Precipice: The Beginning Read Online Free PDF Page A

truth. She didn’t laugh much anymore and when she did it was usually followed by a fresh batch of tears. But that wasn’t going to be the case today. This was going to be a very happy day for all of them.
    “Logie!” Annie yelled over her shoulder, loud enough for her voice to travel out her bedroom door and down the stairs to her son on the couch. “Remember not to play on the floor and get your clothes dirty.”
    “Okay mom,” Logan’s little voice called up, barely audible.
    Annie leaned in close to the mirror, gently applying a thin layer of eye shadow. She put on some light pink lipstick and a few drops of foundation on her cheeks, rubbing the liquid into her skin. One of the most common compliments her husband paid her was how she didn’t need makeup to look great. Travis said she was a natural beauty. She believed her husband, but still, a woman needed a little mascara every now and then. Just that extra smear of confidence to stand out and feel secure. Annie wiped off her hands and stood back, turning her face from side to side for inspection.
    Having given herself a passing score, Annie left the bedroom, cursing under her breath as she lifted up her bare foot to examine the sharp pinch she’d felt. Lying on the floor was one of Logan’s numerous army men sprawled on its back with its plastic bayonet pointed skyward, blending perfectly with the dark green carpeting. The hideous color had been mutually decided upon when they’d considered how well it would hide the many stains left by a child, or one day quite possibly, children.
    “At ease soldier.” Annie kicked the plastic man aside with her hurt foot, shaking her head at the numerous times she stepped on something. At least this time it hadn’t been something soft and squishy.
    Annie came down the stairs and went into the kitchen, shaking her head with a little smile as she saw Logan sitting on the floor, digging through his toy box with determination. One thing she loved about her son was his compulsive behavior. If he wanted to play with a certain dinosaur you’d better believe he was going to find it, even if it took him two hours of searching through the multiple stacks of toys throughout the house. Today he was content with the few action figures he’d pulled out of the toy box, laying them down on the floor as he hovered over them, acting out the different voices. Annie knew she should have been angry at his complete disregard for her words, but a good parent knows when to pick a battle and when to simple laugh it off. Annie figured the poor guy had it hard enough without her harping over every little thing. Besides, Travis won’t care if there’s a small patch of dirt on his son’s slacks.
    “Are you still hungry?” Annie asked as she poured some apple juice into a travel cup.
    “Can I have fruit snacks?” Logan asked without looking up, his mind deeply locked on the strategic battle between a red robot and some kind of superhero.
    “A fruit snack? I don’t see an empty bowl of cereal,” Annie said in a playful manner, tapping the counter beside his partially eaten breakfast. She knew this was an argument that would get her nowhere. How children could eat so sparsely and still grow was beyond her.
    “Please,” Logan said with a wide grin, hamming it up.
    Annie shook her head and walked over to the pantry, tossing her son a small packet of fruit snack. She watched him rip them open and shove half the pack into his mouth. Before the day was out he’d probably consume two to three more packs. Annie just rationalized his eating habits with the knowledge that at least they’re made from real fruit.
    “Are you looking forward to seeing daddy?” Annie asked as she took the travel bag from the pantry and set it on the counter, adding three more packets of fruit snacks for good measure.
    “I want to show him the new Power Bot you got me,” Logan said brightly, holding up the robot for his mother to admire.
    “I think he’d really