car keys from one hand to the other. Rita was tall and lean, with dark honey-blond hair pulled back into a simple ponytail. Her face was makeup-free, covered with more freckles than ever and her eyes clear and blue.
    â€œHi, Rita,” he gave her a peck on the cheek, “how are you?”
    â€œWell. Fair I guess. Holding up.”
    â€œOh? Kids okay?” Tom looked past her into the blue SUV she was driving these days. Rita’s freckled twins, Gabrielle and James, sat in the back, both with little headphones in their ears. They stared at him with bored expressions.
    â€œThey’re thirteen.”
    â€œRight.”
    Tom noticed Ed looking at him. Ed grinned and winked.
    â€œYou all right?” She looked in rude good health. “Not sick or anything?”
    â€œYou must be the only person in town who doesn’t get the gossip.”
    â€œMeaning?”
    â€œTom, Harry and I are divorcing.” She dropped her eyes and went pink between the freckles.
    â€œOh, man. Rita. I’m really sorry. I thought you guys were doing great.”
    â€œYes, well, so did I. He said he felt stifled, that he needed to toss, and I’m quoting here, ‘a grenade into the trench of our marriage.’ Sadly, he forgot the children and I were still living in that trench.”
    â€œOuch.”
    â€œNo other woman, or so he says. He’s moving to Utah. Maybe he saw
Brokeback Mountain
and got ideas.”
    â€œMeaning?”
    Rita shrugged, looked at Tom pointedly.
    â€œNo way. Harry’s gay? Come on, Harry’s not gay.” Tom had played football with Harry. It wasn’t possible; the guy was a linebacker in high school.
    â€œWell, if he is, he couldn’t very well live in this town, now could he?” Rita shook her head. “I don’t know. I really don’t. Let’s just say the twins were a miracle.”
    Tom was speechless. He jingled the coins in his pockets.
    â€œOh, shit. Too much information. Sorry.”
    â€œIt’s all right. I’m just kind of shocked.”
    â€œYou and me both. Don’t say anything about that last bit, will you? I don’t even know why I told you.”
    â€œNo, course not.”
    â€œThe good news is he left us set for cash.”
    â€œThat’s good. You still teaching?”
    â€œWhich really, is what I wanted to talk to you about.”
    â€œSchool?”
    â€œWell, Ivy, actually.”
    â€œWhat about her? I didn’t think you were teaching her this year.”
    â€œI’m not, but, Tom, well, I’ve seen some things around the school and I wasn’t going to mention anything. I mean, it’s not anything serious. It’s just that Ivy’s such a sweet kid, and so smart.”
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œBut has she talked to you about getting picked on?”
    â€œNo.” Tom’s stomach suddenly felt sour. He looked around and realized Ed had disappeared into the office. Why? Discretion? About what? Ivy or Rita? “What do you mean, picked on? Bullying?”
    â€œNo, no, nothing that serious. Just some girls who think they’re special looking for someone to, I don’t know, set apart. You remember how it was at school, one week it would be the kid who’d let loose a loud fart and everybody teased him, the next somebody had a huge pimple—you know what kids can be like and, I’m sad to