Family Reunion by Mercedes Keyes Read Free Book Online

child? For her, she knew it was impossible because she tried, with all the past loss playing over in her mind she tried, and failed. Her maternal instincts were much too strong.

She worried about Rory; feared for him; no matter how much he resented her, she loved him. Unfortunately, the worry now was that it may be too little too late, he did not want her love.
    She sighed as he looked out the window and answered blandly. "Same as usual."
    "Will you be staying home to have dinner, it would be nice, if we - we could eat together for once." She asked softly. Rory had to turn his head to look at her, the request puzzling him. "Eat together? Why? What is wrong with you? You never cared before if I ate with you."
    Lena swallowed and hesitantly smiled. His blunt question made her unsure of how she should answer him. "I know," She paused to take a breath. "I know I haven't been what I should have been for you and I want you to know it wasn't because I had no interest in you, it's just that-…"
    He rolled his eyes with a, "Please, you must have me confused with someone else, I know better. You at times hardly knew I existed, and when you did, you wished I didn't." He stated flatly, followed by the thought of what Manny had told him the previous night.
    Discarding the advice, he felt he could not help it, within his mind he saw no way of suddenly being nice to her when he knew she didn't care about him.
    His words cut like a knife, Lena made another attempt. "Rory, that's not true, never had I a desire that you didn-…"
    "How can you say that!?!" Rory exploded, shocking her, lowering his voice he leaned toward her as he bit out. "Do you think I'm stupid? You think I don't know about when you first came here pregnant with me, how much you hated it!! I know how you cried about the bastard you carried! I know how you wished I would die! How you told Sandra you didn't want me! I know about the night I was born and you called for anyone to come and take me away! Yes! I know...so don't try this with me-..." He said sharply, hating the feel of tears coming to his eyes. "...-we have a bargain remember, a promise to each other. You leave me alone, and I, sure as hell, will leave you alone!"
    He turned back to looking out his window as Lena sat staring straight ahead. She thought she would drown in the humiliation that washed over her. Sitting across from him, she was unable to move, unable to say a word in her defense. She barely felt the sting of her tears as they dropped from her unblinking eyes. It took everything within her not to throw herself forward and weep. Silence once again reigned as they went through the city. Rory fought to keep his eyes pointed out the window and not look at her.

'Why had she looked the way she did when I told her what I did? Why?! It's the truth. Rollo didn't lie. Tauntin' me all the time, saying how worthless I am. Sayin' how my own mother didn't even want me.' He remembered every nasty word... "…and boy when yo' own mama don't want you, you sho'nuff ain't worth shit!! She should'ah let your ass die the night you was born! She was too soft hearted to let yo' lil'hollerin' ass pass on." He taunted, and slapped Rory upside the head. "Boy - pay attention t'what you doing! You done cut too low with that scythe'!" Rollo had yelled at him as they stood in the yard, trimming the grass.
    "Don't hit me on my head no more!" Rory had yelled at him.
    "What yo' lil'red ass gone do? Huh? You gone run tell ya' mama? I done already tol'yah she don't give a shit 'bout you! So what ya' gone do?!" A hard blow to the chest knocked Rory back so he dropped the scything tool and moved back yelling again. "Leave me alone Rollo!"
    "Leave me alone Rollo!" Rollo mimicked, "Lil'red ass pussy. Get yo' ass back here, get this scythe! Don't make me kick yo'ass! You got all this yard to do!" He ordered.
    "No! Finish it your damn self!" Rory yelled from a distance.
    "Boy you betta get yo' ass back here! Don't make me chase you! I catch