The Passing Storm by Christine Nolfi
Chapter 21
As Kipp left the room, Griffin released a pent-up breath. He was glad for the privacy. He wanted to finish this quickly.
With interest Yuna studied the image on his phone. “Hester made this? It’s incredible. I’m surprised Rae never mentioned it. Of course, we hardly knew each other in high school. We didn’t become close until our twenties. By then, she must’ve packed the keepsake away.”
The casual remark injured Griffin’s pride. Was he surprised Yuna was unfamiliar with the keepsake? It seemed natural for Rae to pack away the box and all reminders of him. She went on with her life without a backward glance. Reason enough to feel a sense of injury, he decided.
By comparison, it took him years to get over her. A secret he’d never shared, not even with Sally.
Tamping down the reaction, he asked, “Will you return it for me?” He reminded himself of how much Rae had lost during the White Hurricane. Recently, she’d lost even more.
Yuna set the phone down. “I’ll pick it up from you soon. I can’t promise when I’ll take it to Rae. In a week or two.”
“Why the delay?” None of his business, but he was curious.
“She’s dealing with enough at the moment. The run-in with Penny Galecki last weekend, and now that woman’s totally crazy behavior. Whenever Penny drives through the square and spots Rae, she yells obscenities. She must be gunning her car in the bank’s parking lot, waiting to drive by when Rae steps out of the insurance agency.”
The frazzled monologue put Griffin on alert. “Mik Galecki’s wife, right?”
Yuna nodded. “Yesterday when Rae went in early to open the Witt Agency, there was garbage dumped across the entryway. I’m talking about a whole can of trash. Evelyn wanted to put in a call to Chief Johnson at the police department, and Kipp encouraged her to do so. Rae vetoed the idea. She thinks it’s best to ignore Penny’s antics in hopes she’ll stop. I’m not convinced she will.”
“What’s Penny’s interest in Rae?”
“Quinn’s been living at Rae’s house. He’s staying until he completes high school. Longer, probably.”
Griffin tensed. Rae has taken in Mik’s son?
He was still absorbing the news as Yuna retold how Lark and Quinn became friends. Two kids hitting it off during art classes at the craft emporium.
Mik’s position at Marks Auto was longstanding—Griffin had first met Quinn when he was a fearful-eyed toddler allowed free rein in the mechanic’s bay by his irresponsible father. Had Quinn found safety, thanks to Rae? The idea of him finally catching a break was gratifying. Given the turbulent nature of his childhood, the solitude of farm life would do him good.
The potential consequences for Rae, however, were chilling.
Drawing from the reverie, he heard Yuna say, “Quinn doesn’t know the half of what his mother’s been doing. Rae believes it’s best to keep him out of the loop. We’re guessing Penny’s lost another job. She has nothing better to do than hassle Rae.”
“Or she’s concerned about her husband’s wrath, if Quinn doesn’t come home. Mik’s worked for my dad for decades—the other mechanics treat him with wary respect. He’s territorial by nature. Even more so when it comes to his family. As for Penny, she never wanted a child in the first place.”
Yuna lowered a protective hand to her belly. “She didn’t want Quinn?”
“Her relationship with Mik wasn’t serious. They’d only dated a few weeks when she got pregnant.” Searching his memories, Griffin added, “I was around fourteen when Penny told him she was getting an abortion. She walked into the service bay at Marks Auto and made her announcement in front of the staff. Demanded Mik pay for the abortion—said she wanted the cash immediately. From what I heard, the public argument really knocked Mik down a notch. I’m sure he was humiliated. After they’d finished the shouting match and Penny walked off, one of the younger mechanics foolishly made a wisecrack. Mik read him the riot act, complete with f-bombs—he was screaming so loud, customers in the showroom were able to hear.”
“Your dad didn’t fire him?”
“I think he would’ve if he didn’t know Mik had a baby on the way. From my dad’s perspective, it wasn’t right to put a man out of work under those circumstances. But he did tell Mik to tone down the gutter talk, or he would lose his job.” When Yuna looked at him, aghast, he added, “Save your outrage. Me, Sally, my mother—at one time or another, we’ve all begged my father to dump Mik. We probably shouldn’t have pushed. Everett Marks doesn’t like anyone telling him what to do. And Mik’s a talented mechanic, especially with refurb work on classics, like Chief Johnson’s ’68 Camaro. He’s a failure as a human being, but the guy was born with a gift.”
“Having a talent doesn’t give you the right to act out.” Sighing, Yuna let it go. “How did Mik talk Penny into keeping the baby?”
“A day or so later, he went into my dad’s office and demanded a raise. Said he was getting married. My dad increased his salary on the spot. He also—delicately, mind you—asked if Mik would prefer to have the child placed in an adoptive home. My dad assured him that private inquiries would be made, at no expense.”
Yuna’s eyes widened with amazement. “How do you know all of this?”
“My mother.” Griffin’s affection for his mother merged with disgust that she’d needed to get involved with such an upsetting situation. “She was visiting the dealership on the day Penny marched in with her plans to get an abortion. Arranging a private adoption was her idea. Pity it didn’t work out. After Mik and Penny married, there were several interventions by Job and Family Services.”
“Why?”
“People in their apartment building were putting in calls about a toddler being left alone. That’s when my mother got seriously involved. She found a day care facility for Quinn and tried to take Penny under her wing. When that didn’t work out, she badgered my dad about giving Mik a big Christmas bonus. She’d found an affordable house in town for the couple. She hoped putting down roots would make Quinn’s childhood easier.”
“God bless Winnie,” Yuna murmured. Although her eyes were damp, she smiled. “I’ve always liked your mother. She treats all of your dad’s employees like family.”
“She does . . . but it didn’t make much difference. Not with Penny. She’s never had anything but loathing for Quinn.”
“What about Mik? Did he ever care about his son?”
“He gave parenting a shot when he was younger. Now? From my vantage point, it’s a safe bet the guy’s an alcoholic. He doesn’t care about anything but the next drink. Penny encourages his worst traits, and now their son is living at Rae’s place. There’s nothing about the situation that leaves me feeling warm and fuzzy inside.”
“But Quinn is doing so well! When he comes into work at my shop, he actually smiles. Talks nonstop about Connor and all the projects they’re doing together. He’s more distant with Rae—he is a teenage boy, and they don’t have much in common—but you can tell he’s blossoming. Getting a real sense of belonging, living with them.”
“I’m sure he is.”
“Won’t his parents see that eventually? Leave him alone, and let him finish growing up in a home that’s stable and safe?” Yuna seemed unable to glimpse the harder truths. “It’s more than they’ve been willing to give him.”
“I doubt they’ll see it that way.”
The air grew taut as Griffin inspected his thoughts. He felt impotent, powerless. Rae was no longer part of his life. How to protect her? He didn’t relish discussing the larger issues with Yuna, of all people, in the early stages of pregnancy, battling nausea. Under different circumstances, he’d never draw her into this. The concern brewing inside him brought him to an uneasy decision.
“Promise me something.” He leaned in for emphasis. “Keep an eye out for Mik. I’m not worried about Penny—she has low impulse control, but she doesn’t usually get too far out of line. Not unless she’s getting blitzed in one of the local bars and starts arguing with another woman. But if Mik contacts Rae—if he so much as sends a threatening text—I want a full report. If he shows up at the Witt Agency, or you catch wind he’s threatening Quinn—call immediately. I’ll take it from there.”
“What are you saying?” Yuna shrank back. “I know Mik’s been abusive to Quinn. Penny has been too. The bad stuff that happens in some families . . . it’s unimaginable. But Rae isn’t a part of that.”
“No, she’s not.” Griffin couldn’t halt the urgency in his voice. “It won’t matter.”
“She doesn’t know Mik any better than I do!”
“Forget logic, Yuna. It doesn’t apply to broken people.”
“Why should Mik care at all? He should be grateful Quinn has somewhere nice to stay, free room and board in a house with adults who really like him—no, more than that. Rae and Connor are invested in his welfare. They want to help him succeed in life, in all the ways that matter. It’s like he’s become a member of their family.”
Yuna cut off suddenly. Her gaze darkened with fear as it clung to his, seeking reassurance, needing a guarantee impossible to give.
“Griffin, be straight with me. Do you think Mik poses a danger to Rae?”
Unease stole into Griffin’s bones.
Yes.
Deftly, he hid the unease behind a look of reassurance. “No harm will come to Rae,” he promised. “Just keep me informed.”