Blue Skies, Season 2, Episode 8 (Rising Storm) Read Online Free PDF

are you doing?”
    Celeste blew out a breath. “Writing thank you notes. So many people sent flowers and donations to honor Jacob. It’s past time that I acknowledged the fact.” She set her pen down. “In fact, it’s past time I did a lot of things. I’m sorry for what I’ve put you through these last months. You had enough on your plate without having your baby sister fall to pieces too.”
    “Oh, Celeste, sweetie, I can’t even imagine the pain you’ve been going through. If I’d lost Jeffry or Brittany, I’m not sure I could survive.”
    “You’re a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for, Payton. Look what you did for Jeffry. And for Brittany. You showed them what a powerful woman can do. You stood up to Sebastian. And you circled around your children when they needed you.”
    “Yes, but you’ve always done that. I was too locked into my own little corner of hell to see the damage Sebastian and Marylee’s skewed sense of morality was inflicting on my children. The truth is that you’ve been strong for years with a moment’s weakness. And I’ve spent my life being weak and have had only a moment of strength.”
    Celeste reached over for Payton’s hand. “The important thing is that we have each other. And our children.” Her smile turned sly. “And Francine.”
    “Oh, stop it. I don’t have her. I just am…well, we’re feeling our way.” Payton marveled at the fact that her sister had clued in to the newly minted relationship between her and Francine. Payton wasn’t totally certain she understood it yet herself.
    “ Feeling being the operative word?” Celeste waggled her eyebrows, then sobered. “I’m happy for you. You deserve to have someone in your life who loves you for being you.”
    “So do you.” Payton couldn’t remember the last time she and Celeste had been so open and honest with each other. Tears touched her eyes. “So where do you go from here?”
    “I don’t really know. I’m going to take it minute by minute. Grief is a tricky thing. And I’m not going to pretend that I’m over it. I don’t know that I’ll ever get over losing Jacob. But I love my daughters and they need me now more than ever.”
    Payton paused, frowning as she realized what, or rather who, Celeste was omitting from their conversation. “What about Travis?”
    Celeste lifted her chin. “We’re getting divorced.”
    “Oh, Celeste, I’m so sorry.” She wasn’t surprised though. She’d known something was off with Travis. Been pretty sure he was having an affair, actually, though she hadn’t wanted to know for sure.
    “Don’t be. It’s long overdue. I actually had the papers drawn up before Jacob died.”
    She started to ask about the affair but then thought better of it. What if her sister didn’t know? There was no need to add to her pain. “You did?”
    “Yes.” Celeste met her sister’s gaze. “I knew about the affair, Payton.”
    Payton blew out a breath. “I wasn’t sure if you’d heard.”
    Celeste’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I think half the town knows. It’s next to impossible to keep a secret around here. Especially when Travis and Kristin are seen together all the time. They actually had the audacity to pass themselves off as a married couple at a resort in Bastrop.”
    “How in the world did you find out about that?”
    “Friend of a friend saw them there. Kristin told her they were celebrating their anniversary. I thought Travis was at a convention in Austin. Color me stupid.”
    “Well, sadly, we’re not the first women to have been cheated on by the men in our lives. And we won’t be the last. But at least we’re doing something about it. That’s got to count for something. Right?”
    “It counts for everything, Mom.” Brittany walked into the dining room and laid her hand on Payton’s shoulder.
    “Brit, you scared me.” Payton flashed a smile at her daughter. “I didn’t hear you coming.”
    “Stealth, Mom. It’s the name of the