Broken Like Glass by EJ McCay Read Free Book Online

mind?”
    “Shouldn’t, since she’s the one that picked it out.”
    The genuineness of the gesture almost brings me to tears. They had both been the kindest to me so far. Not that I’ve had crosses burned in my yard, but when you’ve got accusations and judgment thrown your way, you feel it in your marrow.
    Uriah empties the last bag and finishes putting up my groceries. I’ve paid no mind to where things have gone so tomorrow should be fun seeing what all he got. “You wanna sit on the deck with me a while, Uriah?”
    My offer catches him off guard. He turns to the fridge and pulls out two long neck bottles. Turns out he thought I might have a craving for grape soda and he’d bought two six packs. He pops the caps off and hands me one. The grape scent floats up and I smile.
    I take my chair, lean back and cross my ankles on the railing. Sitting like this makes me feel relaxed. I’m taking in the sights, forgetting my woes, and just enjoying Papa’s big wide world. Even if it is dark, wet, and spooky.
    Uriah mirrors me by putting his feet on the railing. We sit quietly for a while. Before long, the crickets and frogs have come out and they are singing up a storm, no pun intended. Breaking the silence, he says, “So, I’ve got six months to get to know you again. Why don’t we pick up where we left off in the truck when we got to church? Tell me about this Papa thing you do.”
    I put the long neck to my lips and take a long fizzy drink. “I talk to Papa. I don’t know what much else I can say.”
    “What made you start calling Him, Papa, though?”
    I take a deep breath and let it out slow. Uriah is looking at me. I can’t see him, but I can sure feel it. “It was a few years ago. I was going to this homegroup thing and one night it just kinda hit me. It had been a few years since I’d been here or seen daddy and I felt so lonely. The name just flitted into my mind and it was like He was talking to me. I started calling Him Papa, and it just took. I’ve called Him that ever since.”
    “But you don’t go to church. Isn’t it hard to not have fellowship?”
    “Who says I haven’t had fellowship? Papa says where two or more are gathered He’s there too. We’re fellowshippin’, aren’t we? Talking about Papa, listenin’ to his songs,” I say and point to the woods. “Papa doesn’t need buildings and potlucks and crowds. He just needs us and our willingness to listen and love on Hm.”
    Uriah clears his throat. “Lills, you always did have a way with words.”
    “I don’t have a way with nothin’.” I take a drink and fix my eyes on what I hope is a tree in the distance.
    “That’s not true and you know it.”
    “I don’t know nothin’ either.”
    Uriah’s chair legs hit the deck and he scoots himself closer. I can feel the heat coming off of him and it brings my attention to the fact that it’s kinda chilly. “Lills, look at me.”
    “No.”
    “Come on, look at me.”
    “Why? It’s dark. Not like I can see anything. Neither can you.”
    “There’s enough light from the kitchen I can make out a few things and so can you.”
    The Borg in my head says resistance is futile and I drag my eyes to his. “What? What do you need to say that needs my direct attention?”
    His face is soft in what little light there is. He brushes my hair off my shoulder and looks at me in a way that makes my bones feel all doughy like I could be baked and served with butter. “I don’t know what happened to you Lills. It breaks my heart seeing you hurt so bad. I know we haven’t talked in a real long time, but I love you just as much now as I did back then. I should have protected you from whatever did this to you,” Uriah says, his voice so soft and earnest it makes me ache.
    “Uriah, I was serious. I’m broken. My pieces are just jagged and good for nothin’.” I try to keep the desperation I feel out of my voice, but it wavers.
    “You know, for someone who talks to Papa so much you sure