Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Janie had just left John. With Matthew having finished his special forces training and putting himself in danger, Connelly had decided his mom and sister needed more safeguards.
He’d taken out life insurance as a precaution, but he hoped to hell they’d never need it.
* * *
Connelly pulled into his mother’s driveway right behind Janie’s beat-up station wagon. Before he even shut off his engine, the boys were barreling out the front door straight toward him.
“Uncle Con, Uncle Con!” Sammy shouted, waving a plastic Superman figurine in the air. “Can we play superheroes again? I brought my Iron Man and my Batman too.”
Connelly got out of the car and crouched down just as Sammy flung his arms around his shoulders. “You did? I’m so glad! I’ve been looking forward to superheroes all week.”
“Happy birthday, Uncle Connelly,” Peter said, hugging him too. “Mom said you were going to take us for ice cream.”
“Ice cream!” Sammy squealed. “Can we go now, can we?”
Connelly stood and mussed Sammy’s hair. “Later, buddy. We have to eat cake first. And I thought you wanted to play with your figurines? You’re not going take my fun away, are you?”
Sammy smiled up at him to show that two front teeth were missing.
“Oh boy, did the tooth fairy come to your house? How come no one told me?” Connelly made a big show of inspecting Sammy’s mouth and both of the boys started laughing. “Why are you laughing, Peter?” He turned to his oldest nephew and started tickling his ribs. “Did she steal your teeth away too?”
“Stop it, Uncle Con,” the boy giggled, squirming.
“Boys, come on inside and let your uncle catch his breath,” his mother called from the stoop.
“Race ya!” Sammy said, before taking off in an unsteady run. Peter chased after him, but Connelly took a moment to get the glove from the backseat before following.
“Hey, Mom.” He hugged his mother’s frail shoulders as she squeezed him tight.
“You look thin, have you been eating?”
“I’m the exact same weight I’ve been for years.”
She humphed and pinched his cheek. “Well, I hope you have second helpings today. I don’t like to think of you hungry.”
“I had a big lunch. I promise I’m not starving to death. Where’s Janie?”
The screen door slammed behind them as they entered the house, and like always the smell of mothballs and citrus cleaner burned his nostrils. The entryway was so dark he had to blink a few times for his eyes to adjust.
“She’s on the phone with John in your father’s study.”
Your father’s study. She still called it that even though the man had been dead seven years.
“Why? What does the bastard want now?”
“Watch your mouth. He’s her husband.”
“Ex, Mom, ex-husband. He’s a worthless cheating piece of scum.”
“He’s promised to change, and it’s best for the boys if they make it work.”
“Are you serious right now?” He couldn’t help his exasperated tone. “He hit her. How can you even...? No. You know what? Never mind.” He shook his head and stalked off toward the study.
Janie stood in front of the window, facing away from him. Her shoulders trembled and when he knocked on the open door, she quickly wiped at her eyes before turning.
“Janie,” he said.
She just shook her head as new tears pooled. It only took four big steps before he had her in his arms.
“What’s happened now?” he asked.
Between sobs she said, “He says he’s going to AA. He wants to get back together.”
The rat bastard hit his sister. There was no way Connelly would let him get his claws into Janie again.
“Why is that making you cry?”
“I don’t know. I can’t believe him, not after everything. But I know if I say no, he’ll just make my life hell. He even threatened to take me to court for custody now that he’s clean.”
“That’s an empty threat. He’s just trying to rattle you because he knows he doesn’t have any real ground to stand on.”
“You think?”
“I know. I’ve seen so many assholes like him at work. Trust me, there is no judge alive who would take your kids away from you after what John did. All you have to do is stay strong. You can do that, can’t you?”
She sniffed and rubbed at her eyes before nodding. “Yes. I can do that.”
“That a girl. Now—” he pulled away and looked into her eyes “—how about a piece of Mom’s famous lasagna and chocolate cake?”
Janie smiled at him. “Thanks.”
“I know Mom is pressuring you to take him back, but don’t listen to her, okay? She’s blinded by her marriage with Dad. It’s not the same, is it?”
Janie shook her head and though her bottom lip wobbled a little, she did manage to keep her emotions under control this time.
“You’re better off without John, and I know one day you’ll find a man who deserves you. In the meantime, I’m here.”