The Pieces We Keep Read Online Free PDF Page A

an eagle, with eyes just as penetrating. “Audra, before you go ...”
    “Yes?”
    “I was hoping we could talk for a minute.”
    The intensity of her tone told Audra to sprint for the car. What usually followed were strong “suggestions” of putting Jack in a contact sport, or signing him up for an outdoors camp, or sending him to the Sunday school where Meredith volunteered. However well-intentioned, none of those ideas would keep Jack safe in a world that refused to be controlled.
    “I really do need to head out,” Audra said, but Meredith persisted.
    “How’s Jack been doing in school lately?”
    The detour was surprising.
    Then again, Meredith and her husband would soon be watching Jack on Audra’s workdays, same as they did last summer. The status of his academics would be helpful to his progress.
    “He’s good overall. His reading’s still amazing, but he could use more practice in math. When school ends in a few weeks, I’ll drop him off with workbooks, so you can quiz him if you don’t mind.”
    “That’s all fine. But how’s he doing with everything else? With other kids, I mean?”
    “He’s great,” Audra lied. “Everything’s great.”
    “The reason I ask is—well, I couldn’t help but wonder. Have kids at school been playing rough with him?”
    Audra blinked. He had never mentioned it to her.
    Not that he necessarily would these days.
    “Why? Did he say something?”
    “He didn’t. I just noticed, over in the garden ... I know he tends to bruise easily. But there are quite a few marks on his arms.”
    The bruises. From the plane.
    Audra had informed Meredith of the basics—that Jack’s “disruption” from anxiety had caused the pilots to turn back; that in the wake of 9-11, it didn’t take much to shake up the crew. Had it been up to Audra, she wouldn’t have shared even that much with her in-laws. But a Port of Portland authority had warned her that if the media pounced, local relatives were rarely spared.
    She had little choice now but to elaborate.
    “The plane ride might have been more ... involved than I mentioned. When Jack panicked, he actually tried to get off the plane, and some passengers had to hold him down.”
    A crease divided Meredith’s brow. “But—that doesn’t fit him. He’s always been so agreeable.” Audra couldn’t argue with this. “Did you explain to him what to expect? About traveling on airplanes? Maybe that would’ve helped.”
    With Meredith, every moment offered a teaching opportunity.
    “He never seemed worried,” Audra said, “until it came time to board. You know how fascinated he’s always been with those model planes Robert gives him. I thought he’d love it.”
    “Mmm,” Meredith said simply.
    The woman was problem solving, but her remarks only magnified Audra’s insecurities of parenting without Devon. She felt her defenses rise.
    “Doesn’t matter now anyway. They’re not going to let him fly for a long time.”
    “Ooh. I suppose they wouldn’t.” Meredith tilted her head, thin eyebrow lifted. “So, does this mean you won’t be moving to Philadelphia? Since you missed your interview?” She didn’t do much to hide her enthusiasm.
    “I’m still in the running,” Audra contended. “The owner was willing to set up a videoconference with me later this week.”
    There were three other candidates being considered. Audra didn’t have to be told she’d lost her top rank, viewed now as a single mother whose “family emergencies” already interfered with her work. But she wasn’t up for dwelling on that.
    “You know, Audra ...” Meredith blindly scraped dirt from the tips of her gloves. “I could be wrong, but maybe it wasn’t the flying part that Jack was anxious about.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I’m just saying. Moving him cross-country could actually be the core of the problem. A new school, a new city with nobody he knows. He’s already changed homes once this year.”
    Yes, and Meredith had made it