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JAX AND MIKEY
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“LET US HELP YOU WITH those Mrs. O'Donnell,” Mikey said.
Jax and Mikey each took a grocery bag out of their elderly neighbor's trunk.
“Such nice boys. Thank you,” Mrs. O'Donnell said.
They ascended the stairs of the three-story walk-up. Mrs. O'Donnell lived in the apartment on the second floor. Jax and Mikey lived in the apartment on the third.
“I remember when you two barely came up to my knee,” said Mrs. O'Donnell. Jax and Mikey grew up here. They had been neighbors with Mrs. O'Donnell their entire lives.
“Let me get my keys out,” said Mrs. O'Donnell as she dug through her purse.
“Take your time, Mrs. O'Donnell,” Jax said.
“Here they are.”
Mrs. O'Donnell turned the key in the lock and opened her door.
“You boys go ahead.”
Jax and Mikey entered Mrs. O'Donnell's apartment and put the grocery bags on her kitchen table.
“Do you want help putting your groceries away?” Mikey said.
“No, I'll be fine. Thank you.”
Mrs. O'Donnell pulled two dollar bills out of her purse. “Here you go,” she said handing a dollar each to Jax and Mikey. Mrs. O'Donnell tried to pay them whenever they helped her carry in groceries, take out the trash, or shovel her car out in the winter. The two brothers always politely refused to take even a penny.
“No, Ma'am,” Mikey said.
“Yeah, it is our pleasure,” Jax said.
“Such nice boys.”
“Have a good day, Mrs. O'Donnell,” Mikey said as he and Jax left her apartment.
“Say hello to your mother for me.”
“We will,” Jax said.
“Sweet old lady,” Mikey said once they were in the hallway.
“Yeah.”
Jax and Mikey climbed the next flight of stairs to the third floor. As little boys they would slide down the railing.
“Ma, we're home,” Mikey called out as the two entered the apartment.
It wasn't much. A simple two bedroom and one bath unit. And it hadn't changed in thirty years. Same wallpaper, furniture, and decorations. Old school portraits of Jax and Mikey covered one living room wall.
Gwen Crane came out of the kitchen. She moved slowly and appeared gaunt, her hair matted from sleeping. She gave each of her boys a kiss on the cheek.
“Mrs. O'Donnell says hello,” Mikey said.
“That's sweet,” Gwen said.
“How you feeling today, Ma?” Jax said.
“Fine. Just fine. How was work?”
“Good,” Mikey answered. “Busy.”
“I wish you boys could find a job with regular hours.”
“We like our job.”
“And the pay is good,” Jax added.
Jax and Mikey told their mother they worked security at a downtown Boston office building. Mostly the late shift. She had no idea what her boys actually did. Or how violently they carried out their work. If she ever found out, it would crush her.
“Can I fix you something to eat?” she said.
“We ate at IHOP,” Jax replied.
“I know how much you love their pancakes,” she said, pinching Jax's cheeks. Gwen moved between her two boys and sat on the sofa.
“We just came home to check on you,” Mikey said. “We picked up an extra job today. A little security gig on the side.”
Total lie. A lie Mikey justified to protect their mother.
“It's not that I don't appreciate all you boys do. You keep this roof over our heads, food on the table, and pay. . .” her words were interrupted with a coughing fit. The emphysema was getting worse.
“Get her something to drink,” Mikey said as he elbowed Jax.
Jax went into the kitchen and returned with a glass of water. “Here you go, Ma.”
She took the glass and drank. When Gwen finished, she placed it on the coffee table in front of her.
“Thank you, sweetie. Now, as I was saying -”
“Ma, it's okay,” Mikey said.
“Don't interrupt your mother.”
“Yes, Ma'am. Sorry, Ma.”
“I appreciate all you boys do. My medical bills are so high.”
Jax opened his mouth to speak and then shut it when his mother held up her hand.
“You two boys have been such a blessing to me. Since the day you were born. Never thought I would have twin boys.”
Gwen shook her head. “No, never thought I'd have twins. But look at you two. So strong and handsome.”
Mikey rolled his eyes with a slight shake of his head. He was glad he and Jax were fraternal and not identical twins. Jax had a face only their mother could love.
“And you take such good care of me,” she continued. “I do wish you would find yourselves some nice young ladies and settle down. Get married. Give me grandchildren.”
“One day, Ma,” Mikey said.
“I've heard that before,” she said.
Gwen pushed herself up from the couch. Jax and Mikey helped her to her feet.
“I'm going to take a nap.”
“Let us know if you need anything,” Mikey said.
“I need grandchildren,” Gwen said as she shuffled down the short hallway to her bedroom. After she closed her bedroom door, Jax and Mikey went into the kitchen. Mikey opened the fridge and pulled out two beers. He handed one to Jax.
“She isn't ever going to give up on the grand kids thing,” Jax said as he opened his beer.
“Don't think so.” Mikey opened his beer and took a tug on the bottle.
Mikey's cell phone rang. “It's Mr. Scarpelli,” he said to Jax. He answered, “Hey, boss.”
Jax drank his beer as Mikey listened to Jocko Scarpelli on the other end of the phone.
“Okay,” Mikey said. The call ended. “Boss says the state cops and a private investigator are looking into Murphy and Whitcomb. They've been talking to the Hurley kid.”
“He say anything about us?” Jax said.
“No. If he had, the cops would already be coming for us. But Mr. Scarpelli is worried the kid might talk. Says he's become a loose end.”
Jax's mouth formed a crooked smile.
Mikey continued, “Boss says we shouldn’t take any chances. Too much heat right now. You still have one of those burner phones?”
“Yeah,” Jax said.
“Good. We’ll send someone else to collect the kid.”
“But we still get to finish him, right?” Jax said.
“Yes,” Mikey said.
Jax’s crooked smile grew wider.