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whoahoney · 1 year

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A Girl Called Honey pt 3

Part 1. Part 2.

Summary: the pressure starts to weigh on Honey and Eddie learns some of the information he’s been looking for from an unlikely ally.

CW: fem!reader, some fluff, angst, honey cuts her foot, blood, wound treatment, mentions of abuse, mentions of drug addiction, mentions of child abuse, mentions of guns being used, parentified children, depictions of poverty. (If I miss anything plz lemme know)

A/N: this took way longer than I anticipated but I promise the fluff is coming! To all that have asked about Honey, I hope this makes the wait worth it 🥺

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

One Saturday while the sun was still coming up, Honey found herself on the porch smoking a cigarette. She was admiring the early morning gold warming up the sweeping blue when a plump old woman with a long gray braid came walking down the gravel road, a foiled casserole dish in hand.

Honey made the effort to pretend she wasn’t watching her, turning her thoughts back on the best way to go about patching the loose shingles on the roof without asking Jun. There was a rainstorm rolling in, and she didn’t wanna have to deal with a leak in the boys room at 3am—but the closer the lady came, the harder it got.

Eventually, they met eyes as the woman climbed the Munson’s porch steps and flashed a warm smile in Honey’s direction. Honey returned it, her wide tense smile making her eyes almost close until she slid the cig between her lips and hugged her knees to her chest.

She stared down at the dry skin on her legs, focusing on the thick skin callusing her knees before she rested her head on them. She could hear the tap tap tap the woman made on the door and her content sigh as she waited and hummed a tune under her breath. Honey snuck a peek between the spindles of the porch rail just as Wayne popped open the door with tired eyes.

He stepped out onto the porch with a smile and gestured to the old couch Honey always thought looked so comfortable. Wayne caught Honey’s eye and waved to her, “Morning, Miss Honey!” He called.

Honey blushed madly and held her hand up in greeting, “G’morning, Mr Wayne!” She locked eyes with the smiling woman again and nodded in her direction to be polite.

“Have you met Miss Margie, yet?” He called. Honey hesitantly shook her head no before Wayne waved her over. “C’mon, lemme introduce you!”

Honey stood to walk over and looked at the cigarette in her hand and wondered if she should put it out first.

I’m grown too, what does it matter? She reminded herself before finding the willpower to take a step forward, and then another and another. She stopped at the railing where Wayne and Miss Margie stood on the porch.

“Margie Davis, this here is Honey Haller.” He informed Margie.

“What a cute little name! It’s good to meet ya, Honey.” The woman smiled and held out her hand for Honey to shake. Flashing another tense smile, Honey took it and shook her hand gently, shock running through her when Margie squeezed her hand warmly.

“Y-You too, Miss Margie.”

“Honey lives over there with her brothers and sister.” Wayne informed Miss Margie. The woman’s eyes brightened, “Oh my! How many?”

“Uh, well, there’s ten of us all together.”

“Ten?!” The woman almost gasped in intrigue, looking Honey up and down, “and where’s your mama?”

“Oh, she’s— gone.” Honey answered and took a nervous drag. Margie’s eyes turned sad as Wayne’s narrowed in suspicion.

“Oh, my stars, you poor thing. Well if you ever need a break, I watch the neighbor kids almost every day!” She offered kindly.

Wayne must’ve noticed Honey’s sharp inhale at the idea of dropping the kids off with a stranger, because he jumped in, “She’s been watching ‘em for a long, long, time. Even watched Eddie back in the day! Right, Marge?”

“That’s right! Sweetest little brown eyes I ever saw.” She gushed. Honey’s cheeks heated, agreeing with her statement wholeheartedly—Eddie had gorgeous eyes. “I practically potty trained that boy.” She giggled and shared a knowing look with Wayne, the man joining in on her laughter.

Maybe it isn’t such a bad idea after all.. Honey thought, Mr Munson wouldn’t ever lead me astray, right? Honey nodded, “I’ve got a seven and eight year old Irish twin combo and then a four year old, a three year old, and an 18 month old. All boys.” She mentioned.

Their laughter filtered off as Honey took another drag, “Oh my!” Marge said again, “Those are all such fun ages, don’t you think?” She smiled, “Crayons on the wall, constant screaming, asking ‘where’s your pants?!’ Every five minutes?” The woman asked.

Honey’s smile was telling before she found herself giggling and nodding, “Yes! Yes, exactly.”

“Well, you let me know, Honey Haller, and I’ll have room for those boys to play for a couple hours!” She said as she descended the steps, “Wayne, will you get her my phone number? I got monkey bread in the oven, and the kids will be showing up soon, I gotta run!” She speed walked in the direction of her house, her soft arms swinging with determination.

“Marge, what’s this dish for??” He called.

“I owed you for fixing my dishwasher! It’s enchiladas! Tell Ed to toss it in the oven for 20 minutes on 350! We’re even!” She called back without stopping.

Wayne chuckled and shook his head, “She’s nuttier than a pecan tree, but she’s a good lady. Known her since school.” He shrugged.

Honey nodded, looking down at her bare feet in the bushy grass, her toes buried in the browning green.

Should I leave now? She thought as she took another drag.

“Y’care for some coffee?” He asked, heading towards his front door and opening it, leaving it open for her to walk with him. Honey glanced at her home, first, then Eddie’s van. Her house was still dark inside, no rattling or cries from any babies to be heard yet.

One cup couldn’t hurt, right?

She stepped onto the porch, the warm, heady smell already filling the air. When her feet hit the carpet of the small home, all she could do is look at everything on the walls. “Wow.” She must’ve said under her breath, cause Wayne chuckled as he poured her cup.

She was stuck to her spot by the door, wide eyes gazing all around, trying to read all the names of all the places on the hats and cups.

Nebraska, Georgia, Arizona, Carolina, Kentucky, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas—

“Here y’are.” Wayne sat a yellow happy face mug on the counter across from him. Honey walked forward, and picked up the cup to blow on it. She wanted to say thank you, but before the words came out, Wayne spoke again, “Y’like sugar? I don’t have cream.”

She nodded, “Yes, please—And thank you.” She rushed to add. Wayne smiled to himself as he turned to grab the packets they kept hoarded in a drawer. He dropped a few on the counter and dug out a spoon for her to mix with.

Honey shook the packet and tore it open, dumping it into the black roast coffee and repeating that process twice. “Have you really been to all these places?” She asked.

Wayne nodded as he sipped, “Mhm,” he sat his cup down, “I used to be quite the nomad.” He said fondly, looking over his collections.

Honey cocked her head and ran through her internal dictionary, wondering what a nomad was and made a note to ask Cal later. “Which ones your favorite?” She asked.

He held up his old white mug. “This one.” He turned it around and slid it over the counter to her, “Eddie got that for me on our first camping trip to Beaver’s Creek.” He smiled at the cup as she looked at the nature scene on the side, reminding her of the paintings Bob Ross did on PBS sometimes.

“I bet it was lovely.” She said, never really having been anywhere with her family, besides coming here.

Wayne chuckled, “Yeah, I hadn’t seen him smile so much since he came to live with me. I think that’s where we really bonded.” He nodded down at his cup.

Honey looked back up into Wayne’s eyes, wondering the stories he knew, the things he’d seen happen just in the trailer park alone, not to mention in the countless hours he’d spent watching Eddie grow up. “He’s like your own, huh?” She asked.

Wayne nodded, “Yeah, he is,” he took a breath in, spying an old picture of the two of them in the hallway, “He’s my boy. Y’know lots of people think no one can love a kid as much as a parent could—but… some parents just don’t love their kids enough.” He sighed taking a sip.

Honey nodded, “I’ll drink to that.” She sipped her warm brew, the scalding water barely touching her mouth before she tilted the cup back down.

Wayne chuckled, “I reckon those kids are just like your own, huh?”

Honey froze before shrugging, “I mean, we all gotta take care of each other. Juns been taking care of me a long long time, too.”

Wayne nodded with a grunt of agreement, “Well, around here, the neighborhood, when one of us needs something we’re all pretty good about helpin, Y’know? Like Margie down the road, I wouldn’t have been able to take Eddie when I did if it wasn’t for her.” He nodded, “He woulda gone to some boys home in Ohio.” He shook his head at the thought.

“But, uh, I wanted to give you this,” he took a scrap of paper that was stuck to the fridge and held it out between his fingers. “If Jun’s not around when you need him, got a leaky roof or need someone ran off,” he looked at her pointedly, “Call us. Even if it’s from your front door.” He made to hand it over to her before spotting a pen and scribbling down another number on the flip side— “And this is Margie’s number. Use it, missy. You’d be doing her a favor, really.” He clicked the pen closed on the counter and passed the paper to her.

Honey took it from him, looking at the clear numbers printed on the lined paper. She opened and closed her mouth for a moment unsure what to say, worried about what this meant about Wayne Munson, he seemed to have good intentions, but she knew lots of people seemed nice. “Oh, I—“

“—S’The least I can do, you been cookin’ my boy supper ‘most every night now, I’m hearing.” He said casually.

Honey balked, “Oh! Uh, yeah, is that-is that okay?” She asked unsurely. Eddie was 19, right? Was he going to get in trouble? Was she going to get in trouble?

Wayne smiled, “Yeah, of course, sweetheart, and if he’s ever over there too much, you’re allowed to run ‘em off, I know food ain’t cheap.” He chuckled and sipped. Honey could breathe easier after that, cracking a smile and taking a drink of her coffee even though it burned the roof of her mouth.

She set the mug down, “Thank you, Mr Wayne. If y’ever want a hot meal you can always come round for supper—or breakfast.” He nodded in gratitude at her offer. “And Eddie’s no bother, really. He’s… real nice to have around.” She smiled reassuringly.

Wayne nodded, “I’ve heard nothing but good things about your family, especially you—“

Their attention both went to the hallway, where a clatter and a couple clumsy thumps resounded. Wayne sighed, raising his mug to his mouth, “He’s awake.”

Honey’s heart stopped at the sound of a door getting thrown open, heavy steps running down the hall, Eddie’s bare abdomen on display as he tugged a shirt over his head, “Honey! What are you doing here?” Eddie asked, wide eyed and frazzled despite the puffiness around his glossy eyes. His hair was more wild than usual and Honey wanted nothing more than reach out and fix it for him.

“Oh, I was just, um—“

“—Where’re manners, Ed? And your pants!” Wayne pointed at the boys boxers. Eddie looked down and bolted, running back to his room as Honey giggled behind her mug.

“It doesn’t end, girl. It doesn’t end.” He shook his head in amusement, watching his boy fumble around in his room for some pants.

Just as she was opening her mouth to bid him a good day, a small voice hollered from the trailer next door, “Honey!!!” She rolled her eyes and sighed.

“Go ahead and take it with you, I know where you live.” Wayne raised his cup in farewell, a chuckle behind his words as Honey raised hers in thanks and eased out the door to start her day.

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

At the beginning of the week, Jun announced he’d be taking more jobs out of town for the extra money, meaning overnight stays. He’d chosen to tell Honey in front of the kids, knowing her reaction would be less explosive, her narrowed eyes and set jaw the only signs of tension. Jun avoided her gaze and took a bite of the tater tot casserole.

A thick silence stretched before Janie tentatively broke it by clearing her throat, “So.. picture day…” Janie mentioned as she stared at her plate.

Aaron nodded with a full mouth, “Oh, yeah, s’comin’ up!” He dusted off his hands and walked over to his bag that sat abandoned on the floor next to the front door and a pile of shoes. “—And parent teacher conferences.” Cal mentioned.

Honey and Jun shared a look across the table before Aaron returned and handed the papers to Jun to look over. “It’s only one night of conferences?” Jun questioned as he read the sheet. “For all three schools?” He flipped it over to find the back of the page blank, and flipped it back over to read through it again. “The 20th!” He said in a panic before looking over at the wall calendar depicting different national parks for each month. “I’m s’posed to go out on a job! I’ll be gone for three days…” he mentioned before meeting Honey’s eye again.

The girl’s face turned to stone, “You mean to tell me—“

“I didn’t know this was happening! Or else I wouldn’t have said I’d go!” He urged before passing the paper down the line of children til it came to Honey, who gave Jun a weary look before looking over it herself.

“What’s… lee—lie…lee—see—“

Cal walked over and squatted, putting his head almost against Honeys to spot the troublesome word and uttered, “Leisure, like no rush, no hurry.” He explained, pointing at the sentence, “All parents and guardians are invited to visit teachers and classrooms to discuss the performance of their students at their own leisure, 5-7:30.” He read.

Honey nodded along, not daring to look over at Jun as the telltale heat crept up her neck and cheeks. “Thank you, Callie.” She whispered as he went back to his seat and she read the next page about picture day. “So I have an hour and a half to see…” she looked at her fingers and counted, “like, what, 15 teachers?” She asked incredulously, though no one bothered to correct her.

Jun shrugged before resting his face in his hands and dragging his fingers through his brown hair. “I dunno what to tell you, sister—“

“—You can tell your boss you made a mistake.” She suggested, “You can’t make me go by myself!

“I can’t do that, I’ll look like a flake! You don’t have to go see all of them—“

Honey scoffed and shook her head, “Of course I do, Jun.” She muttered as she looked over the sizes and prices of each package of pictures as a knock sounded at the door. Aaron lurched out of his seat to answer it, relief flooding him when he saw it was Eddie.

“Hey, man!” He greeted as he pushed open the screen door for his friend, “So glad you’re here.” He breathed as Eddie stepped inside and peeled off his jacket. The evening air was cold this time of year, the long bridge of his nose tinted pink as proof. Eddie’s eyes fell on Honey’s and he smiled widely, “Glad I could make it.”

The corner of her mouth lifted in a smile, her chest loosening at his presence. She made to stand but was quickly waved off by Eddie, who already eased his way to the counter with his empty plate. “Go ahead and eat, Honey, I can get it.”

She watched him move around her kitchen with familiarity she loved to see, scooping his helping onto the plate left out for him in the near empty casserole dish, ‘the big one for the big kids, the small one for the little’ns’ as she’d told him.

In no time, he’d settled in his seat between her and Aaron, their knees bumping and settling against each other—the touch familiar and welcomed by both of them.

“What’d I miss?” He breathed as he stabbed his fork into a tot.

“Jun’s leaving!” Terry chirped through a full mouth.

“And Honeys pissed!” Tommy finished.

“Thomas Lee!” Honey seethed as she dropped her fork.

Jun reached over and thumped the boy on the forehead “C’mon now, not in front of your sister.”

“ ‘scuse me for wanting them to have manners.” Honey mumbled and resumed her eating.

“—and I’m not leaving. I’m just going to work for a couple days.” Jun shrugged and only glanced at Eddie to let him know he was speaking to him.

Eddie nodded, no reply coming to mind before Janie spoke up, “And Honey has to go to the open house by herself. Not to mention we have nothing to wear for pictures.” She sighed, her lack of wardrobe her only problem lately.

Honey dropped her fork again and sighed into her hands, rubbing her eyes and temples before standing up and walking to the kitchen, putting away the leftovers and wiping her hands on her shirt when she finished.

“Airn. Please take care of the dishes tonight.” She asked as she padded to the laundry room to switch the loads. “Anyone seen my cigarettes?” She asked as she made her way to the room she shared with her sister and baby brothers most days.

Eddie’s eyes shot to Aaron, who bit his lip as he rose to cross the room in two quiet, giant steps, setting the crumpled carton on top of the fridge where she typically kept them, and darted back to his place. The children giggled through full mouths and clacking forks, even Jun smirked at his brother’s antics as Aaron hollered, “Aren’t they on the fridge?”

Honey appeared a second later with her robe slung around her frame and some socks on her feet. “Thanks.” She sighed, grabbing them up as she passed and walked out the door.

No one seemed to bat an eyelash at her sudden departure, but Eddie could only eye the food she took two bites of, and the bread she hadn’t yet touched. Aaron noticed where Eddie’s focus lay. He nudged his elbow with his own and nodded towards the door when Eddie looked at him.

“Go to her.” He whispered as Janie told the table a tale from the cafeteria.

Eddie looked at the door, then her plate, and then back to his friend. “You sure? I don’t wanna bother her if she’s upset.”

“Honey can’t be bothered by the likes of you, now get out there and make her smile.” Aaron encouraged as Eddie nodded and then stood.

He grabbed her plate and fork before leaning against the door to open it, the cool night air blowing his hair back as it caught the door and swung it back a little too harshly, slapping the side of the house.

Honey whirled around, with a gasp, Eddie’s eyes and mouth round in surprise as he froze with her plate in hand. “Shit, I’m so sorry, that’s my bad.” He chuckled wearily as he set down her plate and closed the door with a click, his heart pounding up into his throat.

“S’okay.” She said quietly as he sat down on the step next to her.

“You, uh, you okay?” He asked with a gentle nudge to her bare knee with his own. She sighed heavily and nodded with a tense smile, “Mhm.”

Honey was curled over herself, her hands on either side of her neck in an attempt to calm herself. Eddie spotted the red welted scratches on the back of her neck where she’d been busy with her nails.

“Hey,” Eddie said, turning to her, “I don’t want you to lie to me, we’re friends, remember?”

Her eyes darted away before she nodded, “I’ll be okay. Just… A lot...” She sighed and shook her head at the loss of words.

“Overwhelmed?” He asked and she nodded in relief when he found the word she was looking for.

“Yes! Yes, that’s exactly how I’m feeling.” She nodded again before staring out at the grass. “Real overwhelmed.”

“Y’know Aaron could watch the kids for you while you go?” He mentioned offhandedly. “Put him to work.” He nudged her again with his elbow and smiled when she chuckled.

“He’ll put Janie in charge and disappear for hours, I already know.” She rolled her eyes and opened her sorry pack and slid out a cigarette, almost flat like it had been sat on. She gently pressed the creased sides and rounded it out before digging out her lighter and flicking it to life.

“I think I can swing it,” she said after a minute, her cigarette between her lips as she lit it, “—gotta keep my eye on the clock, s’all. Just— more worried about—“ she sighed and hid her face in her hands.

“What? C’mon, Hun, you can tell me. Let me help!” He offered with a kind hand on her arm. She lowered her hands and eyed him as she took a drag. “You want a cigarette?” She asked, holding out her pack.

Eddie tsked and gently lowered her hand before stroking her knuckles tenderly. “No, thanks,” his syrupy eyes shone in the blue evening light, hopeful and soft just for her. “C’mon.” He urged quietly.

She released a breath, and nodded, “I… ain’t got much to wear. And I don’t exactly look like a grown up—or sound smart like one.” She shook her head. “Doctors, teachers—mail men—“ she rolled her eyes, “It’s always ‘where’s your mom?’.” She chuckled and shook her head again, “I look like a child.” She rolled her eyes in annoyance before taking another draw.

Eddie shook his head insistently, his eyes practically bugging out, “You do not!”

Honey narrowed her eyes at him and shook her head, but Eddie wouldn’t accept that, “No! No, you probably just think that cause you see yourself in the same stuff every day. Stuff you probably don’t even like, huh?” He appraised her figure appreciatively, “You’re gorgeous, sweetheart, that’s not a well kept secret,” he chuckled wearily, as if it was a casual compliment, “I bet you just need to feel more comfortable in your own skin, Y’know? Feel more …like you?”

She nodded thoughtfully, “Yeah, I s’pose that’s true, but—“ she shook her head and smoked again, “I just don’t have the means right now. I’ll have to borrow a sweater from Aaron or something—and don’t even get me started on what the kids are gonna wear for their pictures.” She shook her head again, the thought seemingly pained her, clamping her eyes shut.

“I won’t.” Eddie quietly promised. “But I do think I know someone that can help.” He smiled, taking her hand in his, for real this time. And from the look in his eye, Honey knew she could trust Eddie to come through.

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

A couple days later after school, Eddie showed up with a large box in his arms and a smile on his face. “Special delivery.” He presented it as if he were a lowly jester entertaining the queen of his heart.

“What’s all this business?” She asked as she hefted it onto the counter and opened it up to find pastel pinks and blues and yellows, some denim peeking through from the bottom.

“Some stuff a few friends of mine decided they could part with! Gareth’s sister just had another growth spurt, or at least that’s what Ms Emerson said. And then, uh, Mike’s older sister Nancy added a few items to the cause!” He rambled as she took out each item, neglecting the sizzling pan on the stove, an extra toasty grilled cheese almost screaming for attention until Cal stepped over and saved the day.

Honey dropped the pink cardigan she was admiring once she smelled the burning and rushed over to her brother, “Aw, shit—just put that one on my plate, would you? I wanna go through these, if you don’t mind—“

“Go on!” Cal waved her away with the spatula and a smile.

Honey practically bounced on over with a giddy grin as Janie pulled out a lovely blouse. “Jane, that’d be perfect with that one green skirt of yours!” Honey urged. Janie blushed and agreed before she took off to go try it on.

“There’s a, uh—“ Eddie cleared his throat nervously, “—a, uh, dress! There’s a dress Nancy threw in there I thought you might—maybe you’d like it.” He shrugged.

Honey met his eye and blushed deeply, digging around towards the bottom to find a lovely denim blue dress. It had white buttons all the way down the front with clusters of pale pink and yellow flowers dotting the fabric every so often.

“Oh, Eddie—“ she sighed, as if it were brand new from the store and worth a pretty penny. She looked up at him with shining eyes and didn’t hesitate to wrap her arms around his torso, to lay her head on his chest.

Eddie wrapped his arms around her, resting his head on hers to soak up the moment. He caught a glimpse of Cal and Aaron in the kitchen just a few feet away, smug smiles adorning their faces as they watched. “Thank you, so so much.” She mumbled.

“You’re so so welcome.” He dipped his head lower to her ear, “You’re gonna look perfect.” He promised before he released her. “It’s all yours, Honey.”

She smiled and nodded appreciatively, keeping the brimming tears at bay, enough to keep them from notice as she folded up the items she’d taken out and placed them back inside, scooping up the box to head to her room with a soft and quiet smile on her lips.

Eddie turned to Cal and Aaron as they pretended horribly to not have been watching the entire exchange. They whistled a tune as they went about buttering bread for the small skillet to toast before glancing up with knowing smirks, only to find Eddie’s stare locked on them with a bashful smile of his own tucked into the corner of his mouth.

“What?” He asked with a raised shoulder.

Cal simply shook his head as Aaron arched a brow at Eddie, “Where’s my box, Munson?”

Eddie’s smile dropped before he raised his middle finger and Cal giggled as he flipped a sandwich and Honey returned. “Eddie! Put your finger down.” She scolded before she grabbed it in her fist and shook it in passing to the other side of the house as she scoured for a laundry basket not filled with crap.

“Shit, sorry!” He blushed at the casualness of her touch, at her sharp tone with him. He wanted to hear it again, to see that pink flush in her cheeks and the shock in her eyes— it was just too cute.

She gave him a sidelong glance with lips folded inward to stifle her giggle at his next slip, disappearing for a moment before returning with a basket on her hip. “Next time I won’t let you off so easy, alright? Aaron don’t get away with it neither.” She nodded at Aaron who vehemently nodded his head.

“Oh, yeah, man, she damn near broke my finger last year.” Aaron tsked as Cal nodded, having bore witness to the event.

“To be fair, you kept doin it after I told you to quit.” She amended from the laundry room as she switched the loads over. She put her shirt over her nose, the sulphuric scent of the corroded pipes smothering her senses in the cramped room.

Aaron raised a shoulder and let it drop as he sliced the sandwiches and plated them up, glancing up as Cal searched the cabinets. “Honey, is there any tomato soup?” He asked while Aaron gagged.

“You’re fuckin gross—“

“Airn!” Honey seethed on her way back through, cutting between her brothers to open the next cabinet over to reveal the two cans of dented soup.

“Sorry!” He flinched and ducked to avoid a hit that wouldn’t come as she passed him to retrieve the smaller children from the boys room.

“Have fun with your hot cream of tomato water.” Aaron taunted in a whisper as he set the plates on the table. Cal stuck his finger up at his brother before turning his focus to finding a pot for his soup.

Eddie snickered as he followed after Aaron, sitting down on the floor as he stripped off his jacket to toss on the couch. Junior came out of the hallway and locked eyes with Eddie as he dried his hair on the way to grab a beer.

“Hun!” Jun called over his shoulder as he peered inside the fridge, “did you drink my last beer?”

Aaron balked before he spotted Honey coming from the hallway with James on her hip and Frankie and Randy at her flank. Honey’s eyes cut to Aaron’s before looking at Jun. “—Yeah, m’sorry.” She blew it off.

Eddie’s brows rose, finding it interesting that she drank beer, a sweet little thing like her.

Jun shut the fridge, and cut a look Honey‘s way before looking over at Aaron, who busied himself with his sandwich and avoided eye contact. “Alright. Well, I’ll go grab some at the store. Don’t do it again—please.” His last word was clipped like he hadn’t remembered it at first, but the effort was genuine.

Honey sighed and nodded, “Yes, s—I mean—Sorry. Won’t happen again.” She nodded at Jun and when he turned around she glanced at Aaron with a tense mouth before setting James in her lap and tearing up pieces from the sandwich on the small plate in front of him.

Jun sighed as he grabbed his keys and headed out the door. Frankie and Randy ran laps around the table, ducking under Aaron’s outstretched legs that rested on the end of the table closest to Janie, who wrinkled up her nose at his socked feet and turned her back to him.

“So, Callie and I were wondering—“

“Why’re you dragging your brother into this?” Honey asked, ready for a bombshell to drop.

“Cause Aaron and I were wondering…” Cal began for Aaron, “If we could stay late after school on Friday to play D&D with Eddie and the rest of the club.”

“—Hellfire.” Aaron smiled.

“—do y’all really worship the devil? Cause that’s what Linda Sealy told me when I mentioned you were our neighbor, but I don’t believe it.” Janie said idly before taking a bite.

Eddie almost choked as he drinks, finding Honey’s eyes wide and locked on him, “No! No, there’s no devil stuff. Just mythical creatures and monsters to slay—figuratively.” He chuckles airily before taking another bite.

Honey looks to Cal, wondering what figuratively meant, but decided to ask later when Eddie was gone, except Janie took it upon herself to chime in and be helpful, “That means pretend.” She smiled at Honey before her older sister could glower and avert her eyes. She felt Eddie’s gaze on her pink cheeks.

“Thanks.” Honey mumbles before James flips her plate onto the ground, cracking the ceramic. She only sighs in response as everyone else yelps in surprise and James begins to cry. “Take him.” She mumbled to Janie as she passed the babe over and stood to retrieve the pieces.

It didn’t appear to be a big mess, a few shards missing from the plate that she easily located and placed atop the broken dish and walked toward the kitchen to discard them—until she stepped on the last piece. “Goddammit!” She cried out, dropping the broken pieces in the sink and striking her fist against the counter.

“Oh shit!” Aaron said softly, making no move to help his sister. Instead everyone watched as Honey twisted around and plucked the long shard from the ball of her foot and inspected it with minimal tears.

Eddie rushed to her and took a glance at her foot before turning on the tap. “Let’s get you cleaned up—you have a first aid kit?” He asked. Honey leaned against the counter, holding her foot with a slight pout as she shook her head in response. “That’s okay!” He assured. “Wayne’s got one, some alcohol to clean it too.” He reached over, wet a towel, handing it to her to press on her foot while he twisted off the water.

He headed for the door, “Tie that around your foot—I’ll go grab it.”

“—Uh-uh, you’re taking her with you.” Janie said as he herded the smallest and most curious kids out of the room with Tommy leading the pack, “We don’t need that blood and screamin’ over here.”

Aaron shrugged as if to say ‘fair enough’ and turned to Honey with outstretched arms, “Alright, come on.” As he stepped forward she stepped back, “Hell no, you’ll drop me—I bet I can hobble on over—“ She claimed, taking a tentative step with her heel before hunching over and clenching her jaw with a guttural growl, “—jus-just get me over there.” She lifted her arm to sling around her brother and without thinking reached for Eddie too.

His shocked reaction faded quickly as he rushed to her side, resting a reassuring hand on her lower back, the feeling ignited the embers that simmered in the depths of her belly. She picked up one bare and scarred leg for her brother to cradle before looking to Eddie for quick confirmation and jumping when he nodded.

Cal held the door open as both Aaron and Eddie waddled through the door. Honey found that focusing on Eddie’s grip on her thigh took away from the sharp, stinging pain in her sole. She glanced down at the way his fingers dug into the plush of her thigh, close to the back of her knee, but higher than Aaron would dare to go.

Eddie savored the closeness too, each step through the yard made his shoulders buzz deeper and deeper beneath the skin her arm draped over. Her hand gripped his shoulder, her arm around him providing a certain type of relief he’d never really felt before. Maybe once, a long time ago.

“Careful up the steps,” Eddie uttered as they treaded carefully up the porch and to the door. “Here we are, get her into the bathroom down the hall.” Eddie instructed as they hobbled through the house.

Honey caught a glimpse of Eddie’s open door, the mess littering the floor and assortment of crushed beer cans tossed near a wastebasket in the corner of the room. The walls were barely visible, covered with memorabilia from his years collecting and hoarding away things he found interesting and representative of him.

A sharp turn into the bathroom, and she was being dropped onto the toilet. Eddie kneeled in front of her, tenderly gripping her ankle before he pushed her leg back to get another look. The angle sent his throat bobbing and he knew he needed to avert his eyes quickly. The blood had seeped out and covered her foot, painting her sole red.

“I think I’m gonna—“ Aaron began slowly, his face paling as he stepped out of the bathroom, “I should—“ He didn’t get to finish before he broke into a run out of the house, the screen door slamming shut with his departure.

Honey’s heart warmed at the idea of being alone with Eddie in such close proximity, despite the sharp throbbing in her foot.

“I dunno how he ever worked on a farm.” She rolled her eyes and Eddie chuckles at her spirit.

“We, uh, need to keep this up so it stops bleeding so much.” He suggested, placing her foot on the sink. “Keep it above your heart.” He informed her before walking back to the kitchen to grab the kit and rubbing alcohol.

Eddie had used it more times than he could count, not even being able to remember when Wayne stopped patching him up because he knew how to do it himself. What started off as gnarly scraped knees evolved into bruised knuckles and bloody noses, Wayne’s only critique being ‘you gotta learn when to stop running your mouth, boy, or at least learn when to hit first.’

“Okay, sweetheart,” he started back inside the bathroom, setting the kit in the sink and opening it up before sitting on the edge of the tub again. “Gimme your foot.” He slapped his thigh, the sound making her flinch before she tentatively obliged him, wiping stray tears of her unwavering cheeks.

Eddie looked back up at her when he placed his hand on her ankle and calf, “How’re you holding up?” He asked softly before carefully untying the now red stained rag.

Honey sighed, “I’m holdin’, that’s about it.” She closed her eyes as the fabric peeled off of the sticky skin, the wound only weeping a bit more. She hated that she worried more about the state of her ever-bare feet than the cut he doctored, the cracks on her heels and calluses on her toes, the dirt settled in the wrinkles and craters.

“Hey! S’not as bad as I thought.” He smiled at her and leaned over to inspect it some more before reaching behind him to turn on the tub. “I don’t think I’ll have to stitch you up, but ‘m still gonna have to clean it,” he said carefully and raised the bottle of antiseptic in warning.

Honey nodded and turned her body towards the tub, finding Eddie reaching out for her and guiding her over to sit with him.

She turned her foot over, dirty and cracked and even worse now that the blood was caked into the fine lines of her worse for wear soles.

Lovely. She thought as her non injured foot sank into the warm water and tingles melted down her shoulders.

“S’gonna hurt.” He warned, his eyes round and worried as he poised the bottle above the cut.

“I-I know. I can do it, y’know? If that’s okay.” She said quietly.

Eddie nodded and happily handed the bottle over, relieved he didn’t have to be the one to hurt her, even if it was with the best intentions.

Honey took a breath and poured it over the horizontal gash, wincing with a hiss as it dripped down her foot and into the tub. Eddie found his hand on her back sweeping loving circles between her shoulder blades. She handed the bottle over to him and he patted her back. “Atta girl,” he praised softly before standing up to lay out a bandage and gauze and obtain a washcloth.

Honey’s brain emptied like a pitcher on a hot day, her mouth dry and prickly as he settled on the toilet again, his elbows on his knees. “Here you go,” he said, holding the rag out. “Wash up.”

Honey nodded and took it, holding it under the running water and feeling her shoulders sag in relief at the sensation of the warmth running over her wrist and arm. “Your water gets so warm.” She said idly.

Eddie smirked, “Well, yeah, there’s only two people living here, so.” He shrugged. His biggest complaint was the water pressure, not the temperature.

Honey chuckled and began washing her foot, the shallow water tinting pink until she reached down and pulled the plug. “I can’t even imagine only living with one other person.” She said.

Eddie raised his eyebrows, “Really? Well, I guess I can see that since you’ve always had siblings, but, uh, do you ever…” he trailed off as he searched for the right words and Honey turned off the water and looked over her shoulder at him.

“Ever…?”

Eddie chuckled nervously as he ducked out of the room to retrieve a towel, finding her facing him when he returned. “Uh,” he kneeled before her and carefully dried both her feet, his hand gentle on her heel and happy for any excuse to touch her, “Like, think about it? Living on your own?”

Honey’s brow furrowed, “And leave my family?” She asked.

“No! No, I just meant—figuratively—“ he eyed her carefully, hoping he hadn’t upset her.

Her face softened and she nodded, “Figuratively,” She confirmed, and Eddie smiled and nodded for her to continue, “I ain’t given much thought to it much before. But now that I am…” she shrugged, “I dunno, I think being alone I’d.. well I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.” She chuckled at her lap before looking back up at Eddie with realization on her face. “I’d take long showers, that’s for damn sure. And I’d have my own soap, that no one else uses or squeezes out for bubbles. And I’d keep the water so hot, the room’s full of steam—have to crack a window so I don’t pass out.” She chuckled as she delved farther into the fantasy— dreaming of hot water that didn’t need the kitchen sink turned on to start.

Eddie’s smile shined at her, still on his knees before her and holding her feet hostage in the towel as he listened and hung on her every word. “Y’know.. you could… utilize the facilities while you’re here..” he suggested, though Honey’s head cocked in confusion, “—you could shower here if you want to, I mean—“ he shook his head at himself, he must sound like a condescending prick, “I could go ask your sister for your pajamas— if you wanted.” He stopped himself before the babbles could trickle further out of his mouth.

Honey looked surprised but not against the idea, running over her mental list of things to do before her—the kids went to bed. Dinner was gone, baths are taken, homework is done—lunches can wait til later— “Okay.” She said with a nod. “If you’re sure it’s okay with you.” She said. “And-and your uncle?” She asked unsurely.

Eddie barked a laugh, “Wayne would tell you the same thing, you’re not gonna get in trouble.” He chuckled, though he didn’t know just how true it is—how fearful she is of trouble.

She nodded again, “Okay, well, Janie’ll know where my stuff is.” She said tentatively, worried about what Janie would pick, the panties she’d send, if she’d bother to fold them up into her shirt and shorts like a decent human being.

Eddie nodded and raced to the door, “Use whatever you want!” He called over his shoulder, smiling when he heard the shower turn on and the curtain squeak closed.

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Eddie was relieved to find Janie on the porch, taking out the garbage when he asked her to get Honey some clothes to change into. Janie grinned widely and nodded before hurrying back inside, knowing just the outfit Honey should wear.

She brought him a large paper bag and handed it over with the same smile she left with.

Eddie gave his most polite smile, the one he gives his teacher on the way past her desk when he’s late, and took long strides back across his yard.

Honey heard the thump of his shoes climbing the steps and her heart raced as she rinsed the soap from her body, holding her hair up on her head to save the hot water.

The soap was Eddie’s, it had to be. The drug store suave smelled of sweet citrus, the same smell that wafted off of Eddie every late evening porch step conversation they shared, wrapped up in the comforting cigarette smoke that clung to her wherever she went. It used to remind her of home, but now it reminded her of him.

Little did she know, the smell of cigarettes did the same thing to him, along with the smell of her lemon verbena.

She turned and let the hot water wash down her front, tilting her head back to let it run over her neck and shoulders. The light knock at the sliding door startled her from her peace and Eddie’s voice sounded through the barrier.

“Honey? I, uh, got your clothes for you. Should I just sit ‘em out here or?” Before he can finish speaking, the water shuts off and the shower curtain screeches open. He debates repeating himself as the silence stretches between them, the rustling of her towel smoothing over her body was barely audible before he heard her grab the handle and slide open the door enough to stick her head through, water droplets still clinging to her face and baby hairs.

“Thank you…” she whispers and crinkles her brow at the paper grocery sack before accepting it and sliding the door closed and peering inside of it

Eddie was stuck in the same spot with the mental image of Honey clad in only a towel, practically glowing from the hot shower, as he heard her crinkle the bag and cuss to herself. “You.. okay?” He asked tentatively.

“Yeah! Yeah, ‘m fine—just—Jane.” She grumbled.

Eddie chuckled softly and leaned against the wall outside of the bathroom, “What about her?” He asked.

Honey scoffed as she dressed, “She gave me her clothes, not mine.” Is all she said before she looked herself over in the mirror, feeling ridiculous. She’d make Janie regret this later.

“Too small?” He asked as Honey stuffed her dirty clothes in the sack and opened the door, her gaze on her feet.

“Somethin’ like that.” She mumbled as Eddie took her in with wide eyes and pink cheeks.

The nightgown was white and hit Honey about mid thigh, blue flowers dotted the material, her womanly curves rounding at the sides of the flowy skirt and a precious blue ribbon sat in the middle of the neckline, right below the cleavage on display. She sighed and looked up at him, his silence unnerving.

“I know, I look ridiculous.” She muttered as she tugged at the neckline and hobbled on down the hall, pulling at the hem next.

It takes a minute for Eddie’s brain to catch up before he’s following her into the living room, “No! No, you don’t.” Eddie offered as he stepped up next to the door. His eyes were wide and he struggled to keep them from relishing the exposed skin he’d never gotten to admire before.

Honey’s face burned in embarrassment before she met his eye and softened. “Promise?”

Eddie nodded and his eyes flickered down to her bodice before they snapped back up again. “Honey, I don’t think you could ever look ridiculous— and I’ve seen you with pop cans in your hair.” He smiles warmly.

Honey chuckles and looks at her feet, one foot bandaged and wrapped in gauze, “Thank you, Eddie. For everything.” She looks back up at him.

He nods and sends her a smile, “Happy to help.”

Her heart sinks a little at his casual tone, “What are friends for, right?” She asked.

Eddie’s face fell and he tilted her chin up to look at him, “Hey.” He appraised her wide eyes, her shock at the touch he gave her, “Thought we were… more than that.” His eyes flickered down to her lips.

She swallowed and her insides melted and pooled in her tummy, “Real—“

Her words were cut short by the harsh beating on his door making her jump away, behind Eddie. With a furrowed brow, he yanked the door open to find Jun’s fuming face staring at him, looking behind him to find Honey.

The man’s eyes bulged as he took one step inside and reached for his sister’s wrist, “James is crying, time to go.” He said lowly, giving her no time to say bye to Eddie or get her feet moving quick enough.

She tripped over her own bare feet and hissed as he pulled her down the steps and flung her toward the house, “Get inside, I’ll be there in a minute.” He said to her, though she didn’t look back at him as she hobbled inside with silent tears rolling down her cheeks.

Eddie worried about Jun’s judgment, quick to try to clear the air, “We were just—“

“I don’t wanna hear it.” Jim said, sliding the cigarette from behind his ear and digging a lighter from his shirt pocket. Eddie looked him over curiously before the man lit the cigarette and eyed him. “I know your type, Munson.”

Eddie wanted to roll his eyes but knew it was in his best interest to remain respectful. “And what’s that?”

Jun chuckled and exhaled his smoke, “C’mon, now. I ain’t stupid—“ he took a couple steps towards Eddie as he appraised him one more time, “I know all about the little operation you’re running out of your house. I know that your uncle either don’t know about it or he just don’t care anymore to say nothing.” He began with an eerie calm, “I know that you come around cause you like my sister, you like the free food, hell—you may actually like Aaron, but you don’t fool me.” He said and took another hit, “Honey’s had a lot of boys come around, lots of boys just like you that take what they came for and toss her to the side like trash—and I’m telling you, it ain’t happenin’ again. Not while I’m around.” The man’s eyes almost glowed with the quiet rage rumbling behind them.

“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stick to your side of the property line and say hi to Aaron in the hall, but you’ll stay the hell away from my sister.” He points a finger of finality in Eddie’s face before he turns to leave.

The hurt and anger swelling in Eddie’s chest erupted through his mouth, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, man!” He calls out desperately, “She’s—it's not like that! I didn’t even touch her!”

Jun stops and turns to him, curiosity gleaming in his eye, “Then what is it? What is it like, loverboy?” He asked, stalking back towards him.

Eddie’s words catch in his throat before he forces them out, “I—I just want her to be happy! I want to make her happy!”

Jun’s face softens at this and he nods, in understanding or for Eddie to continue, he didn’t know, but Eddie kept talking, “I like her—“

“You don’t know anything about her.” Jun said.

Eddie froze and sighed dejectedly, taking a moment before speaking again, “I know that she’s kind—and selfless,” he began, winning Jun’s attention, “I know she didn’t finish school, but I also know that she knows almost everything about flowers,” Jun’s mouth twitched, as if threatening a smile, “I know that she stayed up all night to help Janie with that history project— that she figured out how to stretch one loaf of bread for the rest of the weeks lunches—and!” He smiled, “—I know that she guessed the answer to the winning puzzle on Wheel of Fortune last week.”

“—Highly Trained Professionals, would’ve won a trip to Hawaii— she told me all about it.” Jun said softly.

Eddie nodded, “Well, I was there, man, and the look on her face was…” he shakes his head, “—literally priceless.” He met Jun’s eye again and it seemed to him that Jun knew exactly what he meant.

Jun nodded, eyes searching for words he didn’t know how to say, “I’m.. I’m sorry.” He spoke after a few moments of silence, taking a drag on his cigarette. “I jus—I seen this before, Y’know? Back home.” His face hardened.

Eddie nodded, the vagueness eating at him a bit. For a girl that came off so simple, the more Eddie got to know her, he found Honey wasn’t simple at all. “I… I actually don’t know. I want—“ he sighed and shook his head, “—nothing.” He gave up.

Jun crossed his arms and nodded for him to continue. “Go on. What do you want?”

Eddie looks at him and shrugs, “I just… I want to be someone she can open up to—someone she can talk to. I can hardly get her to talk—and when I do, there’s never enough time, Y’know?” He gives a sorry smile and sits down on his porch steps. When he looks back up, Jun is walking away to the Haller house, much to Eddie’s confusion.

But when Jun comes back with a chair, and the brown bag he went to the store for, it furthers his confusion. The man sits down across from him with a deep pull of his cigarette and a pop of a Pabst, “Continue.” He exhales his smoke out of the side of his mouth.

Eddie gapes like a fish out of water for a moment before finding his footing, “O—Well, alright, well, uh—“ he chuckles, “I… wanna date her.” He nodded simply.

Jun guffawed, “That’s cute, bud.”

Eddie crinkled his brow, “What?”

Jun shook his head and pulled out his full carton of cigarettes, holding it out to Eddie. The boy glanced from the box back up to him before reaching out and taking it. He spotted “J. J. H.” written in a scraggly hand across the top before he flipped the lid open and pulled one out to light.

“Nothin, I just…” Jun takes a drag and runs his fingers through his hair. “I just got you all wrong, I guess.” He handed Eddie a beer and blew air through his mouth in a heavy sigh before he slumped forward.

“S’all good.” Eddie shrugged. “It happens more often than not around here.”

Jun seemed to grimace at that before he nodded, “I know all about that.” He looked at the ground contemplatively. “Aaron told you much? About where we come from? About Honey?”

Eddie hesitated before he shook his head, “Not.. a lot.” Aaron had mentioned his time as a farm hand for a neighbor of theirs, driving tractors from the early morning til dark, working cattle through a chute; giving shots, palpating mama cows, cleaning hooves and stalls—he wasn’t afraid of any work as long as it put money in his pocket. He hadn’t mentioned anything past the farm, and Eddie hadn’t yet asked.

Jun nodded again— rubbing his hand over his mouth before looking up at him again, “Well that’s good—“ he chuckles to himself, “Honey don’t take kindly to people talkin about her. Given our… history… I don’t blame her.” He takes a drag, “I guess.. I s’ppose I could tell you somethin—about myself….but only because—” he takes a long hit and exhales, “…I trust that you’ll use it to your best advantage…”

Eddie perked up and nodded before leaning in intently.

“She’s six years younger ‘n me. So for a while she was… well she was my baby to look after.” He shrugged. “I’m actually the one that named her Honey.” He smiled to his beer, “lots of times we only had bread and honey, and she always wanted more—‘mow nunny’ she’d yell at me. All damn day.” Eddie smiled at the image, “When she was about James’ age, I’d find her up on the counter with her hand in the honey jar.” He looked up at him to meet his eye. “Still catch her sometimes.” He chuckled and Al did Eddie.

Jun inhaled his cigarette sharply and went on,“Our parents were… a little worse for wear, but not too bad at the time. They’re on a buncha shit, I couldn’t even tell you what the drug of choice is anymore. But back in the day it was just pot.”

Eddie swallowed, and nodded gently before taking a hit, thankful for the filter between his fingers to keep him busy.

“Time goes bye different when you’re high, I know how that is,” he gave Eddie a knowing look, “But they left us alone for days on end. Six year old and a newborn without milk—“ he shook his head. “I dunno, I see Terry and I see James and…” he scratches his jaw in thought, “well, I wouldn’t ever leave him in charge of James.” He chuckled and so did Eddie.

“Anyway, couple years after Honey, Aaron came, then with Jane and Cal she was able to help me more, so then Aaron was hers, Janie was mine, and then her and Aaron took charge of Cal,” he chuckled dryly. Then…” he sighed. “Then our mom left.” He tsked and took another drag. Eddie’s heart sank.

“I was fine. Didn’t really like the woman in the first place, but—“ he took another drag, “Honey took it hard. She was seven. I was thirteen. And suddenly she was the mama.”

He raised his shoulder and dropped it, “I mean, she kinda already was, but, after Nadine left— I dunno, maybe I wasn’t alright. Was having more problems with my dad—he started drinking a whole lot more, so I stayed at my cousins a whole lot—spent the weekends, then during the week. I-I really didn’t know what I was leaving her with—I mean, I guess I did—but—“ he groans and runs his hand over his face.

“Anyway, while she was in school, she met this older boy—Riley Phillips, just a couple years younger than me.” He grimaced like the name tasted sour on his tongue. “Anyway, I won’t say a whole lot about him cause I wasn’t there to see it all, but what I do know is—“ he clenched his fist and averted his eyes, “Honey ended up real hurt over him. The way he and his brothers treated her… it just… wasn’t right. And it ended up causing trouble for her at school too. Suddenly everyone in town is talking about Honey ‘the Whore’ Haller, and how she’s caught a disease or pregnant with a Phillips baby but no one knows which one.” He rolled his eyes. “She was only Janie’s age.” He took a toke off his cigarette.

Eddie’s face nearly crumpled before he wiped his hand over his mouth.

Honey ‘the Whore’ Haller.

He couldn’t imagine a whole town whispering about her like that; sweet Honey Haller, the star of every daydream he’s had since meeting her.

Honey; the girl that hummed tv show themes to herself while she folded laundry, the girl that spent one afternoon a week scrubbing the kids shoes so they’d be clean for school, the girl that danced barefoot on the grass in the fading sunset, a baby on her hip and her hand holding tight to the rambunctious toddler that spun and spun around her— the girl that made extra lunches for him and sent smiley face notes and a dessert just because she could.

He shook his head in disbelief, “I can’t believe anyone would say that about her.”

Jun shrugged, “Small towns, big assumptions. Plus our last name wasn’t ever a pleasant one back home. S’nice to be nobody for once in my life.” He scoffed and took one last hit on the cigarette and tossed it. “Besides. There’s a kernel of truth in every lie, ain’t there?” Jun narrowed his eyes as Eddie’s widened.

He didn’t wanna ask the question screaming from the recesses of his brain, so he asked a different one, “Then what happened?”

Jun sighed and nodded, choosing careful words, “Honey came to me and told me her truth— the truth—and Honey ain’t a good liar— I know Aaron took my last beer, she just didn’t want him to get in trouble.” He rolled his eyes and looked back down to the ground, “—anyway. When dad caught wind of what was going around town—“ he shook his head with more vigor and took out another cigarette to light, “—he didn’t believe her. Not like I did. And that night, when dad left and Honey was in bed, I.. well… I did what my dad should’ve done.” He took a drag and Eddie’s mouth gaped.

“I don’t care what nobody said, he was damn near 18! He had no business messin—“ he breathed deeply through flared nostrils and pinched the bridge of his nose and focused on calming his racing heart. “Anyway, before you get too scared—I didn’t kill him.” He chuckled dryly, “But he’s gotta fake knee now.”

Eddie’s mouth quirked up in a shocked smile, his heart a little lighter at the thought.

“Landed me in the pen for a few years. Spent my 21st, 22nd and 23rd birthdays in there. Met some real decent guys. Learned a couple trades—I’m real good at arts and crafts.” He admitted easily, “I’d send the kids stuff home— hand turkeys, Christmas ornaments, maybe some bracelets—that kinda shit. Tried to make sure they didn’t forget me.” He shrugged.

Eddie’s heart clenched thinking about his old man locked up in the state penitentiary for grand theft auto and aggravated assault. He’d never written a letter. Not even called.

“While I was locked up, Honey was too, in a way. That’s when they pulled her out of school—took away her shoes, her records, clothes—everything. I was the only person she could talk to, and I only called once a week.”

Eddie’s jaw dropped, “Are kid—her shoes?? Why?”

“She kept running off.” He groaned and Eddie shook his head in disbelief. “Found her hiding in the trees by the pond one night.” Jun ran his hand over his face and sighed as Eddie recalled that first conversation they’d shared—how Honey mentioned the beautiful tree up around the bend where they weren’t allowed to go.

“My dad was always a yeller. The beating wasn’t so bad when my mom was around. Sometimes the man had a mean streak. But after he met Tracy—started on the crank—“ He shook his head again, his eyes far off and haunted. “It got worse. And after I wasn’t around to take the brunt of his bullshit, he turned to Honey.”

Eddie’s eyes stung with tears and a lump rose in his throat as he nodded in understanding.

“—so after I got on the work program, started sending money home, Honey started saving it. And we hatched a plan.”

Eddie leaned forward intently.

“First time in three years I get to see my boys—first time meeting two of them—and I’m packing them up in the night to go squat at our cousin’s before leaving town.” He said quietly

Eddie shook his head, “You mean, you all… ran away?”

Jun nodded, “Mhm. And now you know a little more about me, isn’t that nice?” He said lightly as he stubbed out his cigarette and gulped down the last of his beer.

Eddie chuckled dryly and nodded, “Thank you… really, man. I appreciate—“

Jun held up a hand to cut him off, “Yeah, we’re not doing that.” He stood from his woven lawn chair and stretched with a groan. “You’re gonna thank me by showing Honey stuff she missed out on. Starting with a date.” He said before turning and leaving, dragging the chair behind him. “Don’t make a liar outta me.” He called.

Eddie stood from his porch, watching him in a mixture of awe and disbelief. “I won’t!” He raised his hand in farewell, his heartbeat fluttering like a hummingbird’s wings. He glanced over to the glowing window he now knew to be Honey’s and saw the stained bed sheet curtain jerk closed.

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