A Private Affair by Dara Girard Read Free Book Online

eggs?”
    “What?”
    “I mean you’re already in your thirties, you don’t have much time left. I told you we should have gotten pregnant at the same time. Wouldn’t that have been fun?”
    No it would have been a nightmare. She pointed to the kitchen. “I really need to—”
    “Oh you poor thing,” Lina said, taking Carissa’s hand and patting the back of it. “Two divorces and a long term relationship that’s ending, you must feel so alone. But you don’t have to envy me. I know my life looks perfect.” She paused. “And basically, it is perfect.” She couldn’t help a tiny grin. “There’s no need to lie. But if you need me to help you find a good man, I will.”
    “I’m fine.” First Ashley and now Lina, why were people suddenly so interested in her love life? Weren’t their lives full enough? Why did they need to mess with hers? And as glowing as Lina’s life looked and in most ways it was—she had a good job, a loving family, a doting husband and soon would be the mother she wanted to be—Carissa knew there were small cracks in their marriage that Lina didn’t know she was aware of. It was Carissa who twice had to help her younger brother when Lina’s spending had gotten them into trouble.
    He owned a profitable franchise fixing and selling tools and small engine parts and also owned a rental property that made him extra money. His life was a far cry from the financial hardships of their past. But while he was making money, Lina spent it just as fast not understanding that although they made more than their parents they still had to be financially savvy. But his sister knew all he wanted to do was please her, which included buying an expensive nursery set and redoing the kitchen. She’d warned Glenn to talk with Lina, but he always brushed the thought aside. One time when she really pushed him he said, “At least my marriage has lasted longer than both of yours combined.”
    He’d apologized soon after, but she’d stopped advising since and had stopped bailing him out. She didn’t know what their financial landscaped look like now and truly didn’t want to.
    Someone knocked. Carissa inwardly swore knowing who it was. Wherever Lina went he was sure to follow. She opened the door.
    Glenn looked past her to Lina. “I thought I’d find you here,” he said kissing his wife on the cheek as if he hadn’t seen her in days.
    “We’re just having a girl’s chat,” she said.
    “Hmmm something smells good.”
    “Yes, doesn’t it,” Lina said. “Were you about to have dinner?”
    Carissa nodded.
    “And you always make enough to spare,” Lina said squeezing Carissa’s arm with delight. “Tell me when it’s ready,” she said making herself comfortable and sitting down in front of the TV.
    “Is Morris coming over?” Glenn asked, following in her into the kitchen
    “No, she broke up with him,” Lina said.
    “Damn really?”
    Carissa walked into the kitchen. “Yes, really.”
    “I appreciate you having us over like this.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’m sorry about what I said before.”
    Carissa paused halfway while grabbing extra dishes. It wasn’t like him to apologize for something he’d done months ago. She spun around to him. “You need money, don’t you?”
    “Just a couple hundred to—”
    “No.”
    “I told you I was sorry. Are you going to hold that against me forever?”
    “And I told you I’m not going to help you live in a fantasy world.”
    “Things have gotten tight and with a baby on the way—”
    Carissa shoved the dishes into his chest. “You need to start acting like a grown up. You make more than enough money to live well. You just need to manage it better. I showed you how.”
    “But Lina—”
    “Is going to have to stop thinking about herself and start thinking about your family.”
    “Are you sure you’re not just jealous?”
    Carissa snatched the dishes back. “Do you want to eat at my table or not?”
    “I