Lone Star Cinderella Read Online Free PDF Page A

repeatedly to help him and had spent money they couldn’t afford in their attempt to help him.
    How could it be that he was eighteen months older than her, yet he seemed younger? How could two people raised by the same parents be so different?
    She bit her lip. How many times had she asked herself these questions? “Enough times.” She closed her eyes, stilled her soul for the sound of his voice—she loved her brother but she hated the life he lived…the life that bled into hers and held her captive.
    â€œHello.”
    â€œWhere have you been?”
    She stilled her heart against his accusatory tone. “I’ve been moving.”
    â€œYou move out of that hick town?”
    â€œNo,” she said. “I’m still here. Just in a different place.”
    He snorted. “I’m glad you have options. My landlord of this dump I’m in is giving me a hard time again ’cause I didn’t get your check yet.”
    He hadn’t gotten it because she hadn’t sent it. Thiswas his only reason for ever calling her, and he didn’t even ask anymore. Just expected that she would send him the money. Her hand hurt from her death grip on the phone, and she gave herself a silent pep talk.
    Deep down she knew she couldn’t continue to support him and his addiction. But there was the promise—she pushed it out of her head. He’d chosen this irresponsible lifestyle. He was not a child and he didn’t want to change. “Ty, I’m not going to send you any money.” The words startled her, even knowing they needed to be said. “I asked you to admit yourself into the county rehab when I sent the last check. Remember, I said that if you didn’t it would be my last check—”
    â€œOh, yeah, what am I supposed to do?” he shouted. “ Huh? Live on the street?”
    She closed her eyes praying for answers she knew weren’t going to come. God just didn’t seem to care about this part of her life. It was upsetting. “You know I love you, Ty. But,” she lost her voice as anger and despair warred inside of her. The phone shook as her hand began to tremble. This man was her brother— the brother who’d used their parents over and over again. Just like he had to her for the last three years! Just like he would continue to do if she didn’t change something. “…but I can’t keep doing this—”
    â€œ Odee, I lost my job, have a heart. It’ll just be until I get my feet on the ground.”
    She hated when he used the nickname. He’d given it to her when they were toddlers and it reminded her of a time when she thought her big brother could do no wrong. A time before adolescence, when choices were easy.
    Tears burned her eyes and tightened her throat. “Mesending you money isn’t going to help you. You need help, and I don’t know what else to do but say no,” the last word was a whisper, that tore out of her. “I’m s-sorry—”
    â€œSorry! You call yourself a Christian—you hypocrite. If you loved me you’d help me,” he shouted and spun off into a string of profanity.
    â€œI don’t have to listen to this,” Melody said, realizing it was the truth. Angered and humiliated, she slammed the phone down as the tears started. She felt so helpless, and she hated it. And she felt so torn by what she was supposed to do. As a Christian, was this the right way for her to handle this?
    Her eyes burning, she headed toward the bathroom to wash her face. When she walked out into the hall she found Seth standing in the open front doorway. The look on his face told her that he’d heard at least some of her conversation and there was absolutely no doubt that he knew the dampness on her face was tears…
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    The last thing Seth expected when he’d walked onto the porch was to overhear a personal telephone conversation between Melody and someone