For Better, for Worse, Forever Read Online Free PDF Page B

dock.”
    “Repairs? Painting?”
    He shook his head. The gloom in his eyes passed and he gave a quick grin. “We’ll rent a little boat, big enough for two. I’ll teach you how to sail it. How to tack and swing the sail about without knocking yourself into the water.”
    “I’d like to learn.”
    A beeping sound interrupted them, and Brandon glanced down at his watch. “My cue to go to work,” he said, flipping off the miniature alarm. “I’d like to call you.”
    She’d enjoyed the afternoon and realized she wanted to see him again. “Sure.”
    He offered to walk her to her car, but she told him, “You go on. I’m going to walk on the beach awhile longer.”
    “Talk to you soon,” he called, and jogged off toward the golf course.
    She watched him, gave a deep sigh, and whispered, “I hope this is okay with you, Mark.”
    By the time Brandon pulled into his driveway, night had fallen. The lights were on inside the sprawling house, which meant that his father was home, returned from one of his many business trips. Brandon couldn’t say he was glad. The less he had to do with his father the better. He went into the kitchen through the garage and saw his father sitting at the breakfast bar, nursing a drink over a half-eaten sandwich.
    “Where have you been?”
    “Working.” Brandon crossed to the refrigerator, every nerve in his body tingling.
    “I called the Buccaneer at five and they told me you were gone.”
    “Well, your source was wrong. At the last minute Doug decided the grounds crew needed to mulch the garden near the sixteenth hole. So that’s what I did.”
    “What about your schoolwork? Or are yougoing to take yet another pass at your senior year?”
    Low blow
, Brandon thought, but he ignored the barb. “I didn’t have any homework.” No need to mention that he’d skipped school that day.
    “When I come home after a week away on the job, I expect to see you. I wanted us to have dinner together.”
    “It was never important to you before,” Brandon shot back. “Mom and I ate by ourselves half my life.”
    “You watch your mouth. I was trying to earn a living.”
    Brandon glared at his father. “Well, now you have all the time in the world.”
    Rage crossed his father’s face, and Brandon knew he’d stepped over the line. He didn’t care. Why should he spare his father’s feelings? “You think I chose to leave the two of you alone so much? You think you know so much about taking care of a family? About making sure they have the things they want? Well, I’ve got news for you, Brandon, you don’t know a thing!”
    Brandon fished in his pocket and pulled out his car keys. “I know I’m out of here.”
    His father stood, tipping over the kitchen stool. “You do not have my permission to leave.”
    “I didn’t ask for it.”
    “You can’t leave until I say so.”
    His father took a step forward, but Brandon met his challenge. “Watch me.”
    “Your car—”
    “Is mine. It belonged to my mother and she left it to me. And I pay for the gas and insurance.”
    His father raised his hand as if to slap Brandon. Brandon didn’t flinch. His father sagged against the counter and buried his face in his hands. “I—I don’t want to fight with you, son.”
    “Too late,” Brandon said. He slammed the kitchen door, got into the car, and screeched out of the garage. But he stopped at the end of the driveway. It was after ten and he really didn’t have anyplace to go. Why did it have to be this way between him and his father? Why did they always end up in a yelling match?
    Brandon bowed his forehead until it touched the steering wheel gripped between his hands. His heart pounded crazily and hisbody shook. Of course, the questions were pointless. He knew
why
. There was just nothing he could do about it. He turned his roiling thoughts to April and immediately felt calmer. She understood what it was like to lose somebody you loved. But she didn’t understand what it was like to