Chapter 2 - The Crash at the Window
The truck struck a parking meter before stopping less than ten feet from the bakery entrance.
The front bumper slammed into a newspaper box.
Metal twisted with a violent crunch.
Lily screamed.
Noah wrapped both arms around her.
The old baker moved in front of them without thinking.
Erica stood frozen behind the counter.
For a few seconds, nobody understood what had happened.
Then the truck driver stumbled out.
“I’m okay.”
He leaned against the door and held his head.
“I’m okay.”
The old baker rushed outside.
Noah followed him to the doorway.
“Stay inside, son.”
Noah stopped.
The word son caught him strangely.
Nobody had called him that since his father died.
Sirens sounded in the distance.
Lily tugged his sleeve.
“Can we go home now?”
Noah nodded.
Their mother had been waiting since dawn.
She had told them not to worry if they could not find anything.
That had somehow made Noah worry more.
The old baker returned several minutes later.
“The driver’s going to be fine.”
He noticed the children still standing there.
“You live nearby?”
Noah hesitated.
“Behind the old laundromat.”
The baker’s expression changed.
“Those apartments were condemned.”
“We’re not inside the apartments.”
Noah immediately regretted answering.
The old man understood anyway.
“The storage building?”
Noah stared at him.
Lily tightened her grip on the bread.
The baker crouched slightly so he could look at both children without towering over them.
“What are your names?”
“Noah Carter.”
“Lily Carter.”
The old man nodded.
“I’m Samuel Hale.”
Lily looked at the bread.
“Thank you, Mr. Hale.”
Samuel smiled.
“You’re welcome.”
Noah guided Lily toward the door.
Samuel called after him.
“Noah.”
The boy turned.
“If you want yesterday’s bread tomorrow, come at six.”
Noah’s shoulders stiffened.
Samuel continued before he could object.
“I need someone to sweep the front walk.”
Noah looked down at his dirty feet.
“How much?”
“Enough for bread.”
Noah considered it carefully.
“Then I’ll work.”
Erica stared at Samuel after the children disappeared down the sidewalk.
“You can’t seriously be inviting them back.”
Samuel slowly turned.
“Why not?”
“You don’t know anything about them.”
“I know he counted every penny before asking the price.”
Erica crossed her arms.
“That doesn’t mean anything.”
“It means more than you think.”
Samuel picked up the scattered tray.
Then he noticed something beneath the counter.
A small brass key had fallen near where Noah had been standing.
Samuel bent down.
Attached to it was an old plastic tag.
The faded writing was nearly gone.
Only two words remained visible.
CARTER STORAGE.
Samuel’s face lost its color.
He stared toward the door.
May you like
Then he whispered a name he had not spoken in fourteen years.
“Daniel Carter.”
