Chapter 109

“Hey, what’s up?” I greeted as I loaded the dishwasher with one hand.

“Can you come over in ten minutes? I need help with something.” She was whispering for some reason.

“Sure.” I hung up. Maybe Beebub was out of town on business? It didn’t matter. I would do anything for Marlene.

I took my time dressing in a threadbare T-shirt and an old pair of jeans that I’d had since high school,which depressed me because it meant I was still as scrawny as I’d been back then. Sadly, I would never be the buff type. I grabbed my work gloves, just in case, and sauntered across the fields to the purple house. Beebub had recently repainted it a less vivid shade than before.

I noticed her car was in the driveway, but not Beebub’s as I jogged up the steps. “Marlene?” I called as I entered through the open front door. I walked into the kitchen to see Beebub sitting at the table, arms crossed as he stared out the window, frowning at his thoughts. When he saw me standing there, his eyes widened.