The Line That Binds by J.M. Miller Read Free Book Online Page A

the surrounding trees were long and fluid, swirling around the well like invitations to peer inside. Thoroughly depressing invitations. I wondered if Aunt Janine had painted them or if she’d bought them all from some hack who took advantage of her illness.
    “Nope,” Gavin replied before he stuffed the remainder of his pizza slice into his mouth.
    “There’s a well?” Dad asked. He was partially paying attention to our conversation as he circled some ads inside of the local paper.
    “There has to be one on this property,” I replied in a snarky tone.
    He glanced up toward the painting and smiled. “Yes, you’d think there was. It does seem very odd to have all of the paintings without an actual well. Lucky for you, you’ll get to explore outside more on Monday.”
    I turned to look at him. “What does that mean?”
    He straightened up in his chair. “Well, Simone denied me a job, but she said you are to start working on Monday.”
    “She denied you a job, but she gave me one?” I repeated, somewhat confused.
    “Yes. I don’t think she has a choice about your employment since you’ll own this place soon enough. It’d be a major error on her part not to show you the ropes first. She does get to choose where you start, though.”
    “And where’s that?” I asked, my mind already curious about the woman who had my father, the once assured and pompous casino entertainment manager, irritated.
    “She said that any new owner would benefit greatly by learning the basics of the property, which means that you will start at an entry-level groundskeeper position after school on Monday.”
    “Of course,” I said, shaking my head. I could schedule, prioritize, and possibly book events using minimal brain cells, yet I get to go outside and mow the grass and plant some flowers, things I’d never done before.
    Gavin laughed toward the screen of his game, but I knew the hack-’em-up game he was playing wasn’t a comedy. “Lila’s gotta get her hands dirty,” he mumbled ever so softly.
    “I’m sure they have some work gloves,” Dad reassured me with a hesitant smile.
    They both knew I leaned toward the obsessive/compulsive whenever cleanliness and order were involved. This would be a new concept, though. I’d never worked outdoors. That was one of the perks of living in a golf club community; they did all of the yard maintenance.
    “Sounds fine,” I said to shut them both up. At least I’ll have a job.

 
     
     
    Harper seized my dreams last night. She twisted into every fiber of my brain, and I woke with the clearest image I’d had of her in a long time. Three years had passed in a quick blink, stealing most of my thoughts of her along the way. The few physical pictures I had of her had already changed my mind’s depiction, replacing most of the candid memories with a few generic images. I was losing her, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. But after some dreams, she’d come back for a while, visiting like she’d never left, canceling the stale pictures and recalling a lost reality. This morning, I could almost smell her coconut shampoo, taste her cherry lip balm, and feel the heat from her face, radiating so much life whenever her lips were pressed to mine.
    I rolled out of bed and raked my hands over my face. The dream left my head spinning, as they usually did, bringing back all of the good as well as everything I’d rather forget. It drained me then forced me to stare into the pile of shit that had taken the place of my heart. I was relieved it was Sunday so I didn’t have to face the first day of school like this. Not that my investment in school took much effort, but I did favor having a clear head while I coasted through the motions.
    Morning light bled through the navy blue sheet tacked above my bedroom window, tinting the room with an under-the-sea glow, though I’d rather it portray the darkest depths of the ocean by fully blocking out the rays instead. One of these days I’d