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

replied, still puzzled.
    “And ...”
    He shrugged and shook his head. “I don’t know.”
    Katie leaned against one of the cars and almost lost her balance. “I think you’ve had enough,” Jon surmised, “ and I think you’re going to be sorry tomorrow. Haven’t you learned anything about moderation at that Ivy League school?”
    Katie scowled at him and sneered, “More than you!”
    Josh agreed. “Hey, Jon, give her a break. I can remember several times at Brown when you could be found worshipping the porcelain goddess. Let’s see, tequila shots in the dorm followed by White Russians at Spats? You were three sheets to the wind! And the next day you couldn’t even run at the invite.”
    Katie folded her arms across her chest and smirked at her brother. “Gee, I never heard that one before.”
    “Thanks, Josh,” Jon said, putting his arm around Julie. “That was a family secret.”
    “Hey!” Katie protested indignantly. “ I’m family!”
    “Sorry to break it to you,” Jon teased callously, “but you were adopted, hence the red hair and freckles. Didn’t you notice? No one else in the family has them.”
    “Thasnot true!” Katie began to slur her words. “Mom said Aunt Ruth did.” She glanced at Linden, who was standing by himself, innocently observing the sibling discord, but when he inadvertently smiled, she drunkenly turned the tables. “At least I’m not foolish enough to believe that someone would just stop going out with me for no reason.”
    Jon winced at his sister’s words. “Katie, what does that have to do with anything?”
    She looked at him. “Well, it’s true and you know it! Everyone in town knows it!” Katie’s tone had all of a sudden become accusatory and sharp. “Maybe it’s time Linden learned the truth. Maybe it’s time one of his real friends told him the real reason Callie broke up with him.”
    Josh stepped up beside Katie and put his arm around her. “I think it’s time for all unruly children to go to bed.” He tried to guide Katie toward the house, but she twisted away from him, swaying precariously, and refocused on Linden. Jon stepped toward her too, but she pushed him away and almost fell again.
    A small group had begun to gather in the driveway and Katie felt encouraged by their interest. She took a sip from her cup and announced matter-of-factly, “Callie was pregnant, Linden. That’s why she broke up with you.” She swayed a bit before continuing. “The father of the baby is a big mystery too, but I heard he was married.”
    Linden, who had been curiously waiting to hear what she was going to say, just stared at her.
    “Katie, shut up, okay? You’ve said enough!” Jon commanded.
    “But, thersmore, Jon,” she slurred, leaning on the car to steady herself. “I heard something’s wrong with him. I heard her son’s retarded and thaswhyshestocome home.”
    Josh whistled softly. “Nice, Katie, you certainly have a way with words.”
    Katie looked at her brother defiantly. “He was going to find out anyway. Don’t you think it’s better that he find out from us?”
    “You mean from you,” Jon corrected.
    Linden didn’t say a word. He just listened to them talk about him as if he weren’t there, and then he bit his lip and looked away. Finally, he turned and started to walk toward his truck. Jon called after him. “Linden, wait... .”
    But Linden just put up his hand and said, “Thank your parents for me.”

    Twenty minutes later, Linden was sitting on the dark porch with the dogs, watching the stars flicker and fade and then grow bright again. Katie’s words echoed through his head and, for the first time in a long time, Linden thought about the months that had followed his breakup with Callie.
    After that Fourth of July, he had been devastated and confused, and he’d had no desire to return to school. His parents had argued vehemently with him about making such a rash decision and he’d answered them by drinking his way through the