Free Two Family Home by Sarah Title

conflict.” Lindsey handed the book back to Doug, who wisely tucked it into a nearby crate.
    â€œHow about Flannery O’Connor?” Doug suggested, holding up a tattered yellow paperback. “We haven’t read her yet,” he said to Myron, “and she’s Southern,” he said to Eugene.
    â€œSouthern ain’t the same as Appalachian,” muttered Eugene.
    â€œOh, sit down and let the man read,” a woman called out from the front row.
    â€œThank you, Mrs. Mitchell,” said Lindsey. “Mr. Harris, Mr. May, do you have anything you want to say before we all take our seats?”
    The two men mumbled under their breath. Walker didn’t think either sounded very sorry.
    â€œOh, they don’t have to apologize on our account,” said Mrs. Mitchell. “It’s nice to see the old boys still have some spark left in ’em.” The other women laughed.
    â€œThat’s one word for it,” muttered Lindsey as everyone settled into a chair. “Doug? They’re all yours.”
    He thanked her, looking a little dubious, and started to read.
    Forgetting all about the reason he’d come in—to spring Myron for lunch—Walker tried to back out of the room before anyone really noticed him. He was just about through the doorway, when suddenly Mother Teresa was in front of him.
    â€œCan I help you with something?” she said in a voice that sounded like a candy bar with razor blade filling.
    â€œNo, uh—” He gestured lamely to Myron, then the door, then shook his head at his own genius.
    She waited, not quite patiently, for him to pull his head out of his ass.
    â€œMyron,” he finally spat out. “I came to take Myron to lunch.”
    Lindsey peered around him at Doug’s rapt audience. “He doesn’t look available. Myron never misses the Bookmobile.”
    â€œI know that.”
    â€œNext time maybe you should call ahead to see if he’s available.”
    â€œI was going to surprise him.”
    â€œWell, I could have told you he would be otherwise occupied.”
    â€œWell, I didn’t know you worked here,” he lied. Because it was definitely mature to up the snottiness by matching her increasingly snotty tone.
    She took a deep breath, and Walker was seventy-six percent sure he saw her roll her eyes. “How do you know Mr. Harris? Is he family?”
    â€œNo, he’s . . .” He was family. Just not biological family. But Myron was an adult, and he wasn’t a prisoner. He could have friends who took him to lunch. Why couldn’t Walker be that friend?
    â€œYou’re not on the list of his family. That’s why I ask.”
    â€œSo I’m not allowed to visit?”
    â€œNo, but Mr. Harris is my responsibility. I don’t want to let just anyone take him out of here.”
    â€œJust anyone? What do you think, I’m gonna kidnap him? That smartass old know-it-all?”
    Lindsey raised her eyebrow at him.
    Walker ran his hand over his face. This was going all wrong. “Look. Myron is a friend. Sometimes I take him to lunch. I don’t always tell him beforehand. Obviously he’s busy today. I’ll come back another time.”
    Lindsey’s expression softened. Walker didn’t want it to soften. “He really looks forward to the Bookmobile.”
    â€œWhy do you keep calling it the Bookmobile? It’s not even a Bookmobile! It’s a van with books that takes up too many parking spaces!”
    Lindsey put a hand on his arm. He flinched. “I’m sorry, Walker. I don’t think he even noticed you’re here.”
    Walker looked over to where Myron sat with the others, in rapt attention as the librarian read. Knowing Myron and his love for stories, Walker had to agree that, no, Myron probably hadn’t seen him.
    â€œBut you’re welcome to stay,” Lindsey said. “Doug will read another twenty minutes, then they all check