The Reunion by Dan Walsh Read Free Book Online Page A

ain’t stickin’ around to be no kid’s father.”
    Heather said something back.
    “Love you? We were having fun, least I was. But it ain’t fun no more.”
    Heather said something else, but now she was crying.
    “You crying don’t change a thing. I’m serious. You will be getting an abortion, that’s all there is to it.”
    “I am not!”
    Aaron heard that. Then some banging noise, sounded like from the kitchen. Drawers being pulled out.
    “Stop . . . Ryan, what are you doing?”
    “You ain’t keeping that baby, then telling folks it was mine. I’ve been asking around. They got tests that can prove it’s mine, then you can start hitting me up for money. I can’t have that. Someone told me they could even put me in jail because of your age.”
    “Ryan, put that down.”
    There was terror in her voice. That was it.
    No time to call Sue. He had to move now. He scrambled up the metal steps and pushed open the front door. “Hey!” he shouted. Heather was backing up against the living room wall. Ryan was moving toward her, a kitchen knife in his right hand.
    He turned.
    “You put that thing down, right now.”
    Ryan’s face filled with rage. “Oh, you gonna be a hero, old man? Guess I gotta take care of you first.”
    “Well, come on then,” Aaron said. “Let’s see what you got.” He braced for the attack.
    Ryan took a short step, faked one direction then lunged forward, jabbing the knife at Aaron’s middle, like a sword. Aaron deflected Ryan’s arm upward and grabbed his wrist, then shoved his right knee full-on into the boy’s face. Heard a crunching sound. Ryan dropped the knife and fell back on his rear end, crying out in pain. Aaron jumped down on him, started pounding him in the face with his fist, two or three times. “How’s that feel?” he yelled. “Feel good getting hit?” He smacked him again. “You like hitting girls?”
    “Stop!” Heather screamed.
    Aaron stopped. He looked up at her then down at the boy.
    Ryan covered his bloody face with his hands. He looked confused. Aaron stood up, then bent over and grabbed Ryan by the collar, lifted him to his feet in one motion. All the while, Ryan covered his face. Aaron pushed him toward the front door. “Not so tough when you’re fighting a man, are you, punk?”
    The boy didn’t answer. Nothing but fear in his eyes. Aaron walked him to the front door and shoved him out, over the steps. Ryan fell to the ground. “You get out of here and don’t come back. I ever hear that you laid a hand on Heather here, I’m coming after you. I’m faster with a gun than my fists. I’ll make sure you don’t ever hurt her or anyone else again. You got that?”
    Aaron looked around. A small crowd had gathered beyond the outskirts of the trailer.
    Ryan looked up at him, then at the people. “What about my stuff? It’s still in the trailer.” There was no anger in his voice now, only fear.
    “You just made a donation to the Goodwill.”
    Ryan nodded then rose to his feet.
    “And you’re not going to go tearing out of this park when you leave. You drive out of here going fifteen miles an hour. You understand? The whole way.”
    Ryan wiped his face on his sleeve and walked to his car. He got in, turned it on. Some people backed out of the way, and he drove off. Aaron watched, and so did everyone else, as he drove slowly through the park toward the front entrance. Aaron saw Sue coming out of the office, looking his way.
    She held up the walkie-talkie, pointed to it. “Aaron?” she said. “Everything okay over there?”
    He picked his up and said back, “Everything’s fine now, Sue. Had a little ruckus, is all. But I think I scared that young man off. Maybe for good.”
    “I need to call the cops?”
    “Don’t think so. Let me talk to this young lady here a minute, see what she wants to do. Then I’ll come over there and fill you in.”
    “All right then.”
    Aaron looked up at the folks standing around. “Sorry about that,” he said.