Read Online Shelter by Jung Yun - Free Book Online Page B

unwitting look of joy—this is what Kyung realizes he has to preserve, what he wasn’t mindful of in the car. Four is too young an age to learn what people can do to each other.
    Tim joins them, dressed in uniform but holding a can of beer. Gillian gives him a peck on the cheek. “Would you mind taking Ethan outside while Kyung and I talk to Dad?”
    â€œI go on duty at noon, but I’ve got a little time.” He extends a gigantic hand, swallowing Ethan’s small one in his. “You want to see the bird’s nest in the backyard?”
    â€œAre there eggs?”
    Tim downs the rest of his can and crushes it as he leads Ethan away. “Maybe. Let’s go see.”
    Kyung is aware that Connie and Gillian are waiting for him to say something, but he’s too distracted by his surroundings. There’s an empty bag of potato chips on the matted brown carpet, an uncapped jar of salsa on the table, and dozens of old magazines on the coffee table, all coming loose from their bindings. The messiness of the room reminds him where Gillian gets her housekeeping habits. The McFaddens aren’t poor anymore, not like they used to be, but they live as if their situation hasn’t changed. With their salaries, Connie and Tim could easily afford to tear down the wood paneling, repaint the walls, buy some new furniture that actually fits. They could even hire a cleaning lady to pick up after them once or twice a week, but that’s not the kind of people they are.
    â€œKyung wants to apologize for this morning,” Gillian finally says.
    â€œForget it.” Connie sits in his chair, pushing on the armrests until it reclines. “You want a seat?” He looks at Kyung and motions to the other chair.
    The recliner sinks like a sponge when he lowers himself into the well-worn groove formed by Tim’s ass. He’s never sat in his chair before, never been invited to, but he recognizes the offer as a gesture.
    â€œI was hoping to be there when my mother gave her statement.”
    â€œYou didn’t miss much. Same story we heard from your dad last night, more or less.”
    â€œOh.” He glances at Gillian, not sure what to say or do next. He doesn’t mind asking for her help, but it’s still a stretch to ask for Connie’s.
    â€œDad,” Gillian says, resting her hand on his shoulder. “Would you mind telling us what you do know?”
    Connie shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “None of it’s good.”
    â€œWe could have guessed that,” she says.
    This is the problem with being in the dark. All he does is guess. Kyung keeps seeing the Perrys hitting his mother, violating her over and over again like a film reel set to loop. The truth might be worse than his imagination, but knowing what happened has to be better than this.
    â€œI’d appreciate it…,” he says. “I’d appreciate it if you could just tell me what you heard, from my parents or Lentz or whoever. And don’t leave out any details for my sake. Tell me like you’d tell someone you work with.”
    â€œIt’s on the news. Have you noticed?”
    â€œWe just drove by the house. Reporters everywhere.”
    â€œAny of them try calling you yet?”
    Kyung shakes his head. “We’re unlisted.”
    â€œIt’s a big deal, a home invasion in this area. Thirty-three years I’ve been on the force, and nothing like this has ever happened before.”
    â€œBut what happened, exactly?” Gillian asks. “How did those men even get in the house?”
    Tim streaks past the living room window with Ethan on his shoulders. They’re both carrying oversized wands that release giant bubbles into the air. Kyung jumps out of his seat and stands in front of the window, wondering if Tim notices the tree branches, how their sharp tips hang just inches above Ethan’s face. Ethan, however, doesn’t seem to mind. His head is