The Vampire's Warden by S J Wright Read Free Book Online Page B

it occurred to me that this burden had been weighing her down for years. I tried to imagine being the caretaker of two small girls who had suddenly lost their mother. I had never considered what it might have cost her. Or why she stayed to take care of everything.
     
    “ When Selena and your Dad started having problems, I tried to mind my own business.” She laced her fingers together on her lap and stared down at them. They were the hands of a working woman. Sometimes they would get so dry in the winter; her knuckles would crack and bleed. They were the same hands that wiped away tears, developed calluses by pushing brooms, pounded flour into dough for dinner rolls. She regarded them sadly as she spoke, “She started going into town more often. She started drinking. I guess your Dad was hoping it was a phase she was going through. She paid less attention to things around here. Every day, another new job was given to me to be responsible for.”
     
    “ What changed?”
     
    She shook her head slowly, “Oh, honey. Your Mom hated living out here. She didn’t want the responsibility of it. She did love your Dad, but it just wasn’t enough.”
     
    Pain struck me like a lightning bolt. It was not enough. What about us, her own children? I felt the now-familiar hot and heavy tears begin to fill my eyes, and Nelly pulled me against her with both arms, “I know it’s hurtful. It seems impossible to you, honey. But some people just don’t bond with their children the way they should. It has nothing to do with you personally.” I wanted to push her away. Her betrayal was still a fresh wound to me. However, numbness had begun to push my angry thoughts into the background.
     
    Katie suddenly flew through the door, a coat draped around her and barked out, “I’m going for a walk.”    
     
    Then Alex struck out after her with grim purpose darkening his eyes.  He glanced at me quickly as he followed Katie out.  I hoped he would calm her down.  More importantly, he needed to keep her away from the meadow.  The idea of my sister encountering Michael made me feel physically ill.
     
    They returned an hour later.  I had been helping Nelly clean up the breakfast dishes and we both paused when Alex came through the door.  His expression was brooding.  I put away the bowl I had been drying and gave him a questioning look.
     
    “ Katie’s decided to head back to school early.  She’s packing.”
     
    Nelly went to him and laid a hand on his arm, “How’s she doing?  Any better?”
     
    He shook his head slightly, “She’s confused and angry.  But with some time, I think she’ll be fine.”
     
    “ I wish she’d stay.”  I said.
     
    Then I heard her coming down the stairs and I went to meet her in the entry.  She had her bright blue backpack hanging over one shoulder.  Her eyes were red rimmed and bright with tears she had held back.  There was also an edge to her expression, anger so bright and fiery that I felt the need to take a step back. 
     
    “ I’ll call you when I get back to the dorm.” She ground out.
     
    “ Katie, please stay and talk to me about this.”
     
    Her head shook in denial. “No.  I need some time.”
     
    She pushed past me and left through the front door without a hug or even a sisterly farewell.  I watched her wrench open the passenger side door of her Jeep, throw her backpack in, slam the door, and march to the driver’s side.  I stayed there at the front door, watching as she drove down in the direction of the road.
     
    Maybe I could have done something more.  I should have forced her to talk to me, to work this thing out and decide together where to go from here. However, how much could I tell her?  She had not asked to see the journal, and I hoped that she might have forgotten about it. 
     
    The afternoon was waning when I went in search of Alex.  The golden light of the setting sun dusted everything with warmth.  The tops of the