Games We Play Read Online Free PDF Page B

you can read through to my mental subtext,” Kendall said, and chuckled.
    “Your mother and I are the only ones left. Your grandparents are gone, at least your maternal ones. You’d think it would have made us closer, that knowledge, but it hasn’t,” Myra added.
    Kendall nodded. “I do love my mother,” she said, and placed her sandwich on her plate. “But you have to be really strong to stand up to her, or she’ll run you over and try to make you into her image. I could deal with her without letting it bother me too much, but not Lark. She’s younger and more sensitive. And now she doesn’t speak to Vivian at all.”
    “What happened?” Aunt Myra asked.
    “She found Butch, our father, and discovered the role Vivian played in keeping him apart from us. She hasn’t been able to forgive her for that,” Kendall said, reaching for her tea.
    “I don’t know what happened between the two of them,” she continued, “or why they divorced, and of course Vivian wouldn’t dream of telling me. My dad won’t discuss it much either, except to say it wasn’t his idea not to be in our lives. He wanted to help raise us. He is very a nice man, and we’re happy to be in contact with him now.”
    Aunt Myra watched for a minute. “Vivian was very bitter after the divorce. She thought I was involved in Butch’s decision to leave her.”
    “He left her? Wow—didn’t know that. Did you know him well?” Kendall asked.
    “Yes, very well. I introduced the two of them,” she said. “You didn’t know that either,” she said, obviously noticing the surprise in Kendall’s eyes.
    “No,” she mumbled around her food. “These are really good,” she said, pointing to the other half of her sandwich.
    Aunt Myra nodded, smiled. “He left, but he really didn’t have any other choice…she was something, your mother. She was always so determined to have things her way.” Myra looked away, as if she was remembering that time in her life. “It’s the first time we couldn’t forgive each other after a falling-out.”
    “My sister, Lark, lives with him. I thought it was a bit harsh, but I do understand her hurt and anger. And honestly, having spent time with him has affected my relationship with Vivian too. I don’t go by to see her as much as I used to, not like I should, not after I’ve learned what she did to him.”
    “Yes, I expect it has changed your relationship,” Myra said, staring outside now. “How is Butch doing?”
    “Fine, trying to make up for lost time. He’s happy to have Lark living with him.”
    “I’m glad you were able to reunite with him. He was a nice man. I hated what happened to him, and he loved your mother so,” Myra said, taking a sip of her tea.
    “Aren’t you a wealth of information? I’ll have to tell Lark. She considers herself a mystery solver, and we have no knowledge of my mother and Butch. We’re finally getting to know our family, Butch and his sisters. I have five aunts on his side of the family. Did you know that? It’s one of the reasons I wanted to take this chance to get to know you. Divine intervention, you could call it. It’s not about Vivian or Houston or even your missing money, although I’m going to check into that for sure. Yes, ma’am, I’m just going to march my little nose right into the middle of it, so you’ve been warned,” Kendall said. Her aunt laughed. “And of course I’d like for you to meet Lark too.”
    “I would love that. It’s never too late to get to know one’s family. Although you might find living here dull.”
    “I doubt it. I have my laptop to fill in the dull times. Coopersville also has that famous golf course, and I’m itching to play it.”
    “A golfer like your father.”
    “You knew?”
    “I did,” Aunt Myra said, smiling. “And you’re outspoken, just like your grandmother,” she said, laughing this time. “You had the makings of a smart mouth. I noticed it when you spent your first and only summer with us,