Page 96 of Something Like Hail

“I’m concerned with morethan just physical safety or STDs,” Edith said. “I have a friendwho shared your line of work. He doesn’t talk openly about it, butif I asked, maybe he would be willing to tell you hisexperiences.”

“Pete?”

Edith looked surprised. “How did youknow?”

“He started bossing mearound about it earlier today.”

“That’s very unusual. Hedoesn’t talk much at all!”

“I noticed,” Noah said,wondering if he had been too hasty earlier. He didn’t realize thatPete was so guarded about his past. Still, he didn’t need a lecturefrom him or anyone else, no matter how well-meaning. “I’m fine. I’mnot the same kid who showed up at the shelter that night. I’ve madesome dumb decisions, but I’d like to think that I’m still smart.Have a little faith.”

Edith nodded. “I worry too much. I know.Blame my brother for that.”

“What do youmean?”

She shook her head like it wasinconsequential, but at Noah’s encouragement, she spoke more. “Mylittle brother, he was always restless. We grew up in a small town,but it wasn’t as it is here in the States. A small town isn’t sooppressive where I come from.”

“Where’s that?”

“France. You are familiarwith Alsace? Or maybe Strasbourg?”

“Uhhh…” He jogged hismemory and came up barefoot and blistered. “Are those cities? Idon’t know. Sorry.”

“I am used toit.”

“I always thought you wereGerman.”

“Close! We were not farfrom the border. I liked it there, but… My brother was the artistof the family. Painting, writing, singing, acting—he wanted to doit all. He felt that New York was his best chance. Me? I thought ofParis, but I could never say no to Hugo. So I made sure to getaccepted into a New York university, and he followed. I knew hewould never go to school. I was his only hope. As he made sure totell me over and over.”

Noah laughed. “I’m an only child, but fromwhat I understand, most siblings don’t help each other out likethat.”

“We were very close,” Edithsaid. “The first year was good. We explored the city together. NewYork became Hugo’s muse. He did impressive work there. He soldpieces and was accepted by a gallery. Everything seemed fine. ThenI fell in love, and maybe I got distracted. Or maybe the art worldis to blame, but I should have noticed sooner.”

“Drugs?” Noahguessed.

Edith nodded. “Heroin. I didn’t go to schoolto become a social worker. I wanted to be an accountant! Not verysimilar, I admit, but when Hugo disappeared and I started going tothe shelters, I was upset by what I saw. The staff were overworked.I would show them Hugo’s photo, they would look for one second,maybe two, then shake their heads and run off to do more work. Inever forgot that.”

“What about yourbrother?”

“That is a long story. Ifound him eventually, and I moved us as far away from New York aspossible. I don’t blame the city. Many people go there, evenartists, and they don’t succumb to addiction. Hugo always drank toomuch, even in France. He never knew when to stop.”

“So whathappened?”

“I met a man while in NewYork,” Edith said. “Tom, a fellow student. He was from here, andwhen we both graduated, he said I should come home with him and getmarried. I said I couldn’t go without my brother, and Tom said tobring him along. He and Hugo became friends, and I was certain thateverything was going to be okay. An addiction can be difficult tooutrun. As it turned out, Texas wasn’t far enough.”

“My ex was a junkie,” Noahsaid. “The guy who keeps sending letters to theshelter.”

“So you’ve witnessed whatit can do. You understand.”

He nodded. “Yeah.”

Edith sat up straight. “Well, that’s enoughcheerful conversation for today, don’t you think? Let’s talk aboutsad things instead!”

He laughed at her joke, but quickly grewsomber again. “I understand if you don’t want to talk about it, butI’m curious to know what happened with your brother.”

“I don’t know. He was usingdrugs, and one day he didn’t come home, so I searched the shelters.This time I did not find him, but I again saw how hard the peoplethere worked and decided that was my best chance. I startedvolunteering and eventually it became my career. I’m not only therefor Hugo. I believe in the work, but I’m still hoping to find him.Maybe someday.”

Noah swallowed. “I’m really sorry.”