Ghost (Second Edition)

Chapter Seventeen--In the Quiet Moments

Nathan

A world of magic and light, swirling shadows. A large wall of darkness between the mainland and the coasts... It was immersing. A page-turner. Nathan loved it.

He was just coming to a good part when there was a knock on the door, shattering the illusion. He looked up and frowned.

"Yes?"

His mother opened the door and smiled. "Come shopping with me."

Nathan sighed. "Do I have to? I was just getting to the good part!"

Mary laughed, tipping her head back. "Come on, Nathan. You've been stuck up in here all weekend, I haven't seen you!"

Nathan smiled and sighed. "Alright, alright, I will come."

He set his book down on the bed and slipped off. He pulled on a pair of sneakers and followed his mother out of the house. Outside was beautiful. Clear blue skies, birds singing, and a nice cool breeze.

He couldn't help but wonder what Luis was doing. He's probably locked up in his room... Or getting beaten... Nathan tried not to frown at the thought. It was such a nice Sunday morning, it hurt him that he couldn't show it to Luis.

"Something on your mind?" Mary asked softly.

Nathan blinked, looking around in confusion. They were driving. He had been so lost in thought, he hadn't noticed.

"Yeah," he admitted. "Luis."

Mary gave him a sympathetic smile. "He will be alright."

He looked at her.

"You looked worried," Mary said.

Nathan sighed and looked back out the passenger window. "I just can't stop thinking that he could be hurt."

"By?"

"His mother."

Mary was silent. They pulled out of town and onto the quiet road that led to the highway. It was only when Nathan could see the tall, metal street lights that she spoke again.

"I guessed something was going on," she admitted. "I didn't think it was anything to do with his mother."

"Do you know her?" Nathan asked, raising his eyebrows. "His mother?"

Mary shook her head. "No. But my friends say there is a woman that visits the pub almost every day. Brittle old thing, apparently. Her name was Caty. Caty Lin. Luis's last name is Lin, isn't it?"

"She beats him," Nathan murmured as they joined the mass of cars on the main highway.

Mary's lips turned into a thin line. "I see." She glanced at him. "Does she feed him?"

Nathan shrugged. "Luis didn't say."

Mary said nothing.

"Did he talk to you? On Friday?" Nathan asked.

"No. Not really." There was a strange look in her eyes. They seemed guarded like she was hiding something.

Nathan didn't press the issue. She might just be concerned. He decided to change the subject.

"Why are we going shopping?"

Mary brightened at once. "Cook needs some new pots and pans; I saw some lovely ones at Kmart that I think he would like."

Nathan smiled and leaned back, watching the cars going by in a blur. "Is that just an excuse to go to Kmart?"

Mary laughed, tipping her head back slightly. "No! Of course not!"

Nathan smiled slightly. Mary loved shopping at Kmart, surprisingly. "They have good clothes," she would always say. Not that she ever really brought many, and the ones she did, she gave to the needy.

"Whatever you say, Mum," he said.

***

"Do you think this would fit Luis?"

Nathan looked up from where he was looking through some black button-ups. Mary was holding a light blue T-shirt. It was small, but it looked wide enough to reach Luis's thighs.

"Ah... No. I think it's a little too big." He looked away, then froze. "Wait, why?"

"Oh, I was thinking we could buy him some new clothes. He seems to wear that hoodie a lot." Mary placed the shirt back on its hanger.

"You can't," Nathan said.

"Why?"

"His mother would beat him for it. I don't think he's allowed to take anything from anyone," Nathan murmured, remembering how Luis had begged him not to get him new pants after he'd soiled his old ones.

Mary frowned. "Poor thing." She shook her head and brightened. "Well, at least let me buy him some pyjamas for when he comes over!" She rushed over to the pyjama section, her heels clicking on the epoxy tiles.

Nathan followed her, wondering when they were going to buy those pots Cook wanted. "He probably won't wear them," he mumbled.

"He will if you two aren't doing the dirty," Mary shot back.

Nathan flushed and hunched his shoulders. "You and Dad seem very fixated on my sex life, you know that?"

Mary chuckled. "Oh, I'm only playing, Nathan!" She waved him off and drew down a black shirt paired with checkered pants. "Would he fit these?"

Nathan looked at them. Luis seemed so small when he held him. So skinny. Not like a seventeen-year-old at all. "Maybe try smaller."

"Smaller?" Mary frowned. "He did seem rather skinny on Friday..." She sighed. "Alright."

She made to head towards the kids' section.

"Ah, Mum, when are we buying those pots for Cook?" Nathan asked, trailing after her. "Or was that a lie?"

"Oh, I'm sure Cook won't mind!" Mary waved him off, finding some pyjamas in the boy's section.

Nathan rolled his eyes. "You just wanted to shop at Kmart..."

Mary just smiled. "What about this?" She held up a grey top with grey, tight-like pants. "It has his name on it!"

Sure enough, it did. "Luis" was written in blocky black text across the chest of the shirt. Nathan smiled.

"It's like it was made for him," he said.

Mary beamed, looking back down at the shirt. "I know. Do you think he will like it?"

"I think he will love it, Mum," Nathan murmured.

Mary smiled softly, looking down at the clothes. "He deserves a little bit of kindness, poor thing." Her gaze was saddened.

He deserves more than that, Nathan thought grimly as they walked to the checkout. Way more than that.