Chapter 17

“Got rid of the smoke smell?”

Brian nodded.

Jake continued to stare ahead of him and slowly lifted the glass to take a sip of tea and lowered it again. “But only temporarily. Once you pick up the habit it permeates everything.”

Brian took a sip of his tea and savored the cold sweetness over his barbed wired throat. He took the moment to gather his thoughts and choose his next words carefully.

“I guess I owe you an apology. I broke your trust.” His apology was cut short by a shake of his uncle’s head and another sip of tea slowly making its way to Jake’s mouth, as though it acted as a barrier between the connection he was trying to make with his uncle.

“If you’re going to recite a generic apology that you think I want to hear, then you’re better off saving your voice.”

Brian sat back against the chair and tried to follow his uncle’s stare, to see what was so interesting to look at. “Suppose I owe you more than that.”