I Want Candy by Susan Donovan Read Free Book Online Page A

voice deflated. He uncrossed his arms and laid his hands flat on the table. “You gotta let her go, little brother. Please. It’s time you move on with your life.”
    “What the fuck do you think I’m trying to do? Finding out once and for all if Spivey had anything to do with—”
    Their mother chose that instant to return to the dining room, a smile on her face and two servings of strawberry-rhubarb pie balanced in her hands. “This is such a treat having both my boys here on a plain old Monday!” She set the plates in front of the men.
    “Thanks, Mama,” Turner said, shooting Reggie a sharp look.
    “Looks delicious,” Reggie said, his eyes throwing daggers right back.
    “I heard Candy Carmichael is still in town,” Mama said, raising her teacup to her mouth, a move that didn’t quite hide the remnants of her smile. She wagged an eyebrow at Turner. “Have ya’ll been getting together with Cheri and J.J. often? Do ya’ll get along like you used to?”
    Reggie coughed delicately and held a napkin up to his lips. Turner rolled his eyes at his brother.
    “Once in a while,” he mumbled, digging into the pie. As always, the tart-and-sweet filling meshed perfectly with the rich, flaky pastry crust. “Mama, you still make the best pies in all of Cataloochee County.”
    She shrugged like the compliment didn’t mean anything to her. “As long as you boys enjoy it, then I’m doing all right, I suppose.”
    “So what’s Candy up to these days?” Reggie’s question sounded innocent enough, but the way his eyes danced with laughter made Turner want to stand up and smack him upside his shiny head.
    “Not much. She’s only passing through, probably be leaving any day now.”
    “Now, that’s odd, because I heard she’s been putting in applications for jobs all over town.” Mama looked truly puzzled. “Word is she even applied for a spot on the line out at the tannery, and that’s no work for a young lady with a college degree.”
    “Jesus,” Reggie said. “She sounds desperate.”
    Turner focused on his pie.
    “Where’s she living?” Mama asked.
    Turner continued to focus on his pie.
    “Turner?”
    He looked up at his mother. “Uh, with Vivienne Newberry.”
    “Oh, my.” Mama made a hissing sound with her tongue against her lips.
    Reggie chuckled.
    “Does Candy still make those mouthwatering cakes?” she asked. “Remember those cakewalk fund-raisers the cheerleaders used to put on for the football team? Candy’s cakes were always grand prize, right? Remember that? Oh, my, they were as delicious as they were beautiful.”
    “Mmm, mmm,” Reggie said. “Delicious and beautiful.”
    Turner was damn near ready to stick a fork in his brother’s bare skull. “I don’t know if she still bakes, Mama,” he said, though in his heart he sure hoped to hell she did. She owed him a chocolate cake.
    “Well, the next time you see her, tell her to stop by the Quick E Mart. If she’s really that desperate for work I’ll put in a good word for her with your uncle Earl.”
    “That’s sure nice of you, Mama,” Turner said, finishing up with his dessert, “but I doubt I’ll be running into her any time soon.”
    “Oh? And why is that?”
    “Work. Things are pretty busy. Don’t have a lot of time for socializing.” Turner stood up and took his dirty dishes out to the sink, then swung through the dining room, grabbed his ball cap from the back of the chair, and kissed his mother good-bye. “Thank you so much for a wonderful lunch, as usual, but I gotta run. I’ll call soon.”
    By the time Turner made it out the front door, he knew his brother was behind him. Two hundred seventy pounds of six foot five couldn’t exactly sneak up on a person.
    “Hold up.”
    Turner ignored him, and climbed in the SUV and turned the ignition.
    Reggie banged on the door until Turner rolled down the window.
    “What?”
    His brother gave him a crooked smile and leaned in. “You don’t still got a thing for Candy