That Day by Karen Deen (best novels to read in english txt) 📕

torture.” Ricky is still going behind me. “Two minutes!”

“Maybe we should send him home with your mother. I think they’re well suited. They would both keep each other company.” Dad picks up the pile of lumber next to me. “Or kill each other, one of the two.”

“At least it’d be quiet then.” We both look at each other and burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?” Ricky just looks at us blankly.

“The fact that your time is up in… five, four, three, two, one. That golden feeling, a day of silence begins.” As I place the box of screws and tubes of glue in his hand, he doesn’t look impressed. “I’m guessing it’s just dawned on you how much you missed me while I was away.”

“Hardly,” he grizzles as he walks away towards the truck.

“Oh, I think Ricky needs a hug from his boss. What do you think, Dad?”

Ricky starts moving faster towards the truck, and Dad just shakes his head at me. “Do you do this to him all the time?”

“Every single day. It’s my reason to get out of bed, to come to work and mess with Ricky’s head. Oh, and sometimes teach him something too.”

“So, nothing has changed after all these years since I retired from the building site.” Dad drops his bundle in the truck.

“Not a damn thing.” Turning, I yell to Ricky, “I’m just getting the generator, are you coming with us or meeting us at the site?”

“Nah, I’m not getting stuck with you two old grandpas. I’ll meet you there.” Giving a wave over his shoulder, he starts up the VW bus, gives it the normal three big revs, and away he goes.

“When will he learn that van is a piece of shit?” Dad picks up the handle on the generator with me.

“The day it stops on the side of the road, just like every young guy with his first car, yours truly included.” As I strap the generator in the back of the truck, Dad is already climbing into the cabin. My phone buzzing in my pocket stops me from jumping straight in.

Asha: We miss you xx

I open up a picture of her and Coco sitting on the porch at her place, eating breakfast while they watch the surf.

Kurt: That’s cruel! I would give anything to be there too, because I’m already missing you. Looking at Ricky’s ugly face all day just isn’t the same.

Asha: I’m glad I’m prettier than Ricky.

Kurt: Me too, otherwise it would be a little awkward.

Asha: Poor Ricky.

Kurt: Don’t feel sorry for him. He gives as good as he gets!

“Are we going to work or are you going to keep messaging Asha all day?” Dad yells from the truck.

“Yeah, yeah. Stop your bitchin’,” I call out as I quickly reply to Asha’s text.

Kurt: Got to go. Apparently, I’m here to work today. Sounds overrated to me.

Kurt: Look out for the hot surfer in the parking lot this afternoon. I hear he doesn’t wear much under that towel.

Asha: Yes, get to work. I hear the boss can be a real jerk.

Asha: Oh, I know he doesn’t… in fact, I’m counting on it.

Asha: Have a good day xx

Kurt: You too, lots of words. xx

Opening the door and jumping into the truck, I place my phone in the console, looking across at Dad as I start the engine and pull out of the yard.

“What’s that smirk for?” I already know what’s coming.

“You really like her, don’t you, Son?” My mind rushes over all the memories of the last few weeks.

“I know it’s early, Dad, but I more than like her.” I don’t want to say the L word because, when it’s time, Asha should be the first person to hear me say that.

“When you know, you know. Never doubt what you feel, Kurt. If she’s the one, your gut will be telling you already.” Pushing the button to lower his window, he sits his elbow on the sill.

“There is no doubt in my mind. Asha is it for me. One hundred percent.”

His other hand lifts up and rubs the back of his neck. I can tell there is something he wants to say but is holding back.

“Spit it out, Dad, what’s bothering you?”

“I know you can’t say much, but how much trouble is she in?” His eyes look worriedly at me, waiting for my answer.

“Yeah, I won’t lie, it’s big. Real big, and we are on a countdown with time.” Knowing that, it’s the constant thought that never leaves my head.

“So, what are you going to do then, when she disappears?”

“You don’t want to know the answer to that question.” I’ve already been working that out in my mind.

“Then she really is the one then. Just don’t want to see you get hurt, Son.” His hand reaches across and squeezes me on the shoulder.

“Yeah, she is, and that’s why I won’t let anything happen to her. Not here, not anywhere.”

My knuckles grip the steering wheel that little bit harder. I hate that it’s even a thing, but I’ve learned one very important thing over the years in the job.

We can’t change what happened before now, only what is about to happen in the future.

The silence in the truck is unsettling, and finally he says what he needs to say.

“Your mother will hate it, but she will understand that love is the most important thing in life. She got through missing you last time, she will manage again.” I know it’s his way of saying he will miss me too, but he just can’t say it.

“I know, but it won’t be forever. I’ll make it work. Just promise to look after Mom and Jodie for me. I’ll be back, I just don’t know when. But I will always make it home.”

“You’d better, and you also better make sure you have a tiny blonde woman tucked safely in your arms too. She’s already cemented herself in this family pretty damn quickly.”

With all our important words said and everything understood, we get on with talking generally about