Chapter 728: Chase Adams's Residence
Tuesday, March 21st, Afternoon
After school, he got a ride home and did his homework. The nurse kept his dad busy so that he could finish his homework. With not much going on after his schoolwork was finished, he sat in the kitchen. Sitting at the kitchen table, he was having a snack and reading a paperback novel.
Noah would listen to what his dad was doing in his room, with the nurse watching him. His dad was having a good day or a better-than-average day. When Chase is having a good day, the house generally is a good place and in a good mood. Noah sighed; those days weren't as common as they once were.
After an unknown amount of time passed, Noah heard the front door open. He looked at the microwave clock to see that it was about the right time for his mom to get home from work. Noah listened as the front door closed, and footsteps echoed down the hall. His mom still had her work shoes on, and the sounds of the heels on the hardwood were distinct. Noah picked up his head from his book and listened. The footsteps had stopped, which Noah figured was his mom checking in on his dad and the nurse.
Noah nodded, and he lowered his head to return to reading. After a few pages, the footsteps started again, moving down the hallway. Noah didn't look up from his book once the footsteps changed timber as the person entered the kitchen. Finally, the footsteps stopped.
"Did you do your homework?" Kristen asked from the kitchen door.
"Yes, Mom," Noah said.
"Are you lying?" Kristen asked.
"No," Noah said.
"Okay," Kristen said, "I'm going to shower and change, then cook dinner before Terry leaves for the day."
"Okay," Noah said.
"Could you get the chicken and vegetables out of the fridge?" Kristen asked.
"Alright," Noah said. He closed his book and stood up. He turned to see Kristen walking towards the stairs. Noah shook his head, walked over to the fridge, pulled out dinner, and then dumped it on the counter by the stove. He returned to the table and started reading his book again.
A few moments later, Noah heard Kristen return to the kitchen. He looked up and saw his mom over at the counter. Kristen wore her usual geat, a battered pair of jeans, and her much loved gray skate t-shirt. Her hair was still wet and held back with a hair clip. Kristen turned and looked at Noah.
"What are you reading?" Kristen asked.
"The North and South, by John Jakes," Noah said.
"Hmm, you never struck me as a history buff," Kristen said as she started making dinner.
"It looked interesting; Shay suggested it," Noah said.
"That sounds like her, always loved the War of Southern Liberation," Kristen said.
"Wouldn't that be the Civil War?" Noah asked.
"Not to your great granddad," Kristen said, "He cried when the US Army stripped the National Guard of their Confederate Battle Honors."
"What does that mean?" Noah asked.
"He wept when the US Army took away the Confederate Battlehonors from the state regiments that traced their history to, as he would call it, the War of Southern Liberation," Kristen said.
"He liked the Civil War?" Noah asked.
"Not so much; he was a Neo-Confederate," Kristen said.
"Which is?" Noah asked.
"A bad person Noah, there was a reason I went away to follow the X-Games, and that's how I met your dad," Kristen said.
"What was that?" Noah asked.
"You're great granddad worshipped Shelby Foote; that's part of the reason Shay went to UVa was to study under a certain professor and his point of view," Kristen said.
"Oh, so, your point?" Noah asked.
"I want you to know that I'm trying. I am trying not to be heavy-handed with you, trying to let you have your own point of view, and to let you know there are people far worse in our family tree than you expect," Kristen said.
"So, does that change that I'm still stuck here?" Noah asked.
"No, and you're not stuck here," Kristen said.
"I have no way to get around," Noah said.
"True, but you have feet, and you're not chained to that table," Kristen said.
"I've nothing to do," Noah said, "Nor a way to get around."
"As I've said, you have feet. There isn't anyone you want to see?" Kristen asked.
"No, I have no friends," Noah said.
"Not even that blonde girl Shay saw you talking to?" Kristen asked.
"Callie?" Noah asked.
"That's her name?" Kristen asked.
"Yes," Noah said.
"So, what about her and you?" Kristen asked.
"Nothing to say; we just talk," Noah said.
"You wouldn't want to see her?" Kristen asked.
"I'm not going to the Saltwater Motel," Noah said.
"Hmm, Shay didn't say she lived there," Kristen said.
"So, where does Shay say she lives?" Noah asked.
"You won't believe this," Kristen said.
"Try me, Mom, try me," Noah said.
"Beaulieu Manor, Shay got her fostered at Beaulieu," Kristen said.
"No way," Noah said.
Kristen nodded, "Yeah, it's true," she said.
"I wonder why she didn't tell me?" Noah asked.
"I don't know, ask her," Kristen said.
"I will," Noah said and stood up.
"Wait one minute, Mister," Kristen said.
Noah stopped and looked at Kristen. "Yes?" he asked.
"You're not going anywhere right now," Kristen said.
"But you said," Noah said.
"I know, but family first," Kristen said.
"What do I have to do?" Noah asked.
"You're going to get over here and learn to cook," Kristen said.
"Why?" Noah asked.
"So, you can be independent and help around here as well," Kristen said.
"Okay," Noah said, slumped his shoulders, walked over to Kristen, and started to learn to cook.