Home Song by Lavyrle Spencer Read Free Book Online Page A

were three and four. The trees had grown a lot since then, and when the senior class decided to TP them, the cleanup was horrendous. The yard looked nice today, however, still wearing its summer green, with Claire’s impatiens blooming in the redwood tubs beside the front step.
    Her car was in the garage, and the kids’ junker—an ancient, rusted-out silver Chevy Nova—parked right behind it. Tom pulled into his customary stall on the left, got out, and skirted the rear of Claire’s car on his way to the back door.
    He put his hand on the knob, but delayed turning it and facing his family with all this new knowledge of which they had no idea.
    He had an illegitimate son.
    His children had a half brother.
    Eighteen years ago his pregnant wife-to-be had been betrayed by her intended one week before the wedding.
    What would happen to his happy family if they ever learned the truth?
    He entered the family room and walked through it into the kitchen, where the homey scene suddenly clutched him with love—his wife and children in a room that smelled like supper cooking, waiting for him to join them and round out the family.
    Chelsea was setting the table. Robby stood by the open refrigerator door eating a cold wiener, and Claire was at the stove filling buns with barbecued hamburger.
    â€œPut on some pickles, too, will you, Chels? And Robby, stop eating those wieners! I’ve got supper all ready.” She glanced over her shoulder, smiled, and kept on working. “Oh, hi, Tom.”
    He shuffled to a stop behind her, slid an arm around her ribs, and kissed her neck. It was warm and smelled like onions, Passion perfume, and schoolteacher. She paused, the spoon in one hand and a bun in the other, craning to see him behind her.
    â€œMy goodness,” she said quietly, giving him a private smile. “Twice in one day?”
    He kissed her lingeringly on the mouth while Robby said, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    Chelsea said, “I caught them mashing face in Mom’s classroom this morning. And it wasn’t just a mini-mashing either. He had her in a full-body press. And guess what—they’re going away for the weekend and leaving Grandpa with us.”
    â€œGrandpa!”
    â€œSit down, you two,” Claire ordered, escaping Tom’s embrace, carrying a plate of steaming sandwiches to the table. “Your father suggested that maybe we should get away before school starts and things get crazy. You don’t mind, do you?”
    â€œWhy can’t we stay by ourselves?”
    â€œBecause we have a rule about that. Tom, would you get those carrots and celery sticks from the refrigerator?”
    Tom found them and they all got seated at the table. Robby put three burgers on his plate before passing the platter to his sister.
    â€œWhat a pig,” she said.
    â€œHey, listen, you didn’t bust your butt on a football field all afternoon.”
    â€œNo, I did it over at Erin’s house. We were practicing our cheerleading over there.”
    â€œBig deal,” he said disparagingly.
    â€œWhoa, aren’t we in a surly mood.”
    â€œJust lay off, huh? Maybe I’ve got a reason.”
    â€œOh, yeah—what reason?”
    â€œDad knows, don’t you, Dad? Some new kid moves into town, doesn’t even show up for football practice till after we’ve been through hell week, bustin’ our butts in the eighty-degree heat, and he just saunters onto the field and says, ‘Yessir, nossir’ to the coach a few times with this fakey Southern drawl, and the coach says, ‘You’re on the team.” ’
    Tom and Claire exchanged quick glances before he asked, “Have you got trouble with that, Robby?”
    â€œWell, jeez, Coach Gorman is letting him play running back!”
    â€œAny reason he shouldn’t?”
    Robby stared at his father as if he couldn’t believe his ears. Then he blurted, “Yeah,