Under the Viaduct, H. Anderson [top young adult novels .TXT] 📗

to get their attention. “I brought left-overs.”

The teens perked up, lifting their gazes from the hypnotic flames. “Let me help you with that,” Demarcus said, jumping to his feet. Clint was right behind him.

Even Hannah stood and moved toward her. “Pizza again?”

Kaylee smiled. “Not this time. Turkey dinner. If you hurry, it might actually still be warm.”

“Mashed potatoes?” Demarcus licked his lips.

“Yep. And gravy.” Kaylee and the boys spread the plastic food containers out on the ground near the fire and then Kaylee passed out the plates and utensils.

Blayne leaned down, put a hand on her shoulder, and whispered in her ear. “This is really great. Thank you.”

His warm breath sent a shiver down her back. “You’re welcome,” she whispered in return.

After they devoured all of the leftovers, they sat around the fire. Blayne sat close to Kaylee, their shoulders brushing as he leaned in to tend to the fire. Mama C sat on the other side of her. The silence lingered, but didn’t feel awkward as they all stared at the flames, lost in their own thoughts.

“What’s your favorite Christmas memory, Demarcus?” Clint asked, breaking the silence.

Demarcus glanced around the circle, then looked up, thinking. “I guess, the year before my mom got sick. That was the last Christmas we were all together. The last time we had a nice Christmas dinner.” He winked at Kaylee.

“What about you Hannah?” Clint asked.

“Oh, when I was ten, my grandma and grandpa rented a cabin in the mountains for us to spend the holidays in. It was awesome. My cousins were there, and we stayed up and played games every night. We had a massive snowball fight, kids against grown-ups, and we had the advantage because we’d spent the morning building a snow fort to hide behind.” She sighed. “It was awesome.”

“Blayne?” Clint raised his eyebrows at his friend sitting across from him.

Blayne shook his head.

“Come on! Tell us something,” Clint pleaded. “Lie if you have to.”

Blayne laughed and glanced quickly at Kaylee then back at the flames. “This one has turned out to be pretty nice.”

Looking down at her lap, Kaylee smiled to herself.

“That’s a cop-out,” Clint said. “But whatever. Your turn, college girl.”

“You go first, Clint,” she stalled.

“Fine, but then you have to go.” He rubbed his hands together and smiled. “We went ice skating on a pond my dad used to skate on as a kid. It was terrifying, because the ice makes noise and I was sure we were going to fall through and die a horrible, frozen death. But it was also exhilarating. Me and my sister chased my dad around, trying to get him to fall while my mom laughed and tried to keep up with us. It was a blast.

“Your turn.” He smiled and nodded at Kaylee.

She groaned. “Do I have to take a turn?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“This is embarrassing, but my favorite Christmas was when I was about eight and my grandma got me a karaoke machine.”

Everyone laughed.

Kaylee hurried to explain. “But not because of the present. It was my favorite because my whole family, reluctantly at first, had a sing-off. Even my usually stoic dad. It was awful, and hilarious, and so much fun. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard in my life.”

She turned to Mama C. “How about you, Mama C?”

The others quieted and looked back at the flames.

“You know I don’t talk about my past, Kaylee.” She coughed, holding a gloved hand to her mouth. “But I do want to raise your awareness of something.” She looked around at the gathered group as she spoke. “Not a single one of you talked about things when talking about your favorite Christmas. Not one of you talked about a favorite present. You all referred to spending time with those you love. That is what’s important. That is what we remember as we lay dying. That is what we yearn for again when we’re lonely and alone. And, that is what some folks cry themselves to sleep wishing for when even the possibility of such a thing is buried in the past, impossible to obtain. Feel fortunate, my young ones, that the possibility is still there for all of you.” She wiped away a tear, no longer looking at anyone, but gazing into the fire.

Kaylee laid her hand atop Mama C’s gloved hand. “But there must be someone you’d like to see again.”

“No.” Mama C’s voice turned harsh. “You won’t trick me into talking about my past. Stop trying.”

Blayne bristled on Kaylee’s other side. “I think it’s time for you to go now, college girl.” He stood and held a hand out to help her up, not leaving it open for discussion.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered to Mama C as she stood.

“I’ll walk you to your car.” The light had gone out of Blayne’s voice too. Her incessant curiosity had ruined a beautiful night, and she was furious with herself.

“Wait,” Mama C struggled to stand, another dry cough roughing up her throat. “I’d like to have a word with you, Kaylee,” she narrowed her eyes at Blayne, “alone.”

Kaylee and the elderly woman stepped out of hearing range from Blayne and the group. Kaylee barley held back tears, knowing Mama C would tell her she could no longer come around. Knowing she’d blown it.

A gentle smile softened her eyes, though, and Mama said, “There is something I’d like you to do. Consider it making up for your repeated breaking of my rules—which you agreed to.”

Relief washed over her and Kaylee nodded. “Yes. Anything.”

Placing a hand on Kaylee’s arm, Mama C said, “I want you to help Blayne. He’s ready to leave this life behind. He’s been ready for a while now.”

Confused, Kaylee asked, “How can I help him?”

“First of all, he needs a job. There are programs out there that can help with this, but they take some time to complete and I don’t think he needs that. But there are things that are necessary in order to even apply for a job, things Blayne does