In Memoriam Read Online Free PDF Page B

got the baby situated, she came out and put the teakettle on.
    “Do you want coffee?” she asked when he returned from Miranda’s room.
    “No, I’ve had enough for today,” he said.
    Sandra looked over at him; Tom never refused coffee. Stealing herself for an argument, she didn’t waste any time. In seconds, her former resolve to try to keep the family intact dissolved for good.
    “I’m ready to split,” she said. “Neither child needs this negativity swirling around them all the time. With your permission, I was going to approach Pam about the house and about Miranda’s custody.”
    He threw the mail down on the kitchen table. “With my permission? Why in the hell do you need my permission?”
    “Well, because it’s the respectful thing to do, that’s why. If you don’t care, okay. But if you have any plans you’d like included, then I need to hear from you before I call her.”
    “What kind of plans?” he asked.
    “Well, plans to stay in the house, or plans to fight for custody of Miranda.”
    “I signed a paper that said I wouldn’t fight,” he replied. “It says that if our status changes, Pam will decide what happens with Miranda. Like she’s capable of planning anyone’s future. She’s made a mess of her own life; I don’t want her planning anything for me.
    “And this house is a fucking albatross. I’ll kick my tenants out and move back to my condo. You can have this piece of shit.”
    Anger building, soon it would be impossible to iron out any plans with him.
    “Okay, then what I hear you say is that you have no interest in the house and you aren’t going to fight for custody of the children.”
    “Why in the hell would I fight for baby Brent ? I’m already so sick of hearing those two words I could scream.”
    “Tom, you never asked for paternity test, so you can’t be sure he isn’t yours. You’ll pay child support for him if he is.”
    “I doubt it,” he said. “You make twice as much as I do.”
    “You’re still his father,” Sandra said and then, with a smirk, “Unless you’re not.”
    That last comment was the final straw for Tom. He reached out and slapped her as hard as he could across the face. Her teacup went flying and hit the floor with a crash, and she grabbed the table to keep from falling over.
    “I guess I deserved that,” she said smugly. “Get out before I call the police. And don’t come back.”
    He stormed out of the kitchen to the master bedroom. Doors and cupboards being opened and slammed shut as he grabbed what he could echoed through the house. Fortunately, the children didn’t hear it. Tom came back through the kitchen.
    “With your permission, I’ll get the rest of my stuff tonight,” he mocked and left the house.
    When the front door closed and the lock turned, it was like an exorcism had taken place and all the bad energy was gone. She let out a long-held breath. I must be in shock , she thought. My life is turned upside down, and I’m about to have tea. Tea made, she went into the den to call Pam.
    “I just walked in. Lisa had the baby this morning,” Pam said.
    Sandra was happy for the change of topic. She focused on Lisa. “Oh, my, how exciting! A little boy, correct?”
    “Yep, a little black-haired boy. Your Thomas looks more like Lisa than this little guy does. As a matter of fact, he doesn’t look any thing at all like her.”
    Sandra’s heart did a little extra beat. And without premeditation, Sandra blurted the facts out to Pam. “Pam, my baby is your grandson.”
    Sandra could hear the noise of Nelda talking in the background and Bernice answering her. Suddenly, she wanted nothing more than to be there, sitting at the counter with them, chatting.
    “Aw, that’s so sweet of you to say,” Pam answered. “Can’t we say I’m an aunt? I’m grandmothered out here.”
    “No, I mean you really are. Brent’s his father. We had sex at Jack’s apartment. It just happened. Too much champagne, I guess. We were stoked