No Man Left Behind: A Veteran Inspired Charity Anthology by Elizabeth Knox (story books for 5 year olds .TXT) 📗

Shaking my head, I go back to reading my article. “Dad really rubbed off on you before he passed,” I mutter, remembering the way he’d pick on me at every opportunity.

“In more ways than one.”

I have to do a double take. Peeling my eyes away from the phone, I look at her and she busts out laughing. “Mom! Goodness, and you go to church!”

“Everyone needs to have reasons my dear,” she snickers, enjoying herself all too much right now.

It must be the pain meds making her a little loopy and relaxed. Otherwise she’d never say anything like this to me. Before her surgery, she did ask that I not allow her to be on pain medicine for more than a week, so I’ll be slowly tapering her off them and giving her Tylenol in replacement.

“I can’t believe you said that. Coming from the woman who had my pastor give me the birds and the bees talk.”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t want to do it. It was awkward, and who else to help you keep your legs closed than getting the talk from your pastor, and then being judged by God. If you ask me, I was a smart mom . . . but not smart enough, considering . . .”

Cocking a brow, “You don’t mean that.”

“Of course not, I’m only proving a point. Now, let me get back to what I was saying. I knew years ago she was Kaden’s. You were leaving little hints at every turn my dear. I don’t know why you never told him but given the way Vivi told me he rushed out of here, I think you know he figured it out.”

“Mom, please, don’t.”

“Charlee, Kaden has never been a dummy. Vivi looks so much like him. She has his eyes. They’re practically carbon copies, and don’t make me list every other feature she has that’s his.”

Sucking in a deep breath, I release it, trying my best to relax.

A knock comes to the door and internally I groan, praying it isn’t Kaden. “Are we expecting anyone?” I question, rising from my seat, I put my phone down on the coffee table and head to the front door. Pulling the handle open, Esther, one of my mom’s church friends who’s been recently widowed, is standing there.

“Esther, goodness. What’re you doing here?”

“Oh, well. I figured you’d need a night to yourself and told your mom this afternoon I’d come on up and hang out with her and Vivi. I haven’t seen that little girl of yours in ages! I hear she’s grown like a weed.” Esther pushes past me and makes herself comfortable, as do most of my mother’s church friends. She heads straight over to my mom, sitting directly beside her and they start chatting instantly. Vivi’s upstairs playing some video games so I won’t go bother her. Instead, I go back to my seat and grab my phone, but my butt doesn’t hit the cushion before my mom is wagging her finger at me.

“Get out of the house. You’ve been cooped up here for too long. Take a night off, dear. As a matter of fact, go run to Kaden’s club . . . what do they call that place they stay, Esther?” Mom looks to her friend.

“A clubhouse I believe,” Esther replies.

“Yes, go over to his clubhouse and take him some cookies from the store. Give him my apologies that I didn’t make them myself, but being in the shape I’m in, I can’t do much.”

Cocking a brow, I sit up in my chair and stare sternly at her. “You can’t be serious. You don’t want me to go over there after today.” I make statements, not asking her questions, but she’d tell everyone otherwise.

“Yes, I do want you to go over there. Kaden helps me all the time! Who do you think cut down that dead tree before you came back, huh? Kaden did, so go take the man some cookies.”

“Maybe give him a special cookie,” Esther suggests, giggling afterward. My mom cackles along with her.

Heat rushes to my cheeks before I can come up with a reply. Never in the world did I think they’d be talking like this. “Esther! Goodness. You’re as bad as Mom is! And allow me to tell both of you this. The only cookies I’m giving Kaden are going to be the ones I buy from the store. I’m not barking up that tree again. It didn’t work out once, and I’m not looking to repeat history.”

“Kids these days don’t want to fight for anything good.” Esther shakes her head, shooting me a judgmental look.

Standing up with my phone, I head for the door, deciding I don’t need to keep hearing this crap. “Where are you going!?” my mom asks.

I look back to her, sure to be snarky in my reply, “To take your precious Kaden some cookies from the store!”

I take my purse off the coatrack hook and slide it over my shoulder, grab the keys to my mom’s SUV, and head out the door. I’ll go over to the nice supermarket across town and get the gourmet cookies. At least this way I can swipe a few too. I’ve been craving some good sweets lately.

Now I just need to figure out wherever the hell this clubhouse of his is, but knowing the people who live in this town, everyone will know. I’ll just ask the clerk at the grocery store and I’m sure they’ll be able to point me in the right direction.

Chapter Six

Kinetic

After the whole ordeal with Charlee earlier, when I got back to the clubhouse I grabbed a bottle of Jack and stormed off to my room. I’ve been sitting in here ever since, slowly sipping on the dark liquor with Koda’s head in my lap.

With my free hand I run my fingers through Koda’s fur, letting him calm the fury swirling through me. I have a daughter named Viviana. A