Free Web NovelChapter 178: Chapter 178 - Goodbye?
They were standing near the counter while Tía Julieta sorted through the supplies. The small room behind the kitchen smelled faintly of vinegar, herbs, and cooked meat.
Shelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling, stacked with jars and cans that Tía Julieta prepared herself for the Hyde community. Every household received a monthly ration, and today Iyisha and Marybeth had come to collect Abuela’s share.
Cans of meat. Pickled vegetables. A few jars carefully wrapped in cloth.
Iyisha picked up some of the cans and placed them into a basket.
"Tía Julieta," Marybeth started, leaning on the counter. "We’re leaving any day now. Can we take some cans for the road?"
She paused, then added with a hopeful grin, "I miss your pickles."
Iyisha smiled quietly as she kept stacking the cans.
Tía Julieta did not even look up at first.
"Oh, mija," she said, shaking her head as she wiped her hands on a towel. "I told you not to go out anymore. You should find someone here and stay."
Then she glanced toward Marybeth.
"I heard you like Miguel."
Iyisha chuckled under her breath.
"Tía," Marybeth said quickly, her face turning red. "The man just slept in my room. Nothing happened."
"Sí, sí," Tía Julieta muttered, clearly unconvinced.
She looked at Marybeth over her glasses and gave a small sarcastic nod.
"Nothing happened."
Marybeth groaned and covered her face.
"You know I can’t stay here," she said after a moment. "I’m a—"
"Free soul," Tía Julieta finished for her with a sigh.
She turned her attention to Iyisha then.
"Oh, Iyisha."
Iyisha looked at Tía Julieta, drying her hands.
"You take care of Marybeth, sí?"
Iyisha nodded immediately.
"Yes, Tía."
Tía Julieta studied her face for a moment, then turned back to the supplies. She reached behind the counter and brought out five more cans.
She placed them carefully in the basket.
Iyisha glanced down.
Two were meat.
Two were pickled vegetables.
And one small can of spices.
Tía Julieta pushed the basket toward them.
"For the road," she said quietly.
They left with two baskets filled with cans and walked back toward Abuela’s house.
Marybeth glanced at Iyisha as they walked.
"You sure you’re stronger now?" she asked.
Iyisha nodded.
Malcolm had not come back to the house for two days. But they both knew he was still somewhere inside Hydetown.
When they reached the house, Marybeth pushed the door open.
Malcolm was sitting in the living room.
He looked up.
Their eyes met for a brief second.
Iyisha immediately looked away.
"Malcolm," Marybeth said.
He said nothing, just watched them.
"Iyisha’s looking for you."
Iyisha shot Marybeth a sharp glare, annoyed and suddenly unsure what she was even supposed to say.
Before she could speak, Malcolm was already in front of them.
He took the baskets from their hands without a word and carried them to the counter.
Iyisha watched his back for a moment and let out a quiet breath.
"Let’s talk in the bedroom," she said.
Malcolm nodded once.
Marybeth dropped onto the sofa behind them, watching the two of them with open interest.
Iyisha had no doubt that if the door closed, Marybeth would probably end up with her ear pressed against it.
Malcolm walked ahead and opened the bedroom door for her.
Iyisha stepped inside.
Iyisha sat on the chair by the vanity, her hands resting in her lap, fingers loosely clasped together. Malcolm stood a few steps away, his back straight, arms relaxed at his sides, waiting.
The silence stretched between them.
Iyisha stared at the floor for a moment, trying to gather the words that had felt so easy in her head earlier. Now they would not come out right.
Finally she spoke, her voice quiet. "I found your book."
Malcolm did not move.
"It fell when I picked up your jacket," she added, watching him carefully, but his expression stayed the same. No reaction. Nothing that gave anything away.
Iyisha lifted her eyes to him. "There was a picture inside."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"A boy," she continued after a moment. "The name on the back said Lance."
Malcolm’s eyes shifted away for a second. It was quick, barely noticeable, but she caught it.
He still said nothing.
Iyisha let out a slow breath and rubbed her thumb against the edge of her palm, trying to steady herself. "Is he your..." She stopped when she looked up and saw how tight his expression had become, like the words themselves were something he did not want to hear.
She shook her head slightly. "You know what? I don’t care."
The words sounded firmer than she actually felt.
After a moment she continued, quieter now. "We’re close to New York. A day or two at most."
Malcolm gave a short nod.
Iyisha swallowed and forced herself to keep going. "So I guess this is where we decide what happens next."
The room fell quiet again.
They both knew the decision was coming. If he wanted to leave her, it would happen soon. A day or two at most.
She bit the inside of her mouth.
She would not beg for him to stay.
But that did not mean she had stopped hoping.
Then Malcolm spoke.
"He’s my brother."
Iyisha looked up quickly.
That thought had crossed her mind when she first saw the photo, but she had not expected him to actually say it.
"You have a brother?" she asked.
Malcolm nodded once.
"He’s in a medical facility near the border."
Iyisha blinked, trying to process that. "You’re going there."
Another nod.
She looked away before he could see her eyes sting. She had thought they would stay together longer. That they would at least reach New York first and figure things out from there.
Apparently she had been wrong.
"Yeah," she muttered quietly. "I need to go find Cena."
Her chest felt tight now, her throat slowly closing as she stood from the chair. If she stayed here any longer she might actually break down in front of him, and that was the last thing she wanted.
The silence stretched between them again.
Malcolm looked at her.
"Do you want to come?"
Iyisha froze.
Slowly she lifted her head and looked at him.
