FIFTEEN

Remi powered down the buzz saw, then trudged through the April mud to the Dog House—the shed where everyone took their lunch breaks when the weather was unpleasant. Bracing against the chill, he scraped the mud from the soles of his boots and hurried inside. The other guys were already eating, and all the seats were taken. There should have been at least two more. Remi’s surprise didn’t go unnoticed, which is why Kelso couldn’t help but snicker. He was sitting next to Metz, Remi’s tormentor.

“I guess the Canuck’s gonna have to eat outside,” Metz said. Some of the others chuckled.

Remi dropped his lunchbox and launched himself at Metz. He got a couple of good shots at Metz’s face before Metz kneed him in the groin. Remi stopped to let the pain wash over him, and Metz laughed. Remi barreled back into Metz and pushed his head into the side of the hot wood stove. Metz screamed, and the others ran out of the shed.

The foreman, Carl Taylor, ran over to quell the commotion. A huge guy, Carl had no trouble throwing the two men out of the shed. “Get your stuff and go home. You assholes are fired!”

“He started it!” Remi said. “He was fucking with me! I’ve got kids.”

“You know the rules Remi, and this wasn’t the first time. You assholes are fired! Now get out of here.”

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Remi spent the afternoon at Dice’s Bar. Except for a few retirees, hardly anybody was there until the sun started to go down, and by then Remi had drunk enough to discover he was hungry. He stumbled to his car and drove the several blocks home. He hit his elbow trying to get through the front door, sending searing pain through his arm. Jacqui was in the kitchen with the girls, and they were surprised to see him in such a state. He’d all but sobered up the last couple of years.

“A sorry excuse for a man,” Jacqui said. Angela grabbed Julian and ran to her room.

Remi grabbed Jacqui and punched her in the stomach. Her face turned red, and she couldn’t breathe. Remi opened the back door, kicked her down the back steps, and slammed the door shut. Marie went to the back door, but Remi strode to her with his fist raised. “Don’t you open that fucking door! You make me some food—now!” He went to his chair in the living room and passed out.

Marie quietly walked down the hall into Angela’s room. Julian was squealing with delight as he peeled a corner of the wallpaper off the wall. Theo was napping in Marie’s room. Angela was shaking and whimpering. Marie put her arms around her sister and said, “It’s all over, Angel. It’s all over.”

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Remi woke to Marie screaming at him. “She’s dead! She’s dead! You killed her, you bastard!”

He jumped out of his chair, and pain pierced his head. He grabbed the wall to steady himself and went out the back door. Jacqui lay right where she landed. He felt for a pulse on her neck, but there was none. She was very cold and felt as though she were made of rubber. He ran back into the house and grabbed Marie’s arm. “You and Angela, get all of your stuff into the car. We’re leaving.” She looked at him like he was crazy. “NOW!”