Words Get In the Way by Nan Rossiter Read Free Book Online

lips and winking at Katie.
    “You shouldn’t do that,” she said flirtatiously. “I might get ideas.”
    Linden looked at Jon and shook his head. “I think you better cut her off.”
    Katie leaned back, took a sip, and grinned at them.

11
    “ T ime for bed,” Callie whispered softly. Henry squirmed away from her and made a move toward the porch steps. “Oh, no, you don’t!” she said, standing to catch him. But just as he reached the top step, the distant sky filled with sparkling bright lights. Henry came to an abrupt halt and pointed. “Fireworks,” Callie said. “Do you want to go see them?” Henry just stared into the darkness. “Stay there,” she said, eyeing him. “I’ll be right out.” She went into the kitchen, grabbed Henry’s sweatshirt and her keys, and closed the door. She knew the best place from which to watch the fireworks was up at the rocks, and she hoped no one would be there.
    They bumped up the dirt road, and Callie turned the car around and parked on the opposite side, headed down. She lifted Henry out and helped him pull his sweatshirt on over his pajamas. He was wide-eyed as she picked him up and carried him down the path shrouded in darkness. When they reached the lookout, she sat down on the rocks with him on her lap and tried not to think about the last time she’d sat there.
    They didn’t have to wait long before sparks flew into the air and disappeared, seemingly without fanfare. A moment later, though, the sky exploded into a cascade of brilliant lights raining down, and these were soon followed by several thundering detonations that echoed across the valley.
    Henry squirmed and whimpered, and Callie hugged him. “It’s okay, Hen-Ben,” she assured him. “There’s nothing to be afraid of; it’s just lights and sounds.” As she said this, though, a succession of small rockets screamed into the darkness and exploded into swirling, confusing lights ... and these were followed by more deafening detonations. Henry cried out and frantically tried to cover his eyes and ears. Callie suddenly remembered the doctor’s words and realized that Henry wasn’t afraid. He was in pain, and not just any pain. The doctor had said it could be excruciating pain!
    “I’m sorry, Hen-Ben!” Callie said remorsefully, holding on to his thrashing, twisting body and trying not to get hit by the small fists that were fiercely clapping on the sides of his head. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking! I wasn’t thinking! Let’s go! Let’s go home!” She tried desperately to calm him, but the relentless assault on his senses seemed to be unbearable. She held him close to her body and tried to shelter his head with her arms as she stumbled back up the path.

12
    L inden was surveying the dessert table when Katie came up behind him and whispered, “Nice ass!”
    Linden picked up a homemade brownie and raised his eyebrows. “Is that how you talk to all your brothers?” he teased. Katie just rolled her eyes.
    Mr. Connor looked up and realized the outdoor lights were still on, spied Linden standing near the door, and hollered to him. Linden went inside and found the switch, but when he reemerged into the dark yard, he thought he heard an odd sound. He stood still, trying to listen over the noise of the party and, after the second burst of fireworks, he heard it again. Puzzled, he walked slowly around the house and up the driveway. By the time he reached the road, he had realized that it was a child crying. With his heart pounding, he started to run. Why is there a child out here? he wondered. As he drew closer, the cries grew louder but, just as he reached the top of the last knoll, they were suddenly drowned out by the sound of a loud engine sputtering to life and he could only watch helplessly as the taillights of an old car flickered down the road.

    “Where’d you go?” Katie asked when he walked back down the driveway. “You missed the fireworks.”
    “I thought I heard something,” he