Read Online Song of the Brokenhearted by Sheila Walsh - Free Book Online Page A

in the making. In elementary school he called her names, chased her on the playground, and slipped a Snoopy Valentine into her bag that professed his love, except he didn’t sign it. Ava figured out her secret admirer when she saw him staring at her. In high school, his teasing continued, and rumor had it he’d beat up anyone who planned to ask her to prom.
    Did Doug think she’d be endeared to him with his harassment of her brother? Doug wasn’t the smartest kid in school, though he knew enough to put to use his skills in physical manipulation and all-around terror.
    When Doug spotted Ava, his demeanor changed. He took a step back, unclenching his fists, and his grin turned like a light switch from menacing to sheepish.
    â€œHey, Ava,” he said, taking a step back. Clancy was poised, ready to pounce.
    â€œHi, Doug. Clancy, I was looking for you. Could you help me with something at home?”
    â€œWhat do you need help with?” Doug asked.
    â€œThe desk in my room has a broken leg on it.” Ava was making this up as she went.
    â€œI’ll do it,” Doug said with an excitement that made her shiver.
    â€œNo guys allowed in my room, but thank you, Doug.” She walked toward him, trying to act all feminine and sweet.
    â€œWant a smoke?” he asked, pulling out a mangled pack of Camels from his back pocket.
    Ava hesitated, glanced at her brother in his ready-for-battle glare, and then closed the distance and reached for a cigarette.
    â€œI don’t smoke,” she said, which seemed to make Doug even happier.
    â€œI’ll show you how,” he said, lighting her cigarette.
    They arrived home with Ava smelling like smoke and Clancy still fuming but without another busted nose or black eye. To their surprise, Grannie came out of the house and met them on the front porch.
    Before they could say hello, she said, “Your daddy is in jail. You’re gonna have to live with me for a while.”
    Guilt washed over her as if smoking had sent God’s judgment. If their grandmother caught wind of it, she’d think just that, and Ava would get a licking despite being in high school.
    â€œWhy?” Clancy asked, and Ava realized she’d been more distracted by Grannie’s arrival, the horror of having to stay with her again, and the fear of being caught smoking. Grannie’s words sunk in. Her father—arrested?
    â€œThe devil is making his move. They have him up on charges of manslaughter and embezzlement.”
    â€œManslaughter and embezzlement?” Ava asked, looking at Clancy.
    â€œThey say he’s been stealing from the church ’cause he’s breaking something in the bylaws. It’s all hogwash. The manslaughter, well, he got tempted by the drink and got behind the wheel . . .”
    The memory came to mind as the family drove home from the football game. Jason wasn’t going to be arrested like Daddy. There was no Grannie to be terrified of now. No one was being bullied. But something about this stirred the memory.
    Dane drove with his hands gripping the steering wheel. Jason sat slumped in the backseat beside his sister, not uttering a word.
    Replaying that night, Ava wanted to rewind the entire game and hide under a hat, or better yet, just remain at home. It felt as if the entire crowd of parents, community acquaintances, and old friends had all known about Jason before them. Of course, not everyone knew, but news did travel like a wildfire in Dallas circles. Yet her family had spent the game as if nothing was going on, because they didn’t know. What fools they must have appeared to everyone.
    Ava’s initial concern was about how this looked to the people in their church and among their friends—instead of the fact that her son might be doing drugs. The truth was, she was more embarrassed than angry, more humiliated than worried. And this disgusted her.
    The worry was there. He’d failed a drug test. Her son,