Chapter 37

Brenton closes the door behind him and takes a few steps into the yard. When a blow hits the back of his head, he thinks maybe Uncle Mike has followed him, but when Brenton hits the ground and looks up, he sees a man, and it’s not Mike. Before Brenton can call out or move or do anything, really, the man’s hand comes down with a baton again, and there’s nothing but darkness.8

“You okay, pumpkin?” Penny asks, passing Zeke in the sun room.

“Yeah, just waiting to hear from Brenton. He went to come out to his family today,” Zeke explains.

“Wow, that’s brave. Worried about him, how they’ll react?” Penny asks, perching on the arm of the chair beside him.

“It’s a big deal. And they’re not the kind of people who are accepting. Can I ask, how were your parents?” Zeke asks.

“A little shocked, but they didn’t get mad. They got used to it slowly, and now they love Kelly,” Penny explains.