Behind the Pine Curtain by Gerri Hill Read Free Book Online Page B

back on a bottle of bad wine, hoping it’ll turn into a nice chardonnay someday.”
    “You’re comparing my life to a bottle of bad wine?”
    “You know what I mean, Kay. You’ve got to get it out, pour it out and start over. Have you even thought about dating again? You can’t live your life alone just because some asshole did that to you.”
    “Pine Springs is not exactly crawling with eligible men, Rose, even if I did want to date. Which I don’t,” she added.
    “And that’s my point. You don’t want to. Something’s wrong with that, Kay. You’ve got to find yourself someone. You’re already thirty-three.
    It’s time you had your own kids so I can try to undo the damage you’ve done to mine.”
    “And what do you mean by that?”
    “You know exactly what I mean! You spoil them rotten. I can’t even control them anymore. Have yourself a couple, and I’ll return the favor.”
    Kay laughed, pausing to kiss her sister on the cheek. “Thanks, sis. But I like this arrangement just fine. I won’t have to pay for college this way.”
    “Well, if you’re not careful, I’ll send Lee Ann to live with you.”
    “Don’t forget to blow the candles out, girls.”
    “I’ll get them, Mama.” Kay walked to the picnic table, blowing out the two tall candles that were still burning.
    “Do you know how long she’s staying?”

    “Jackie? She didn’t really say. I assume through the weekend. Although, if she goes to see her mother, she may decide to skip out early, which I can’t say I blame her.”
    “No kidding. Wonder how many candy stripers she’s made cry?”
    Kay paused. “Do you think anyone’s gone to see her? I mean, did she have any friends?”
    “Of course she’s got friends. There’s the Women’s League, the country club, all the women that drive those big fancy cars. Those friends.”
    “Ah. Of course. What was I thinking?”
    “Don’t tell me you feel sorry for her.”
    “No. No, I don’t. I think it’s a shame that he was the one that died, you know? He was a decent man.”
    “Practically a saint to have lived with her.” “Girls? What are you gossiping about now?” “Nothing, Mama. We’re coming in.”
    Later, as Kay drove home, memories of her childhood flooded her, and she laughed as she recalled one of the many adventures Jackie had dragged her into.
    “We’re not going to get in trouble, Kay, ’cause nobody’s gonna know.”
    “Only the big kids come down here,” Kay insisted.
    “We’re big kids.”
    “We’re twelve.”
    “ Yeah. And I can still beat the snot out of Jim Bob, the big pussy.”

    Kay imagined Jim Bob Pearson catching them at his spot on the river.
    He was three years older than them, and took delight in tormenting Kay, for some reason. On more than one occasion, Jackie had come to her rescue, the last time, bloodying Jim Bob’s nose with a fist square to the face.
    Kay laughed out loud in the car. She hadn’t thought of that in years.
    And yes, they did get caught that day at the river. The water was shallow and muddy in most places, but there were spots along the slow moving river that were deep, perfect for swimming on hot summer days.
    And most of those swimming holes had been claimed by the high school kids. Much like gangs protecting their turf, every group had their own spot, and no one shared. Especially with two twelve-year-old brats!
    But Jackie had pulled Kay through the woods after leaving their bikes hidden in some brush. The best swimming hole was claimed by Jim Bob’s older brother, and Jackie had been adamant about crashing their party.
    It had been a Saturday morning, still early, and no one was about. They both stripped down to their underwear and jumped in, enjoying the cool water on that hot summer morning. It hadn’t lasted long. Jackie heard them first, nearly yanking Kay from the water. They struggled to put their clothes on when Jim Bob came walking up with two of his friends.
    “Well, look what we’ve got here. Brat