Passing to Payton Read Online Free PDF

filled with bad memories to justify my caution. “Just taking a moment to get my bearings. Sorry if I’m in the way.”
    “Not a problem…” The man’s voice trails off as one eye squints at me. “Wait a dang minute… Samuel Garrett, is that you?”
    Fuck.  “Yes, sir.”
    “Well, shoot, boy! Ain’t seen you ’round these parts in… Gosh, five years now, I reckon? You headin’ up to your dad’s property?”
    “No sir,” an exhale releases as my brain finally puts a name with the man’s face. “It’s nice to see you again, Mr. Matthews, but I haven’t spoken to my dad in a long time.”
    “Oh, right.” The smile on David Matthews’s face falters. “He don’t rightly talk much ’bout it, though I reckon you may wanna take a drive out there. The property’s seen better days. ‘Course, not like it’s ever been quite the same since your momma passed.”
    “ No sir, it hasn’t.”
    Then, silence. I’m not exactly sure what else to say after that. David was a nice enough guy growing up, but after the big explosion, it was hard to tell who might hug you, or who might tie you to their bumper and drag you through town.
    “Sam,” David starts then huffs out a heavy breath. “Look, son, about that night… Yer dad, he- Well, he’s a sour old goat sometimes, but folks have let it pass. Like water under a bridge, you know? It’s been five years. Maybe you oughtta go see him?”
    “Maybe I ought to, but sometimes the water takes the bridge with it.”
    “Amen to that,” David nods, goes quiet for a moment then slaps the outside of his truck door. “Well, it’s good to see you, anyhow. Bet some folks’ll be real glad you’re back.”
    I have to bite back an argument to that and command my lips to smile instead. “Not staying long. I’m just here to visit Mrs. Greene for a few days.”
    David’s hand flattens against the rusted metal. “What? Damn, son, I… I figured you already knew. Rosie done passed three nights ago. Her funeral’s tomorrow at Blessed Savior. Ain’t that why yer here?”
    “ But,”  it couldn’t be true . “I talked to her on the phone last week.” The words come out slowly, salted and thick. “She sounded better. I told her I was coming. That’s why I came!”
    “I’m sorry, Sam. The cancer finally won out, real sudden like. Cody’s been walkin’ ’round town in a daze, though I don’t reckon it’s really hit him yet. Shoot, you should go see that boy. He could use a friend right now.”
    Friend?  In what fucked up universe are Cody and me friends? Hell, that asshole is one of the reasons I left Alvarado in the first place! Mrs. Greene deserved better than to have some bigoted, ungrateful shit-stick for a son. “I came to see Mrs. Greene, but if she’s gone…”  What the fuck am I doing here?
    “Well, like I said, funeral’s tomorrow ’round ten at Blessed Savior. Why not stick around and pay your respects? You got a place to stay?”
    Stay?  What’s the point in staying? My mouth answers anyway. “No, sir. Was thinking of the Super Eight in Midlothian.”
    “Oh? Well, Julie Anne Kent opened up a new bed n’ breakfast on Johnson Creek, called The Pleasant Peach. I’m sure she’d have a room available and would appreciate the business.”
    “Julie?” For real? She was supposed to run outta town just as quick as I had.
    “Yup, though she’ll be Julie Anne Moore by end of the summer!”
    “Moore… As in  Kyle  Moore?” What the hell? Kyle had planned to never come back, too.
    “You got it! He manages the Tom Thumb now and coaches tee-ball on weekends. Damn, son, you’ve got a lot ta’ catch up on! I know Rosie’d want you ta’ stick around fer a spell, at least say hi to everyone.”
    Dammit . He’s right. Sticking around for the funeral and paying my respects is the least I can do for Mrs. Greene. I owe that woman more than I could ever hope to pay back, and now it seems I’ll never even get the chance to try.
    “Alright.”