Black Water Creek Read Online Free PDF Page A

the stove. Sue was heavy-set like Ed, probably around the same age, pushing sixty if Kelly had to guess. She had long silver hair tied in a pony-tail and wore an ankle-length dress made from different patches of colored material, like a quilt.
    Ed appeared in the kitchen door, changed from his work uniform into a pair of old jean s and a flannel shirt. “It’s just what we need in this house. More people to eat some of the food Paula Deen over there whips up.” He patted his belly. “You don’t get this way from eating celery sticks and rice cakes.”
    “Oh Eddie, stop .” Sue set a bowl of mashed potatoes on the table. “I don’t hear you complaining while you’re shoveling it in your mouth like a caveman. Sit! Sit! Everybody take a seat.”
    Kelly helped Keegan into the chair next to her. Ed produced a few yellow pages books for him to sit on so he could reach the top of the table. Keegan, used to sitting on his booster seat with the built-in safety belt, found his little throne of phone books very amusing.
    The feast laid out before them was truly amazing. Kelly found it hard to believe Sue cooked such a great meal for just the two of them like this all the time. Roasted chicken with homemade stuffing and gravy, mashed potatoes, golden biscuits, an overflowing bowl of steaming sweet corn, and an huge salad loaded with fresh veggies.
    She put together a plate for Keegan and he dug into plain mashed potatoes , one of his favorites. Kelly usually just made the instant stuff from a box. With her son taken care of, she turned her attention to her own plate. Everything looked delicious.
    “Is her car serious, Eddie?” Sue passed the bowl of corn to her husband. The sudden mention of her car threatened to put a damper on Kelly’s appetite. She hoped for a second that maybe Ed’s diagnosis had changed and he’d wave it off with his hand and say it was no biggie.
    “We won’t know for sure until tomorrow. I told Kelly it might end up costing more than the car’s worth.”
    Sue hissed through her teeth. “Oh, you poor dear, what a shame. My daddy once told me to marry a doctor or a mechanic, and boy was he right. We’ve had our share of car trouble over the years and thank goodness Eddie could take care of it himself.” She patted Kelly on the hand before turning back to Ed. “There isn’t anything you could do to help her out?”
    “Well,” he shifted in chair and looked down at his plate. “I could give her a break on some of the labor, but you know parts cost what parts cost. The profit margin is so thin already and ever since the Walmart opened that auto center, business has really taken a hit.”
    “You folks have already been too generous,” Kelly protested. “I’ll figure out a way to pay every penny it costs to fix the car. I was thinking I could call my aunt tonight and ask to borrow the money from her.”
    Ed seemed relieved and took a bit e of his biscuit. They finished the rest of the meal, Sue and Ed asking questions about her life and Kelly answering with vague answers. She couldn’t help think of her cell phone in her purse and how many missed calls from Don would show up if she turned it on.
    She learned Ed and Sue were born and raised in Black Water Creek and married shortly after high school. They couldn’t have kids of their own so they took in several foster kids over the years. Sue was an art teacher at the middle school before retiring a few years ago. Ed worked as mechanic for the county in the motor pool and finally fulfilled a lifelong dream by opening Ed’s Auto Service ten years ago.
    Keegan, full of mashed potatoes and bored with adult conversation, slipped off his phone books a nd started exploring the house.
    “Eddie, why don’t you find one of those cartoon channels on the television for the little guy while Kelly and I clean up?” Sue said.
    “Car-TOOOONS!” Keegan screamed and ran for the den.
    Kelly brought some of the dirty dishes into the kitchen while Sue