Chapter 14

Trent stepped over what looked like a broken-down lawn mower before stepping into his dad’s house. It had been only a few weeks since he’d last been here, and already it seemed like Edward had trashed the place further. How did a man in a wheelchair manage to collect so much junk? Trent had no idea.

Edward barely glanced at Trent when he came inside. He sucked on a cigarette, letting the smoke float in front of his face. A rerun buzzed on the TV; the house smelled even more heavily of smoke and sweat, to the point that Trent barely stifled his gag reflex.

“What do you want?” Edward said. He didn’t sound particularly interested in the answer.

“From you? Nothing. Except that you’ve once again caused another nurse to quit her job. I don’t know how I’ll get another one to agree to come out here.”

Edward barked a wheezy laugh. “What does it matter? I’m already dying. Do you think a nurse is going to change that? You were always a special kind of stupid.”

Trent gritted his teeth. Why wa