Against the Tide Imperial: The Struggle for Ceylon (The Usurper's War: An Alternative World War II B by James Young (classic book list .txt) 📗

Sam took a step backwards in reaction to Jo’s fury.

Oh God, why did I think that was a good idea?

"What life lesson did Nick get that both Eric and you did not?" Jo asked. "Because seeing the way Agnes looked at him, I know last night was not the first time those two had sex, she's been engaged, and somehow he doesn't treat her like she's scratched and dented furniture."

"Now hold on a second," Sam said, setting his own coffee cup down with a thunk! "You don't get to lecture me about treating someone like damaged goods just because I asked if you needed help."

"Help?" Jo asked, cocking her head and widening her eyes. "Sam Cobb, my father has paid for rent on this house through the end of this year. There is enough money in a savings account that I never touch to pay for another two years."

Jo looked down for a second, her eyes briefly clouded.

"I've put your sister's half of the 'rent' in a separate account," she continued softly. "I figured if she had to go back to the States because they forced us all to evacuate, she'd have some start up money so there'd be options besides Alabama."

"What?!" Sam asked, incredulous. "But why wouldn't she want to go back to Alabama?"

"Gee, I don't know, the same reason she bolted out here?" Jo retorted, shaking her head. "Namely a mother that thinks she needs to be someone's prim and proper wife and a father who allows it?"

"Hey!" Sam said.

"Is for horses, Sam," Jo cut him off sadly. "Who was going to stop it, you? You're too busy whoring around with anything that will stand still."

I think that's a bit harsh.

Sam grit his teeth as Jo turned away from him to glance out the kitchen window.

Guess I’m just going to take this ass chewing and find someplace else to sleep.

"Okay, that wasn't fair," Jo said after a moment. Her back turned towards him, she took a deep breath. "That's…I think that's the anger of you thinking I'd disrespect my father that way plus having the audacity of double standards."

I think Eric is in there somewhere…wait, what?

"Double standards?"

"Yes, that's what us Yankees call it in when you think a man can just stick it in anything he wants but clearly a woman who has had…well, that's none of your business," Jo continued. "So let's just say, a woman who has not been chaste is the type to be giving three minute rub and tugs down in the red light district."

Sam looked at Jo aghast.

"I'm a librarian, Sam," Jo said, turning around to face him. He could see emotions flit across her face as she made a mental correction. "Or at least I was. Sailors really don't pay attention to who’s around when they talk."

Which leads to the whole thing that got this mess started. That stupid note.

"If I'd known that your rent was taken care of, I wouldn't have asked if you needed me to send you money," Sam replied. "I mean, they told me about Patricia going to work at the docks, but they said you’d just basically vanished."

"Gee, and the first thing that crossed your mind was…"

She has a point, Sam realized, suddenly horrified.

"That wasn't the first thing that crossed my mind, Jo," Sam muttered defensively.

"But it was on the list," Jo pressed. "I mean, how did you know I hadn't gotten a job as a school teacher? Or a nurse's aide? Or just started drafting with your sister and not told anyone about it?"

Sam held up his hands plaintively.

"Okay, okay, that was stupid," Sam admitted. "I am sorry."

And not just because I haven't been read the riot act that effectively since I nearly pranged a bird during training.

Sam could see Jo searching his face to see if he was sincere. Apparently satisfied, she held up one finger.

"That's the first thing," Jo said, then added a second finger. "The next thing…"

"No, wait a minute," Sam interrupted sharply. He paused to take a calming breath. "How about we discuss just where in the hell my sister is right now?"

"Oh, you mean the woman who left me a lovely note calling me names that were not exactly pleasant? A message which informed me she had packed an overnight bag, and would see me at work tomorrow?" Jo asked. "All because her siblings and I conspired against her?"

Sam whistled like a descending bomb.

Vintage Toots. Got Mom's temper without Dad's long fuse. Didn't help that she had most of us wrapped around her finger.

"Yes, that sister," he replied sorrowfully.

"Well, given she told me to enjoy 'fornicating with whatever brother suited my fancy,” Jo began evenly, “but would ask that I not break up the family's marriages…'"

Jo stopped to collect herself, lip trembling.

Oh my God!

Sam stepped forward to wrap Jo in his arms, shocked at Patricia’s callousness. After a moment’s resistance, she grabbed him back, burying her face in his chest as she sobbed. The smell of her hair shampoo and lotion wafted into his nostrils.

"I am going to have words with her," Sam snarled, feeling his own temper rising. "Dad only made me give her a switch once when we were kids, but maybe that needs to be revisited."

Jo pushed back and looked up at him, snorting in a completely unladylike manner. Sam started to smile until she began speaking.

"Gee Sam, I have no idea why I would set aside money for your sister to possibly start her own life somewhere," Jo said, incredulous. "I mean, you're talking about giving a grown woman a switching for what is a relatively reasonable response to what we did."

Sam looked at Jo in surprise.

Reasonable? I don't think that was very reasonable at all.

"She basically accused you of passing yourself around between us," Sam responded, his eyes wide. Jo just looked at him with a slight smile. After a moment, Sam started grinning in return.

"I guess that's rather hypocritical given…uh…"

Jo let him