Read Online When It Rains: The Umbrella Collection by Prudence Hayes - Free Book Online Page A

any rain clouds in the sky.  I saw that the sun was shining bright and no clouds were present.  I thought to myself that a nice walk to Marty’s might do me some good. I jumped in the shower, threw on some clothes, and blow dried my hair.  I opened my door to walk out and heard Pops in his room and asked if he needed anything from Marty’s.
    “Nah, tell Marty I said hi, though,” he replied.
    When I walked out of the house I realized that it was a beautiful day out and opted to boycott my car for a nice walk.  With thought of Lauren and Adam still running amok, I used that time to try and clear my head.
    The only unfortunate part of my journey was that I had to walk past Mr. Garrison’s house. I avoid him as much as possible because all he does is recount what happened that night with my parents as if he isn’t speaking to their daughter.   He will get specific and graphic at times.  I believe he does this so he can watch my reaction, then go and tell everyone in the neighborhood about it.  He is the town’s gossiper, always in the know and spreading it around. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with him, so as I approached his sidewalk my stride quickened.
    His house looked like it was out of a TV show; everything neat and clean.   The lawn and hedges were perfectly manicured, there was a tire swing hanging from a tree. It was nice to look at, but it was all too perfect; like a facade. “Leave it to Beaver” shit always bugs me and leaves me wondering what is going on behind closed doors.
    I was just about past his house before I heard, “Hey Nora! How are you?”  and Mr. Garrison, who was outside washing his BMW, came walking down his driveway towards me.
    While my eyes rolled to the back of my head I said, “I’m really good. Hope all is well with you,” as I waved in his direction but never making eye contact with him. I thought it was pretty obvious that I was trying to end the conversation since I didn’t ask a question nor did my feet halt its movement. It wasn’t obvious enough, since the next thing I know I heard rapid footsteps coming up behind me and I felt him grab my elbow to stop me.
    “Hey, slow done, missy. I haven’t seen you in a long time. How is everything? Are you good? How’s the family?”
    “They are all fine, along with me. I’m sorry. I am kind of in a rush to get somewhere,” I lied to get out of there.   I was in no rush at all. 
    I started walking and he started to also right beside me.   I stopped once more just so he would and stood there with my hands in my pockets, rocking back and forth excitingly waiting until I could walk away freely.
    “Oh come on, you can give your Uncle Jack a minute or two , can’t you?” 
    He was not my Uncle is any way, shape or form. Before, he never acknowledged me and referred to me only as ‘the kid’.   “Does that kid have to come?” “The kid is in my way.” 
    “Sorry, I really have to go.”
    “I just want to make sure you are okay. The anniversary of your parents dying is coming up. You think about them a lot?”
    “What do you think asshole? Do you think that that day is erased from my memory? I thi nk of them all the fucking time. You want to tell everyone the inside scoop and say how I am still falling apart over it.  Well, here’s a scoop, GO FUCK YOURSELF!” is what the voice told me to say to him.  However, I fought the urge to repeat it and I replied instead, with tears welling up in my eyes, “Yes, yes I do. I’m gonna go.”
    At this point, I saw Miranda was making her way down the driveway to where we were standing.   “Hello, Nora,” she said yelled with her sweet tone when she was half way here.
    I raised my hand in order to wave and say hello back but before I was able to, Jack interrupted, “Miranda, you can go back inside, now,” and he gave her a stern look.
    I looked shockingly back and forth between the two of them, waiting for Miranda to put him in his place.  But, nothing of the sort