In Memoriam Read Online Free PDF

the top of her head. How could she break up the family, no matter how distant Tom became? He was still a loving daddy to Miranda. Tom ignored baby Brent, and Sandra knew in time that it would be damaging to live with a father who wasn’t able to love him. For the time being, she hoped she didn’t have to upset the family, praying Tom could be civil for as long as they were under the same roof.
    Pushing the stroller along, she thought about what it would mean to live away from Tom. The logistics alone of single parenting would be frighteningly difficult to put into practice. She’d lose Virginia as a sitter and have to move back into the city unless Pam would allow her to stay in Williamsburg. Stopping in front of a coffee shop, she looked in the window at people sitting alone with computers or couples reading the paper. She never needed to go out just to say that she had, preferring to stay home, so having two children wasn’t a burden to her. Her relationship with Tom had been the problem all along. It was so over.
    Turning the stroller around, she started walking back home. They were going to have a talk as soon as she got there.
    Making a mental list, she’d have to tell Pam baby Brent was her grandson, her late son’s flesh and blood. It might be huge for Pam. Sandra couldn’t imagine what her reaction would be. Brent had taken advantage of her, but Sandra didn’t care now. Taking the blame, she’d put herself in the position by flirting with Brent and staying at the apartment after Pam left instead of leaving with her as she should have done. Defensive of Brent, Sandra felt oddly responsible for what had happened. And not wanting to lie to Pam, she’d have to carefully think about what to say.
    It was so strange that she and Tom hadn’t had a knockdown drag-out fight about it, that he didn’t come right out and accuse her so she could defend herself.
    The truth about the baby’s conception, that Brent drugged and raped her, would be horrible if baby Brent found out. The idea that Tom might sabotage his well-being made lying, saying she had a loving relationship with Brent, more appealing. Now more than ever she needed Pam on her side. But first, she had to confront Tom so they could get everything out in the open.
    When she arrived at the house, he was on the stoop getting the mail. The wheels were turning in his head; she could almost see them. Should I or shouldn’t I help her with the stroller? Common sense and chivalry won, and he ran down the steps and grabbed the front.
    “Do you want me to lift it, or should I take Mandy out?”
    “No, just lift it, that’s fine,” she said. They walked up the steps carrying the contraption filled with kids. “Are you on your way out?”
    “I was going to run to my mom’s,” he said.
    “Can you wait? We need to talk,” she replied.
    Like a small boy, he shrugged his shoulders and sighed. “There’s nothing to talk about,” he said. “What’s the point?”
    “You might agree with what I have to say,” Sandra answered. “Just give me ten minutes. You can even take Mandy to visit if you want.”
    He looked down at the little girl. Miranda was looking up at him quizzically.
    “Okay,” he said hesitantly. “But I don’t know what good it will do.”
    Sandra followed him into the house, pushing the stroller. She turned to shut and lock the door while he got Miranda out of her seat. Bending over to pick up baby Brent, Sandra smiled and cooed at him.
    “Baby brother is cute,” Miranda said, looking at Tom, waiting for him to respond.
    He glanced over at Sandra but didn’t reply. It was just what she needed to keep the forward motion. He didn’t even like the baby. It was detrimental to baby Brent to have that negativity directed at him all the time, especially from someone who was supposed to be his father.
    “I’ll put him down for a nap if you want to take her,” Sandra said.
    They went their separate ways to the children’s bedrooms. After she