Black Sheep Read Online Free PDF Page B

kitchen.
    I went into the room and stood in the doorway as she moved around the kitchen, scrubbing the spotless counters like she did when she was upset or nervous about something.
    “Well, she’s gone,” she said with a stiff grin. Her graying hair was pinned in its usual bun, but a few stressed strands had escaped down the back of her neck. “My baby’s off to school—off to the big city without me.” Her voice broke, and I could tell she was holding back tears.
    She stopped scrubbing the counters to look up at me. Her eyes were an exact match to Nicole’s—beautiful—knowing. She was the perfect definition of the word mother, and I was blessed to have her in my life.
    “I couldn’t go with them, Tyson. I couldn’t watch her leave us.” Her eyes watered, and she quickly turned away to scrub the counter behind her.
    I nodded, understanding her.
    Donald and Connie Palmer were amazing parents. Thanks to them, the Palmers were a close family, one that I’d grown to love over the years. They took me in when I had nowhere else to go. They fed me and clothed me when I had nothing, and they accepted me and my flaws. I’d never forget the peace and happiness the Palmers brought into my life. Because of them, I had Nicole, and because of me, I’d lost her.

THREE
    Nicole
     

     
     
     
     
    “ENJOY YOUR THANKSGIVING! I’ll see you Sunday,” Amber yelled from the cab window as they drove off.
    New York looked good on her. Already, she’d dyed her hair an auburn tone. Her roommate was a bit of a hair and makeup connoisseur, so her eyebrows were done and she had color on her face. Amber was never one to overdo things like that. She looked nice—put together and flawless. Meanwhile, I looked like hot garbage. The flight had been terrible, and the airport had lost one of my bags.
    Amber was full of energy, and I was dragging. The only plus side to traveling home with her was we had time to sit and chat while on the plane and in the back of the cab. We thought we’d have time to hang out once we’d settled in New York, but the reality was both of our schedules were packed. We rarely saw each other, and other than a quick phone conversation here and there, we barely talked.
    I missed her.
    Autumn mums lined the sidewalk to the front door. Mom’s wind chimes played their beautiful music in the November breeze, and the smell of fresh mulch reached my senses as I made my way toward the front door. A cornucopia full of fake fall flowers was hanging on the front door, and the seasonal flag Mom switched out every few weeks waved in the wind, rippling a smiling cartoon turkey.
    The front door was unlocked, so I pushed it open and stepped into the warmth of my childhood home.
    “I’m home!” I called out as I dropped my heavy bag by the front door with a thump.
    Even though we talked almost every day, I hadn’t seen my family since I left for school. I missed them like crazy and suffered the worst case of homesickness ever, which was why I showed up a day early for Thanksgiving to surprise them.
    Thanksgiving recess was usually only four days or so, but Amber was leaving earlier, and I wasn’t keen on traveling alone. Thankfully, I’d managed to get away since the faculty was also ready to start their holiday. I snagged a ticket on the same flight to Charleston as Amber, paid for it with the emergency credit card, and was packed and ready in an hour.
    The house was silent as I slipped through the foyer taking in the pumpkins and scarecrows Mom decorated with every fall. The smell of pumpkin spice billowed from her tart warmers, reminding me of all the family holidays from years before. The holiday season had always been my favorite.
    Each room was empty as I passed it. I had at least expected Brian, my little brother, to be in the living room playing Xbox. After school, that’s usually where you could find him. He’d be on the couch with snacks scattered around him as he yelled into the mic attached to his