Part Seven: Bruises
Chuck finally came back to the Pie Hole after her month-long absence.
She offered no reason why she'd been gone, and Ned didn't ask.
He saw a yellowing bruise on the inside of her wrist – and spotted another one at the base of her throat, just visible under the collar of her blouse.
Ned didn't ask about those, either.
She was an adult, and she had a boyfriend. They'd only struck up a conversation because she loved his pies. It didn't mean anything. Just some friendly chit-chat during lulls in the bakery traffic.
Chuck sat in a booth – a first for her since she'd started coming to the Pie Hole. She didn't look up and barely said hello to him when he gave her her slice of pie and cup of coffee.
