Beyond The Ghosts (Legacy Falls Project) by Jody Pardo Read Free Book Online Page A

the last ten years, I doubt Christina would have thought anything was remotely hot. Things could have taken a much different turn.
    “She kinda likes guys that take control. You held her down and flipped her switch.”
    “Well, she wouldn’t feel the same way if we would have fell asleep in my bedroom.”
    “Oh, I'm sure she would have been even happier if she fell asleep in your bed and woke up with you on top of her.”
    “Seriously, Beth, please stop. I cannot believe I am having this conversation with my baby sister,” I pleaded.
    “Oh, my big bad brother can kill insurgents but can't handle a little pillow talk? Wow, there's one for the record books.”
    “Very funny, brat. I’m no good for her. I could have killed her.”
    “Christina is a good girl. I think you just scared her.”
    “She should be scared. She deserves better than a broken soldier.” Her light, playful mood turned somber, and her voice dropped to a small appeal.
    “You came back all in one piece. She would be lucky to have a good guy like you.”
    “Beth, you don't know what I've done. I’m not a good guy. I could have hurt her.”
    “It’s just a bruise. She likes you. You did what you had to do over there, but you are a good guy.”
    "Who is a good guy?" Mom said, bringing a tray of snacks and sweet tea into the living room “New boyfriend, Beth?”
    “No, Mom. Don’t start knitting the booties.”
    “When are you going to settle down and get yourself a man?” my mom pleaded. Thank God for Mom’s grandchild obsession. For once, it worked in my favor. Welcome to the hot seat, Beth.
    “Last time I checked, incest was frowned upon even in the South, and Peter is the only good guy I know,” Beth said with enough sarcasm to cut glass.
    My mom, obviously a pro at this game with Beth, volleyed back, “What about the Davidson boy from the hardware store?”
    “He only knows how to sell tools, not use them.”
    “ Elizabeth Marie . Sometimes I don't know why you say such vulgar things.”
    “Oh, relax, Mom. I didn't say anything bad. I didn't even say penis . But if you were counting on him for grandkids, you are barking up the wrong tree.”
    I nearly choked on my sweet tea and had to cover my mouth to keep from spewing tea all over my mother who swat at Beth with the dish towel always on the ready hanging from her apron.
    “ Elizabeth Marie . You are not too old to wash your mouth out with soap.”
    “Oh, please, Mom, you never did it to me as a kid, you aren’t gonna do it now.”
    “You were such a sweet little girl. That’s why. I don’t know what happened.” She turned to me with doe eyes. “At least my sweet Peter didn’t change. You're still my sweet boy. Let me get you some more tea since Beth wanted to exercise her trucker mouth.” I grabbed the last tea cookie off the tray before she took it away to refill the tea decanter in the kitchen.
    “You're still Mom’s favorite,” Beth huffed.
    “Why do you talk to her like that?”
    “Oh, my god, you are taking her side? Don't tell me that whole Stepford Joan Cleaver routine doesn't annoy you.”
    “Come on, it’s just Mom. What else do you expect?”
    “I don’t know. Maybe for her to step out of the ‘60s. I thought the ‘60s was supposed to be the decade of enlightenment?”
    “I don’t know I wasn’t alive. Besides, I think that was the ‘70s”
    “Well, whenever it was, she missed the bus on that one.”
    “One day you will miss Mom’s ways.”
    “Yeah, whatever you say.”
    “Trust me, little sister, when you are in the middle of the desert with guys shooting at you for no good reason with bombs strapped to their chest in the name of some radical movement or religion, you will miss Mom’s sweet tea and lemon bars.”
    “I’m sorry, I didn't mean to bring it up.” Suddenly, Beth got quiet, drooping her head down. I lifted her up by her chin.
    “Beth, I’m okay. It's okay. I’m not going to freak out on you. Mom makes really kick ass