GRIND (The Silver Nitrate Series Book 1) (34 page)

“Good morning. Thank you for calling Chamber House. How many I assist you today?”

“Hi.” She gulped hard, reached for her bottle of water and internally cursed as she discovered it was empty. Her damn throat was dry. She wasn’t sure she could even get the words out but she’d sure as hell try.

“My name is Silver. I wanted to know if there are any grief group meetings available anywhere? Any openings… I want to move on with my life, but I am having some trouble with it.” She paused to take a deep swallow, and to make sure no one was listening. “I’m having trouble with some guilt issues regarding my ex-husband’s death. I tried to handle it on my own and I’ve gotten better, but it’s still not good enough. I’ve tried calling you several times over the past couple of months but always hang up after the first ring. I’m not hanging up any longer. I need help. I don’t… I don’t want to feel like this anymore.”

“…And you don’t have to. Hold the line for just a moment. We’ll get you right in…”

Zenith sat in
his truck and ran his hand across his face. Emotional exhaustion had wrapped tight arms around him and squeezed his next breath away. Paw sat in the passenger’s seat, a brand new pair of off-brand jeans hiked up past his navel and his hair braided in two long plaits.

“So, the money you won is all in your account now, Paw. Whenever you need some, just tell me, and I’ll take care of it. We’ll come together and make the withdrawals. I’ll never take money out of your account unless it is for a medical bill or to pay Denise. I’ll always tell you what I’m doing with it; I don’t care if it’s just five dollars, I’ll let you know.”

The old man sat there stern faced, patting the stiff chest pocket of his cowboy motif shirt. His jaw twitched and moved in unnatural ways, as if he were chewing tobacco, but it was simply a nervous twitch the old man had developed over time.

“Where is my pipe?” he muttered.

“At home.”

“I wanted you to put the money in
your
account, Zen,” he said, just as he’d done several times inside the bank.

“I know, but it was
your
case, Paw, your money. Not a dime of that is mine… Besides, I need it to pay Denise for more hours, and we can get you an even better hospital bed. You can get all sorts of stuff now.”

The silence stretched between them, and it was rather strange how money didn’t make either of them any happier. He went from elation for winning their case, to feeling as if he’d nearly drowned and fought for his damn life. He’d had several nightmares where all he could hear was his grandfather’s screams, and calling out his name for help while being beaten, slapped, and shaken. It tore him up from the inside out.

Paw had won the lawsuit against the nursing home, and it had been all over the news. Uncle Len called inquiring about it after the shit was plastered in the paper, pretending he gave a damn now. Zenith let him know right away that every dime was going to Paw’s care, so he could go sniff around somewhere else. Truth was, he was disappointed. He’d thought winning the lawsuit would bring some harmony, but it didn’t. All it did was produce a slow burn and tear open old wounds that had never fully healed.

On the day of court, he’d been escorted out after getting out of his seat and trying to get to the buffalo built bitch who sat there all smug, still lying her ass off despite the recorded evidence. He’d threatened to kill her, and meant every word. Now, instead of anger, he just felt empty. There
was
an upside to all this, though.

No, they weren’t rich, but Paw wouldn’t have to worry about anything anymore, that was for certain. Zenith started his truck. Alessia Cara’s ‘Here’ began to play as he pulled out the bank parking lot.

Paw tapped his hand in a comforting gesture. They didn’t say much on the ride back home, but he knew what he meant; though the culpability was heavy, Paw was trying to tell him in his own special way that it wasn’t his fault… and everything would be all right…

His skin reminded
her of the russet bricks from an old building she used to loiter around in Brooklyn as a kid. The place had been torn down over a decade ago and sat vacant for years before that… but something had called her to its state of decay, and its state of life.

A chill ran through Silver when the night air brushed past her from the open door. She rubbed up and down her arm until, finally, Zenith closed the door behind them. She heard the man’s key jangle as she stared straight ahead, unable to blink or turn away from Paw. His nostrils flared, as if he suddenly smelled a burning pot of stew. His light amber eyes flickered with specs of gray and vibrancy, as if someone special had called his name. He stared straight ahead at nothing in particular. The living room smelled of tobacco pipe smoke and the sweetness of baked goods, all rolled into one. Just then, a short, a middle-aged, attractive woman with ample curves rounded the kitchen and entered the dwelling.

“Hello there, Zenith and Silver, nice to meet you, pretty lady!” The woman waved and grinned wide, her teeth sparkling white against ageless skin.

“Hi, nice to meet you, too!” Silver said cheerfully, waving at her.

Zenith moved behind her, setting her jacket down and fumbling with some papers in his pocket, then made his way towards the woman with the Jamaican accent.

“Hey, Denise. Has he been good today?”

“He’s been great! Took his medicine, too, with no fussing.” The woman tapped Paw’s shoulder with a gentle hand, but the old man remained silent. Then, like a light switch, he turned towards her, as if suddenly aware of her presence. His face split in a crooked grin. He raised a slightly shaky hand and pointed in her direction.

“Beauty!” He cackled, as if he thought his compliment funny. “Zen, who is she?” The old man suddenly drew serious.

“This is my girlfriend, Paw. This is Silver. You’ve seen her a few times, but it was late, and you were tired.” Zenith took her hand and led her to the couch to have a seat across from the old man who glared at the both of them.

“It’s nice to formerly meet you, Mr. Taylor.” She extended her hand, but the old man didn’t shake it. Instead, he got to his feet, real slow but steady. He yanked her towards him.

“Paw, stop it! What are you doin’, man?”

Frowning, Paw swatted at Zenith, then his facial expression relaxed as he brought her hand to his trembling lips, and gently kissed it.

“Awwww! How sweet! Thank you.” Silver slowly slipped her hand from his and he retook his seat. Denise clasped her hands together.

“Zenith talks about you all the time! I’m glad you came over for dinner. He asked me to stay a bit later and cook tonight.”

“It smells good! What did you make?” Silver couldn’t help herself. A wave of relaxation washed over her, she suddenly felt right at home. Denise grinned and stood behind Paw. Taking the long, silver strands of his hair into her grasp, she began braiding. “I made spicy shrimp, sausage and chicken gumbo, rice, cornbread, green beans, and plantains.”

Silver beamed, pleased as punch. Zenith wore a crooked grin.

“You told her, didn’t you?” she whispered.

“Yeah.” He kissed her cheek.

“Told me what?” Denise questioned as her fingers worked fast and furious, braiding the old man’s hair to silky perfection.

Damn! She has bat hearing!

“Uh, that I love gumbo.”

“Yes, he told me your favorite things and I made the gumbo. My husband loves it, too!” She smiled brighter, her attention still on the old man’s hair.

“You’re the woman my grandson has been having sex with!” he blurted.

Silver’s body grew hot in a nanosecond. Was that a damn question or a simple observation?

“Mr. Taylor!” Denise snapped. “No, no. None of that.” But, Silver didn’t miss the smirk on her face.

“One night he came to his door with no trousers on while a satanic movie played in the living room. That’s some strange mood music if you ask me!”

“Paw, that’s enough, and it wasn’t a satanic movie; it was a video game,” Zenith stated calmly, leaning back on the couch and stretching his legs out. He looked lazily at the television. Maury Povich was on once again, establishing his guests’ paternity…

“He wouldn’t let me meet you. In the morning, he rushed me off to that doctor’s appointment on the old people van. I hate that van! It smells like piss and the driver talks to me disrespectfully.” The man pointed angrily at Zenith, as if reliving some sort of trauma.

“You’re damn right I got you out of here, because you would have acted up… made a scene, just like you’re doing right now.”

“Okay you two.” Denise smiled as she finished off the braid, then slapped her hands against her thigh. “Silver, they do this all the time.” She shook her head woefully. “It means they love each other.” She chuckled.

“Oh, I know.” She laughed. “I hear them on the phone going back and forth all too often.”

Denise burst out laughing, and shook her head in complete resignation.

“Watch them while I fix the plates. They need a babysitter,” she teased.

“Can I help?” Silver got to her feet, trying not to take notice of the way the old man ogled her breasts.

“No, no! Please, sit down. I’m not staying, just going to plate up and go home.”

Silver retook her seat, crossing her arms over her chest and covering her breasts. The old man huffed, rolled his eyes, and turned away. She lowered her head, trying her damndest not to burst out laughing.

So it’s true… Paw is an old pervert.

Zenith wrapped his arm leisurely around her.

“I dated a black woman once before marrying your grandmother, Zen.”

“Yes, you told me, Paw.” He rolled his eyes.

Paw glanced at her once again, a mischievous gleam in his eye.

“Zen and I have similar tastes I see.” The old fellow’s tone changed into something sophisticated and smooth. It took Silver aback; confusion reigned supreme.

“Um, Zenith tells me you taught him how to play the drums? That’s how he and I met, actually.”

“I taught him how to play, gave him his first drum set, too,” the man said proudly, his head held high.

“He was good, Silver.” Zenith sat up a bit. “Paw is a legend.”

“It’s passed on. I taught him, but Zen was a natural.” His thin lips kinked into a proud grin. “It was in his blood. He has a very good ear.”

Silver was happy to see the two finally sharing an invisible peace pipe. She couldn’t help but fear something was going on between the two, some undisclosed tension. The air was thick with something that caused her worry. She shot a glance at the man beside her, who appeared fine and relaxed. Yet, his brows were ever so slightly dipped and he’d roll and click his tongue every now and again, as if weighing a thought. What was Zenith hiding? Had something occurred? Zenith adored his grandfather, that much she knew despite their occasional disagreements. But the suspicious way he looked at the man out the corner of his eye seemed rather off kilter.

“It’s ready!” Denise called out from the kitchen. Before they could get to their feet, the woman re-entered the living room with her Burberry print coat swung over her arm, and black leather hobo purse in hand. “Silver, it was nice meeting you.” She took the girl’s hand and gave it a hearty shake.

“It was nice meeting you, too!”

“Denise, thank you.” Zenith wrapped an arm around the woman, bringing her into a sweet embrace. “I really appreciate it. You’re too good to us.”

“No problem, no problem at all.” She waved him off. As she made her way to the front door, she called out, “I’ll be back at seven tomorrow morning, okay?”

“Sounds good.” Zenith gently took Silver’s hand and walked her into the small, yet nicely decorated dining area. She couldn’t help but smile as she looked at the six-seater wooden table. Denise had lit an orange candle and set it in the middle of the tabletop, which was covered with an emerald green runner with gold trim. Three white plates were arranged around it, along with matching bowls with large, steaming helpings of fragrant, mouthwatering gumbo. Soup spoons were laid neatly on snowy linen napkins, near tall wine glasses filled to the brim with water, ice, and wedges of lime and orange dancing about.

“Have a seat.” Zenith pulled out her chair. She looked over her shoulder at the man, minced her snarky thoughts from coming out of her mouth, and simply sat down. Paw soon entered the room, sitting at the head of the table. And, he truly belonged there. The man looked damn near noble. His ruddy skin, deep-set light eyes, long silver hair and high cheekbones gave him a look of authority and wisdom. She could see a bit of Zenith in him, or perhaps it was vice versa. Paw clasped his hands, and peacefulness showed over his face.