Chapter 12

           "Billy!"Charliecalledassoonashegotoutofthecar.

           Iturnedtowardthehouse,beckoningtoJacobasIduckedundertheporch.IheardCharliegreetingthemloudlybehindme.

           "I’mgoingtopretendIdidn’tseeyoubehindthewheel,Jake,"hesaiddisapprovingly.

           "Wegetpermitsearlyontherez,"JacobsaidwhileIunlockedthedoorandflickedontheporchlight.

           "Sureyoudo,"Charlielaughed.

           "Ihavetogetaroundsomehow."IrecognizedBilly’sresonantvoiceeasily,despitetheyears.Thesoundofitmademefeelsuddenlyyounger,achild.

           Iwentinside,leavingthedooropenbehindmeandturningonlightsbeforeIhungupmyjacket.ThenIstoodinthedoor,watchinganxiouslyasCharlieandJacobhelpedBillyoutofthecarandintohiswheelchair.

           Ibackedoutofthewayasthethreeofthemhurriedin,shakingofftherain.

           "Thisisasurprise,"Charliewassaying.

           "It’sbeentoolong,"Billyanswered."Ihopeit’snotabadtime."Hisdarkeyesflasheduptomeagain,theirexpressionunreadable.

           "No,it’sgreat.Ihopeyoucanstayforthegame."

           Jacobgrinned."Ithinkthat’stheplan-ourTVbrokelastweek."

           Billymadeafaceathisson."And,ofcourse,JacobwasanxioustoseeBellaagain,"headded.JacobscowledandduckedhisheadwhileIfoughtbackasurgeofremorse.MaybeI’dbeentooconvincingonthebeach.

           "Areyouhungry?"Iasked,turningtowardthekitchen.IwaseagertoescapeBilly’ssearchinggaze.

           "Naw,weatejustbeforewecame,"Jacobanswered.