For All Their Lives by Fern Michaels Read Free Book Online

can’t force him.”
    â€œWhen you tell him the way it is here, he’ll come. Sadie said he loved her, and women know these things.”
    â€œIt’s probably going to take forever.”
    â€œSo what? You aren’t going anywhere but back and forth to the Pentagon.”
    â€œWhat the hell is that supposed to mean?” Benny asked with an edge to his voice.
    â€œIt means I’m getting edgy. I guess I didn’t tell you I’m going down to Charleston tomorrow. I kind of want to see my uncle Harry again.”
    â€œIs this the same Uncle Harry who never wanted to see you or talk to you after your mother died?” The edge in his voice was rougher now, almost jagged.
    â€œThat’s the one. I’m gonna ask him some questions.”
    He looked nasty, Benny thought, which meant he would be like a terrier with a rat between his teeth. He also wondered why his friend had waited so long to visit his mother’s old home. He knew for a fact Mac had only been there twice in his life, and he’d been too young to remember one of those times.
    â€œIf it’s something you gotta do, then you gotta do it,” Benny said, pouring himself a cup of coffee. He carried it to the Formica table and sat down. Mac joined him.
    â€œLook, I don’t want to get into all that family jazz. I wanted us to have a friendly visit so I wouldn’t feel so damn bad about leaving you behind. I figured we’d reminisce about the good old days, belt a few beers, and then shake hands. I screwed up. Sorry about that, Benny.”
    â€œThis coffee is fine; my stomach’s been out of whack for a week or so. I think I have an ulcer. Beer would kill me right now. Besides, how in the hell could we reminisce downstairs in the bar with all that racket going on?”
    They talked for a long time, Benny doing most of the talking. Mac plucked an orange from the luscious bowl of fruit on the table. Benny watched as his friend ran his thumbnail up one groove and down the other, his thoughts everywhere but on the subject at hand. Finally, their conversation slowed and disappeared into a depressing silence.
    â€œGoddamnit, this is turning into a wake,” Mac said sourly after a few moments. “This might be a good time to clap one another on the back and head home. Me to Alice, and you to your happy little family. Jesus, I envy you, Benny, but at the same time I’m happy for you. Can you understand that?”
    â€œSure. Look, Mac, why don’t you go home and make some sort of peace with Alice?
    â€œDid I ever tell you the only time Alice and I had good sex was the night before her beauty parlor appointment? On Thursday nights she didn’t worry about her hair getting mussed up. That’s a hell of a thing, isn’t it, Benny?”
    â€œYeah, it is, Mac,” Benny said, straightening his tie. He felt like crying for his friend. “Listen, let’s go downstairs, hug Sadie, and shoot two darts at your old man’s snoot. Winner buys drinks for the entire bar.”
    â€œDead center on his nose. You never even came close. It’s a sucker bet, but I’m game,” Mac said tightly.
    Sadie watched the two favorite men in her life walk over to the dart board. She immediately reached under the bar for a picture of Judge Carlin, blown up three times its original size. She personally thumbtacked it over the bull’s-eye and moved back. Tears glistened in her eyes when Mac squared his shoulders before pulling on his cap. This was something new, she thought. Mac never attacked his father when he was dressed in what she referred to as full regalia. Benny either.
    The room grew quiet. A dart game required everyone’s full attention.
    â€œYou first, Benny,” Mac said, stepping back.
    Benny felt the urge to cry again. Mac had been right, he’d never even come close to hitting the judge’s nose. Usually he got him high on the cheekbone or low on the