Live for You by Marquita Valentine Read Free Book Online

pull into the nearest parking spot, get out, then grab
the flowers we’ve brought for Crystal.
    Parker helps Kelly out of
her booster seat, swinging her up in his arms. As much as we carry
that baby girl everywhere, I’m surprised she ever learned to walk
or talk for that matter. The slightest grunt or chubby finger
pointing at anything and we’d run to get it like Pavlov’s
dogs.
    Inside the place smells
like bleach, soothing music playing as we walk along extra zen-like
corridors to the communal visiting room. My grandparents chose this
place, because it was new, near and kept their patient list under
wraps. And the staff had no clue about the tricks Crystal liked to
pull, because the Newtons had paid off every other rehab to keep
quiet.
    Way to go grandma and
granddad. I roll my eyes.
    As soon as we walk into a
brightly painted room, Kelly squeals in excitement and wriggles out
of Parker’s embrace. She’s not jaded like us. Not yet anyway. But
Parker holds her back, waiting for our mother’s reaction
    Sneaking a glance at me,
she smiles at the flowers in my hand. I shake them at her, a smirk
on my lips. The last time we were here, Crystal pitched a fit and
threw a temper tantrum because we didn’t bring her flowers. This
time I made sure she had her damn flowers. There was no way in hell
Parker and I were going to let that woman make Kelly cry
again.
    Crystal opens her arms wide
and Parker lets go of our sister. Kelly rushes in, her curly hair
flying out behind her.
    I glance at Parker as he
says,. “Looks like she’s better this time.”
    “ It’s a fucking miracle,”
I mutter as we amble over, sitting in the two chairs opposite of
Kelly and Crystal.
    “ Look how much you’ve
grown, baby girl!” Crystal says, peppering Kelly’s face with
kisses.
    “ Do you like my pretty
dress, momma? I wore it just for you,” Kelly says, then gets
distracted by cookies that have just been set out. “Can I go get a
cookie?” She asks me and not Crystal. I know I’ll pay for this
later. It doesn’t matter that I’m the one taking care of
her.
    I nod. “Sure.”
    Parker stands, holding out
his hand. “Let’s see if they have any with sprinkles.”
    Crystal glances at the
dress, her nose scrunching as she shoots me a look. “Isn’t this a
little small for her and too young?”At least she waited until Kelly
was out of earshot before making her snide remark.
    I clench my jaw. “It was a
present from the Evanses.”
    She rolls her eyes. “You
mean hand-me-down.”
    “ Does it matter?” I hiss,
raising my brows at Kelly who thankfully has been distracted by the
cookies an orderly has just put out. “It’s not like you’re the one
putting clothing on anyone’s back.”
    Tears fill Crystal’s blue
eyes, hair the color of honey falling forward as she looks down at
her hands. “Why do you have to be so cruel?”
    “ Our reality isn’t
kind.”
    Her head snaps up, tears
gone. “Then pretend.”
    “ Like you, with pills or
smoking up? Hell, Crystal, this last time you were arrested, you
were caught in a meth lab. Hard to pretend with that plastered all
over the local news.” I clench my fists. Always, it ends up like
this. When I was younger, I thought she was the prettiest woman I’d
ever seen. I thought she’d hung the moon. She’d been sweet and kind
and loving, then my sperm donor left her for good and it was all
downhill from there.
    “ Fuck you, Cole,” she says
this with a smile, because another family has come in and God
forbid they think we’re not happy. “You brought me flowers?” She
turns to the mom and dad of the group and gestures to the bouquet
in my lap. “Isn’t he the best son? I don’t deserve his support at
all.” Gazing at me, with hatred shining in her eyes, she says, “I
love you so much.”
    I inwardly flinch. She has
no idea how much she still can hurt me. How much I actually do
still love her. I don’t trust her, not for anything, but I do love
her.
    They give us