Free Mayday by Jonathan Friesen Page A

of a man, so let’s just skip the intro part.” I turned to Crow, her red eyes wide with shock. “Is your mom or Adele around? I’d like to meet them.”
    Jude dropped his hand and cursed. “Another Crow.”
    I shrugged. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
    Crow rounded my shoulder with her arm, pulled me through the kitchen and down the hall. “That may have been the single best moment I’ve experienced in thirteen years of life.”
    â€œGlad to provide it for you.”
    â€œMom?” Crow called. “Mom!”
    â€œWe’re in here.” Adele called from the bedroom.
    My heartbeat quickened, and Crow opened the door, collapsed on her bed. “I’m really hungry. Any leftovers?”
    â€œWhere were you?” Mom didn’t turn. “Dove’s, I assumed.”
    They say that when you die, your whole life passes before your eyes. I didn’t believe that, especially given that I had some experience in the matter. But as I stood, my gaze again fixed on Addy, the one I’d come back to save, and yeah, the dam broke and the memories flooded.
    I saw her take her first steps. I did, not Mom or Dad. Me.
    I caught her when she fell off the monkey bars. Well, I broke her fall a little.
    I taught her to ride her bike.
    So many successes. One failure overshadowed them all.
    â€œMy fault,” I said, and jarred my gaze free of Adele. “I was showing Crow where I lived.”
    Mom whipped around. “Which is . . . ?”
    â€œAlabama.”
    Mom’s face twitched. “I’m guessing you’re Shane Owen Raine.”
    â€œThat’s what they’re calling me. I admit the last name was borrowed without permission.”
    I tried hard to stay callous, detached. But the whole scene was too much: Mom barking at me; Addy leaning against the bedpost, her knees tucked up beneath her chin; and Crow collapsed on a bed, looking very similar to the crooked soul I’d seen in the hospital.
    I wanted to scream, It’s me. I’m back! I’m Crow’s soul-mind, whatever that is. Do you have any idea what’s going to happen in just a few days?
    Instead, I eased onto Crow’s bed and glanced around at everything that once had been mine. “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Raine.”
    â€œYeah.” Mom said, nodding slowly. “Seeing as how you live here, it’s nice to finally get a look at your face.” She glanced at Crow. “Meat loaf in the fridge.”
    Crow looked at her hard. “The Monster’s in there, too.”
    Mom wiped her brow with her middle finger. “That monster is my husband, a fact I hoped you would have accepted by now.”
    Crow shook her head.
    â€œWhat?” Mom raised her eyebrows. “No comeback? No sick, perverted accusations against him? Shane, you’re already having a positive effect.” She glanced at the three of us. “I need to consult with Jude.” Mom kissed Adele and left the room.
    A strange silence settled over us. Adele, immune to the gravity of such moments, found her voice first.
    â€œThe girl from the bus. So you’re the one Crow’s told me about these last nights. You’ve really been living in our backyard?”
    I peeked out the window. “Yeah, I hope that’s okay.”
    She grinned. So gentle, so at ease with whatever came into her life. Adele plopped down next to Crow and stroked her hair. Crow slowly closed her eyes. “Thanks for anything you did for my sister.” She paused. “I’m sorry for Mom. She’s having a rough day.”
    Crow shot up to vertical, red eyes wide. “It’s more than a day. We can pretend later, but I’m not lying to Shane: this is every morning, this is every night, this is her.”
    Addy lowered her head and folded her hands.
    â€œAnd I’m getting it. I’m getting it all, you know that,” Crow continued. “But you