Shattered by Sarah N. Harvey Read Free Book Online Page B

rubbed his face with one hand. “Forgot to shave,” he said absently. “I stay up at night working on my thesis. Mornings are a bit of a blur. As you can imagine.”
    â€œYour thesis?”
    â€œYeah. Botany. My PhD. I was almost finished when Fran died.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” I said again.
    â€œWhat can you do?” he said.

Chapter Thirteen
    When I left Castle Gifts that night, I stuffed the bank deposit, the float and a Colonel Flapjack keychain in my backpack. Colonel Flapjack is a beaver in an RCMP hat. I figured he could join Dudley Do-Right in his battle against the snow-globe zombies. I also figured it was wrong to steal from Mr. Hardcastle, so I paid for all the junk I’d taken.
    After I made the bank deposit, I checked Hazel’s corner, but she wasn’t there. Neither was the guy who’d handed me the poem. Maybe tomorrow.
    A well-dressed drunk guy sat next to me on the bus, even though there were lots of other empty seats. I met the bus driver’s eyes in the rearview mirror, and he raised his eyebrows. I shrugged, and the drunk guy said, “My wife just left me for my brother.” He started to cry.
    â€œYou’ll be okay,” I said.
    â€œWhat do you know?” He got up and staggered to the back of the bus. I could still hear his sobs.
    That’s a good question, I thought.
    What do I know? I stared out the window and made a mental list of things I know.
    1. Tyler is going to be okay.
    2. I need new glasses.
    3. I am going to tell Tyler what happened.
    4. There are worse things than having a bad haircut.
    5. Living an honest life is harder than it sounds.
    6. I am going to be okay.
    7. I like my new job.
    8. Being cheated on really hurts.
    9. Tyler shouldn’t drink vodka.
    10. Kayla is a bitch.
    11. I want to talk to Nat.
    â€œHey, sweetheart. You gonna get off so I can get a coffee?” The bus had pulled up at the hospital. The bus driver was standing over me, grinning. The drunk guy was long gone.
    â€œSorry, sorry,” I said, scrambling out of my seat. “I wasn’t paying attention.”
    â€œThat’s what they pay me for,” the bus driver said. We walked into the hospital together. Then he saluted me and strolled down the hall toward the Tim Hortons.
    Tyler’s mother was waiting at the elevators, punching the Up button repeatedly. Her hair, which was usually styled in a sleek blond bob, was pulled back in a messy ponytail. Her roots were showing. Her normally flawless skin was blotchy. When she saw me, she stopped jabbing the button and clutched her gigantic purse to her chest.
    â€œWhat are you doing here, March?” she said. “I told your parents. No visitors except family. Especially now that he’s come out of the coma. The doctors were very clear. Family only until further notice.”
    â€œHe’s out of the coma? For real?” Even though I was kind of faking my surprise, I wasn’t faking my happiness. If she’d been anyone else, I would have hugged her. Instead I just grinned at her.
    She frowned at me and said, “Your hair is different.”
    â€œA lot of things are different, Mrs. McKenna.”
    She nodded, as if she understood.
    â€œThe hospital called and I ran out the door. I left Brady in charge.” She put a hand to her mouth. Her pale pink nail polish was chipped. “Do you think that’s okay?”
    The elevator doors opened. “Brady’s, what? Thirteen?” I said.
    She nodded.
    â€œThey’ll be fine, Mrs. McKenna.” No use telling her Brady was a little jerk. But I wasn’t about to offer to babysit. We were on Tyler’s ward now, and I could see Nurse Rosa talking to Mr. McKenna outside Tyler’s room. Mrs. McKenna stepped away from me. Her back stiffened.
    Mr. McKenna stepped forward and took his wife’s hand. “Wait here, March,” he said to me. “Family only. Doctor’s orders.”
    Before I