ESCAPE FROM AMBERGRIS CAYE Read Online Free PDF Page B

be where you are, but I just can’t help myself. Now, if only
your brother would stop smoking marijuana and finish his education, your father
and I could stop worrying and rest easy. I guess I should be grateful at least
one of my boys has turned out so well.
    Your father’s ailing,
but try not to worry about it. I’m sure he’ll pull out of it as he’s done in
the past. It’s just that the drinking has affected his liver, and I doubt he
can get a transplant. I don’t think they put people with drinking problems on
the list unless they can prove they’ve stopped and he hasn’t, so we’ll have to
wait and see.
    I don’t want you to
worry, dear boy, there’s nothing you can do except pray. You could do that.
There’s nothing more powerful than prayer, you know. So, throw some your
father’s way.
    As far as that girl’s
concerned, in a way, she’s right. She’s a grown woman and if she wants to put
herself in a dangerous situation, that’s her business. It’s really stupid of
her not to listen to you, but there it is.
    It’s like your brother.
If he’s determined to throw his life away by smoking and laying around instead
of getting out there and making something of himself, all the nagging in the
world won’t change a thing. He’s got to make up his own mind.
    Same thing with Izzie.
Don’t waste your time fretting over a girl who thinks she’s better than you,
just because her daddy’s rich. As far as I’m concerned you’re head and
shoulders better than anyone I know, and I’m not saying that because you’re my
son. It’s the truth.
    Love, Mom
     
    Amanda Taylor closed the notebook computer and
leaned back in her chair. Writing to her youngest still seemed odd, despite the
fact he’d been in Tampa over a year. Tears came to her eyes. Her throat
constricted as she held back the pain. She missed him, even if she didn’t want
to admit it. Life wasn’t the same without Jackson around. She could still hear
echoes of her boys around the house. Sometimes she thought if she looked fast
enough, they’d still be there—tussling or arguing over something.
    She so wished she could have those days back—have
a do-over, as kids would say. She’d made mistakes despite her best efforts, but
it was too late: They were grown up and way past needing her. Jackson was
pursuing his dream in Tampa and Zac, well, he was—what could she say about her
eldest son? That he was trying to find himself? She shrugged. How many years
does it take to find oneself? It didn’t appear to her that he was looking very
hard. At the moment, the only thing he seemed to be pursuing was his next
drink, another drag on a marijuana cigarette, or some girl.
    Then there was Dan. How long could he hold on
until his liver gave out altogether? Every day he seemed to look more
jaundiced. The doctor had pretty much given up trying to make him stop
drinking, said it was only a matter of time; that there was nothing anyone
could do to help him since he was unable—or unwilling to help himself.
    She sighed. Sometimes life could be so cruel.

Chapter 15
     
    Jackson was restless. He had to get out and do
something—anything: take a drive, go to the beach, whatever. Weekends went by
too fast. Of course, if he’d get up earlier and didn’t stay up half the night,
maybe he’d have time for other stuff. Problem was, he liked staying up late and
getting up even later. He shrugged. Sooner or later he’d figure it out. Maybe a
drive to Clearwater Beach would help.
    That email from Mom had upset him. He’d known Dad
had health problems and that it was related to his drinking, but he never
thought it would become life-threatening. Mom probably hadn’t intended to
reveal the true extent of his condition; she’d more than likely gotten carried
away writing and the truth slipped out. The way it sounded, Dad was going to
die; it was only a question of when.
    Jackson didn’t know what to do or if there was
anything he could do. Should he quit his