Dreams: Part Two by Jayne Ann Krentz Read Free Book Online Page A

son’s hand.
    “A present.“ Brandon waited until Ada Grimley moved away to speak to a neighbor. Then he glanced at Diana and flashed her a brief, almost apologetic smile. He turned to his father with a very serious expression.
    “Dad, before I give you your wedding gift, it occurs to me we need to have a little father-son chat.“
    “Is that right?“ Colby’s brows rose ironically.
    “I’m afraid so.“ Brandon cleared his throat portentously. “It has come to my attention that, in spite of all those talks we had about the male reproductive system, in spite of all those lectures on the merits of a man learning how to say no, in spite of all those warnings about how hard it is for a man to stop once he gets started and how it’s better to finish the job by hand, so to speak, on certain occasions…“
    “Brandon, you are my one and only son and heir, but if you want to live to see the ripe old age of twenty, you’d better cut this short,“
    “Don’t rush me, Dad. This is for your own good. As I was saying, in spite of all those conversations we had on birth control and how to keep the zipper of one’s jeans in an upright and locked position, it seems something, uh, fell through the crack, as it were.“
    “Brandon…“
    “I’m sure you can just imagine my surprise when Diana informed me I was about to get a baby brother or sister.“
    “Son, I’m warning you, you can be replaced.“ Colby was going a slow, dull red.
    Brandon ignored him, his fine brown eyes alight with mischief. “Now, while I am absolutely thrilled at the prospect of being a big brother,“ he continued, “I nevertheless feel it’s my duty as your son to fill in certain gaps in your education which have recently become glaringly apparent.“ He presented the brightly wrapped package to his father with a flourish. “Here you go. A wedding present from your son purchased with your educational advancement in mind.“
    Diana managed a smile as she watched Colby unwrap the package. She knew Brandon was only teasing, and the last thing she wanted to do was spoil the humor of the situation. But it was hard for her to see anything amusing about her pregnancy yet. She was learning to accept it, and she thought that with Colby by her side she just might be able to handle it, but she hadn’t gotten to the point where she could joke about it.
    Colby ripped off the wrapping paper and gazed down at the book he found himself holding. “Geez, Brandon, this was real thoughtful of you. Remind me to flatten you later when there are no witnesses around.“ He grinned and playfully cuffed his son.
    Brandon laughed and dodged. “I knew you’d appreciate it. Dad. You’ve always been real big on learning things from books.“
    “Let me see.“ Diana moved closer to peer over Colby’s shoulder. She read the title aloud. “The Responsible Man’s Complete Guide to Modern Sex.“
    “Don’t worry,“ Brandon said cheerfully. “It’s got lots of pictures.“
    “It’s a good thing I’ve got another kid on the way,“ Colby said to Diana, “because Brandon’s chances of surviving until next week are real shaky.“
    “Alone at last. I thought all those people would never leave,“ Colby declared several hours later as he began unbuttoning his shirt.
    “What’s that?“ Diana called from the other side of the closed bathroom door. “I didn’t hear what you said.“
    “I said I thought that damn wedding reception would never end.“
    “It was very sweet of Evelyn Thorp to organize it for us. Were you surprised that so many people showed up?“

    “‘Stunned’ would be a better description. It must have been the promise of free booze and cake that brought them out of the woodwork.“
    “They came to see you, Colby. They wanted to congratulate you. You’re the town’s local celebrity, in case you don’t know it. How does it feel to breeze back into Fulbrook Corners twenty years later and find out you’re a legend?“
    “Damn weird, if