Just Her Luck by Jeanette Lynn Read Free Book Online Page B

reached my ears and I chuckled along a little too.
    Backfired on ya, didn't it, Reeve?
    "Why is your face turning all pink like that? You sick or somethin', Reeve?" Ephraim chimed in moments later.
    He'd probably just entered the room.
    I don't think poor 'E' is ever in the loop.
    I grinned and hopped up as Reeve grumbled something at them that I couldn't quite make out.
    I'm guessing, by the angry stomping and grumbling, that it was Reeve moments later who slammed out the sliding glass door, letting it shut hard behind him.
    Temper, temper! I thought gleefully.
    Heh. Heh.
    "Someone has a temper!" I sing song-ed as I danced towards the bathroom.
    Hey! Maybe I'm a morning person after all.
    Who knew?
     
     
    ****
     
     
    Dressed and ready for the day, I set my duffle bag down on the end of the freshly made bed and glanced at the little calendar Aunt Ruthie had pinned on the wall.
    I did a double take as I read the bold red ink that stated what today was.
    Crap!
    I stared at the calendar, willing the date to change on me, but it just stared right back at me, eye popping red ink stating that today was Ruthie's consult with her doctor.
    I’m pretty sure this is her really important one, like a surgical consult.
    I chewed on my lip worriedly and picked up my cell phone, ready to call Aunt Ruthie just to double check.
    What's the point though? I already know it's today.
    I've known all week.
    Just like all her other appointments.
    I just know .
    Internal denial is a wonderful thing though, is it not?
    I guess I just didn't want to really think about it, tried to forget it, sort of.
    Avoidance. Oh, yes, sweet avoidance.
    I know all about avoidance. I’ve learned from the best.
    Just ask the woman who mothered - wait, no, she didn’t mother me- she supposedly raised me- well, either way, she could be the queen of it.
    I ran my fingers through my long untamable hair, tugging a little at the thick dark brown locks as I attempted to gnaw my own lip off with my upper teeth.
    Why am I dreading this so much?
    It’s just an appointment, right?
    Why all the worry, then, Vieve? I had to ask myself.
    It'll be fine.
    It's just a consult, after all.
    They'll probably just wanna order labs and stuff, that's all, talk about the procedure, normal pre-surgery things.
    No need to freak out.
    But, it's Aunt Ruthie , my gut argued right back with my mind.
    Not Joe Shmoe, Genevieve, but Aunt Ruthie .
    The same Aunt Ruthie who'd taught you about periods because Mom had decided she didn't have the time for it.
    The Aunt Ruthie who made it her personal mission in life to pick up all the pieces and glue little Genevieve back together when everyone teased the chubby little pig tailed girl with no friends, taunting me for blurting crap out and saying all the wrong things.
    Aaaahh, my social awkwardness at its best. Yep, those were the days.
    I could just picture her back then, always up for a surprise visit from me, never acting put out if I'd decided to stop by and unload all my personal woes on her; a hanky, a warm smile and a hug always at the ready.
    I stiffened my spine.
    I can do this!
    Aunt Ruthie needs me.
    With that final thought galvanizing me into motion, I hurried into the kitchen and threw a pot of coffee on, then warmed up the skillet.
     
     
    ****
     
     
    I was about half way through my pancake batter, preparing to put the next one on when Reeve stomped into the house.
    He stalked over to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup, taking a long, slow sip as he stared off into space, scowling at everything in the universe and yet nothing in general.
    Distracted, I didn't move my hand back fast enough and yowled when I burned my hand on the too hot cast iron skillet.
    I set the pancake in the skillet on the platter of already finished ones, wincing as my pinky and ring finger started to throb along with my heartbeat.
    I put another pancake on and examined the burn.
    It was pretty minor, so other than the pain of a burn, I'm pretty sure I'll