I sat at home with Comrade watching a rerun of the weekend’s game. I went home after the bakery instead of the auto body shop. I was late. Comrade held my hand the entire time I cried the betrayal away.. No matter what excuses my mind came up with it still hurt.

‘It’ll be alright sweet heart. Cheer your pretty face up.’

I rubbed my nose. ‘Maybe if it were someone else. But Amber…’

‘At least your enemies have shown their cards, honey.’ He patted my knee.

Andrin was going to lose his head if I didn’t leave soon. Grandpa loved to be called Comrade more than Grandpa even my Dad called him Comrade more than Dad. Everyone in town knew him as Comrade Connor, the sweetest and toughest man in town.

Old age was catching up to him. ‘That Matthias fellow, never did get it right in my books.’

I sniffled. ‘I can’t believe he’d date my friend who would have been the maid of honor at our wedding.’ I set a pot of rice on the stove and cut some vegetables for dinner. It was early but I thought I’d make dinner in advance.

‘You probably dodged a bullet there sweetie.’ Comrade said, his eyes glued on the screen.

‘Yeah, maybe you’re right.’ I whispered.

After making food for Comrade, I left for the shop. Andrin was working on a car when I walked through the garage door in my faded brown overalls. The silver truck I’d fixed a couple days ago drove into the garage.

‘If it’s not working right, it’s coming out of your pay.’ Andrin snarled.

I narrowed my eyes at him and bit my tongue. Mr. Kenny jumped out of the Ford truck with a broad smile in his fancy black suit. He owned a couple businesses in town with his brother Kevin. The Hamptons lived in Chester Springs for generations, they claim to be one of the founding fathers of the town.

I plastered a smile on my face and stood next to my brother.

‘Hey Mr. Hampton, something wrong with your car?’ Andrin asked.

Kenny shook his head. He reminded me of a huge teddy bear. He always had a smile on his face and compared to his brother Kevin who spat on puppies and gave children nightmares. Maybe I exaggerated. Kenny, despite being a millionaire, spent his days at Uncle Jay's beer hole talking to any other average Joe. He helped shovel people’s yards in the winter. Didn’t like them designer, no Kenny didn’t care. Such a shame his wife wasn’t anything like him, at least not anymore.

‘The car’s been working great. You don’t know how many people have looked at this car. My wife almost convinced me to buy another one.’

I beamed and turned to Andrin, who hid his annoyance well.

‘I’m glad to hear that Sir.’ He said.
Kenny turned to me. ‘You fixed my car. You make one heck of a mechanic, just like your old man.’

I nodded. It felt nice to have someone say something nice to me.

‘Well I just wanted to say thank you again. You kids ever need anything let me know. I know what happened years ago Adele, but that’s in the past. I know some people are still sour, but you don’t need to mind them.’

‘Thanks Kenny.’ I averted my eyes. Andrin cleared his throat at the mention of my scandal.

Kenny left me to feel the wrath of my brother, but Andrin walked into the house with his lips pressed together.

***

On my walk home from work, greasy and tired my mind drove back to Kenny’s words. It warmed my insides to know more than one person forgave me. I wanted my own brother to. A complete stranger could, why couldn’t he?

I spotted a red mini van parked outside Comrade's house. Music streamed from the house along with deep laughter.

‘Is Comrade having a party?’
I eyed the red car as I walked up behind it. The driver’s door popped open and a lady climbed out.
‘Rebel?’

When she wasn’t shaking. She tucked a strand of her chin length hair behind her ear. She wore a huge army green coat with grey leggings and ankle boots.

‘I only wanted to make sure you’re okay. I can imagine it’s tough being back.’

I sighed and stuffed my fists in my black hoodie. ‘I’m fine.’

‘Oh. Alright then. I guess I’ll see you around.’ Rebel nodded and fumbled with the keys to her car.

Rebel had always been quiet in high school, we weren’t friends but I never got the sense that she was harmful. In fact I didn’t remember her having any friends.

‘Hey, Rebel?’

She turned to look at me.

‘Looks like Comrade’s having a party or something. Wanna hang out at Uncle Jay's beer hole?’

A smile spread on her face and she nodded.
‘Great. I should check on Comrade before we leave.’

I walked through the front door and a man in high waist pants was fiddling with a radio. Walter was in the dining room, shuffling a deck of cards.

‘Is that Comrade’s granddaughter?’ Someone in the dining room yelled.

‘Addie!’ Walter cheered.

I marched into the kitchen and found Comrade.

‘Comrade what are you doing?!’
He chuckled. ‘Walter came by with a few of my old friends from the Train Museum. We’re going to play cards.’

‘You’re going to gamble?’

Comrade lifted his eyebrow. ‘You can’t prove anything.’

I smirked. I bet I could, I’d always been good at finding out stuff. One of the reasons I wanted to be an investigative journalist. I’d been working my way to my degree when I left Chester Springs, but after a few set backs I did get my degree. Made Mama so happy she cries when she sees my graduation photo.

‘I’m heading to Uncle Jay’s. Remember to take your vitamins and no beers.’ I placed my hands on my hips.

‘One beer won’t hurt, Addie!’ Comrade whined as I rushed out of the kitchen.

At least he wouldn’t be stuck in front of the TV all day.

‘Are you sure you want to go to Uncle Jay’s? We could go to Rebel Ways, there’s way less people around this time.’ Rebel said when she brought her car to life.

‘Yeah, I can’t hide from the town forever. Plus I miss a good Jay’s burger.’

Rebel chuckled. ‘I wonder what he puts in those. I remember trying to replicate a Jay’s burger with my sister. Gave our parents food poisoning.’

I laughed. Rebel had a big family. She had two brothers and two sisters. She lived with her Mom’s sister and daughter and her Dad’s cousin in addition to her parents all under one roof.

Her Mother was a wonderful woman, she’d been there for Mama when things got rough, came by often when Daddy died. I never said thank you. She worked at the church as a receptionist. I made a mental note to stop by when I had the chance.

‘When did you open Rebel ways?’ I asked.

She exhaled. ‘Senior year basically. Did it from home to get extra cash when Dad got fired from the factory. I only managed to open the bakery a year ago.’

She parked outside bustling Uncle Jay’s. My heart kick started, why’d I want to come here again? Men marched out with beer bottles. Laughter could be heard from inside. I hoped the restaurant was still a few meters away from the bar.

‘This place can get real nasty. Good thing they have good food otherwise many folk would have ditched it long ago.’ Rebel said.

When I walked in some eyes shot at me and stay there, others went back to their brown bottles. There was a particular set of eyes I wished hadn’t seen me. Sam! Darn it!

I bowed my head and followed Rebel to the restaurant. We found a set behind a couple on a date. I knew Sam had spotted me. I shut my eyes and took in heavy breaths as Rebel placed our orders.

‘Everything okay Addie?’

‘Uh… not quite.’

‘Say the word and we’ll leave.’ She narrowed her eyes.

I shook my head. I was going to run into him sooner or later, we live in the same town after all. Maybe he won’t even care, I hoped. I pulled my black wavy hair from my jacket. I tried not to bit my nails, I hadn’t done that in years and didn’t want to disturb my perfectly filed nails.

‘Hasn’t changed much, huh?’ Rebel glanced around the place.

I nodded. Same wooden floors, water damaged ceiling, curved counter and black plastic chairs.

‘They really have to look into that ceiling though.’ I said.

Rebel and I laughed before a dark shadow fell on our table. I looked up. Darn it just when I thought he wouldn’t bother me.

‘Look who we have here.’ Samuel Swine beamed at me. Why couldn’t the floor swallow me?

‘Officer.’ I mumbled.

‘Oh no Addie, it’s detective now. Yeah got promoted right after you left.’

Sam Swine was local football star before we joined the police academy. He’s surprisingly one of Chester Springs' most eligible bachelors and a huge pain in the butt. We frequently crossed paths in high school since it was a school of less than three hundred. He had sea blue eyes, shaggy brown hair and fit for business body. He was also the officer that arrested me twice! Three years ago!

He wasn’t alone either, next to him stood a man with chestnut hair, hazel eyes and broad shoulders. I didn’t know him.

‘Well… congratulations I guess.’ I said.

Rebel tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked between us.

‘How long you been in town Addie?’

‘A couple of days. Comrade—’

‘Oh yeah I heard about your grandfather, losing his job after that robbery. You know he’s lucky he didn’t get badly injured, either that or he was working with the thieves.’

‘My grandfather would never—’

‘You sure? His grand daughter’s a thief.’

My blood boiled and filled my head. My fists aches to dislocate his jaw. His friend narrowed his eyes at him. Swine had shown his true colors.

‘What the hell Swine?’ His friend said.
‘It’s true Axel. She was after the Hadley fortune.’

Rebel grabbed her purse and stood. ‘We don’t have to listen to this. Come on Addie.’

Axel raised his hand to stop her. ‘No, we’re leaving. Let’s go Swine.’ He shoved his partner and turned his back on us expecting Swine to follow, but his gaze lingered on me for a moment longer.

‘I’ll be seeing you Addie. Stay out of trouble.’ He laughed.

I buried my face in my hands. I must have looked like a house on fire.

Rebel clutched my hand. ‘I’m sorry Addie. Sam's always been a… a?’

‘A swine?’

Rebel burst into giggles. ‘Yeah you can say that.’

‘Who’s the other guy?’

‘Detective Axel Chambers. I’ve heard everything there is to hear about him at Rebel Ways. Can’t begin to tell you how many people want to climb into his bed.’

The waiter came back with two massive Jay’s burgers. My heart did a back flip!
‘Well… he is… pretty good to look at… and some.’ I scratched my head. I hadn’t been with a man since the Matthias trauma. I cringed remembering some of the dates Mama sent me on.

Rebel giggled. ‘He’s hot Addie! Anyway, the major hired him less than a year ago. I think he used to work in Chicago. So far he’s done pretty good. Hasn’t been anything major for him to do other than petty thefts and kids vandalizing old mansions.’

I chatted with Rebel and I was thankful for someone my own age. Since my best friend and I were at odds. I knew I’d be pretty lonely, thank goodness for Rebel. I couldn’t help but recall what Swine said about Comrade. I knew with my entire being that he wasn’t apart of the robbery that left his back injured. No one had mentioned him being involved until Swine.

When we walked out of Uncle Jay’s the chill that zipped through me, reminded me of when this town stuck a frozen stake through my heart. I feared it would do the same to Comrade.