Hailstone Read Online Free PDF Page A

were supposed to. She had a cross around her neck. She didn’t compare favourably with Kat at all.
    Magda pushed open the door and stood in the entrance.
    “Well, good mor ning!” Amanda stood up and came over to her. “I’m so thrilled to meet you at last, Magdalene. Please, come in and sit down.” She took her hand and shook it feverishly.
    Oh God. She was perky.
    Magda reclaimed her hand. She went and sat on the couch and studied her nails.
    Amanda returned to her seat. “We’re going to have so much fun together today, Magdalene. You’ll see it’s possible to be happy without alcohol in your life, and together we’ll learn some things as well!”
    “Please, call me Magda.” Magda settled back into the couch.
    Amanda looked surprised. “Magdalene is such a beautiful name, why would you want to shorten it?”
    Magda didn’t answer her. She maintained her skeptical stare; Amanda squirmed.
    Preacher wouldn’t be back all day. Maybe Amanda was right. Maybe they could have some fun.
    “Amanda would you like a coffee?” she asked.
    “Coffee is a drug, Magdalene .” Amanda looked earnest. “Caffeine does terrible things to the body, and it is my belief that Jesus does not want us to harm the bodies He gave us.”
    “Tea?”
    Amanda shook her head and pursed her lips. “Are you doing this on purpose?”
    “Doing what?” Magda summoned up her most innocent look. “Chamomile tea?”
    “That would be lovely.” Amanda looked relieved.
    “Great.” Magda pulled a cigarette out of the pocket of her skirt and lit it up.
    Amanda stared. “Uh-”
    Magda exhaled into the closed room and ashed on a pot plant. “I’ll be right back with your chamomile tea. Just wait here. Don’t touch anything, I just cleaned last week.” She wandered out of the room and locked herself in the kitchen. Yes, she was definitely starting to feel better.
    She boiled the kettle and made herself a second coffee, and Amanda a chamomile tea. She poured a liberal dose of vodka into both cups and took a large swig from the bottle as she went.
    She had another stash of pills hidden in the back of the cutlery draw er. She crushed one into powder using the back of a knife and sprinkled that into Amanda’s drink for good measure. That would loosen her up some. All of Preacher’s friends were so uptight.
    Magda hummed to herself, took another swig of vodka and replaced the bottle in the pantry. Then she put out her cigarette, hid the butt in the bin, opened the windows to let the smell out and sprayed some air freshener in the room. She’d deal with the lounge later. She took the two cups back out to rejoin Amanda.
    Amanda looked discomforted and sad. She’d opened the windows to let the smell of Magda’s cigarette out. “I’ve been praying for you while you were gone,” she said.
    “Gosh, thank you .” Magda set Amanda’s cup down and settled back on the lounge with her coffee.
    Amanda’s voice quivered. “Magdalene I honestly believe your situation is already far worse than even Preacher imagines.”
    “Damn straight.” Magda sipped her coffee.
    “You cursed!” Amanda looked like she was going to cry .
    “It was only a little one. It’s not like I said fuck.”
    Amanda’s face turned bright red. “You’re winding me up.”
    “Shouldn’t you be used to that, doing what you do?”
    Amanda took a sip of her tea. “Gosh, that’s a nice tea.”
    Magda smiled.
    Amanda set the tea down and came over to her. She knelt on the floor and grasped Magda’s hands. “Magdalene, God is telling me we need to cut straight to the heart of your problems. No more games. You have to face the fact you are addicted. ”
    “God talks to you?” Magda moved away from her. “What does he say?”
    Amanda closed her eyes. “God is telling me you are hurting and you desperately need help.”
    “Wow, that’s pretty accurate.” Magda took a sip of her coffee. “Is God telling you I wouldn’t need to drink if Preacher would stop hitting