PS01 - Tall, Dark & Lonely Read Online Free PDF Page B

girl. It was large,
    clean and ruled with an iron fist.
    Her mother was going to have a difficult time living like a queen, she suspected. A week ago Grandma sent a certified letter
    laying out her expectations. They were to earn their keep with cleaning and cooking. Grandma laid off her employees with the
    expectation that they were going to earn their keep. Madison had a feeling it wasn’t because she was cheap and expected slave
    labor like Candy claimed. She suspected it was her Grandma’s last effort to straighten Candy out and fix the grandkids before it
    was too late.
    Even with her grandmother there Jill was in danger of turning into their mother. Much to Madison’s dismay Jill announced
    proudly that she was not planning on remaining a virgin. She was planning on losing it as soon as possible. Candy was
    encouraging it. It would just get in the way of a fun time, Candy said.
    The woman was crazy.
    For the last week Madison watched her sister like a hawk. The only times she was out of her sight was when she was asleep in
    the hotel room Jill shared with Candy. It was fine with her since she didn’t want to sleep with either of them anyway. She spent
    most of the night making sure Jill didn’t leave. Once she was sure her fifteen year old sister’s virtue was safe she went to
    sleep.
    So here she was driving into their new town instead of filing for custody. She didn’t feel like competing with their grandmother
    on that. It would be better if they worked together. Something told her she was going to need all the help that she could get.

    ********
“It looks like a mansion!” Joshua announced as he stumbled out of the car.
    Candy stepped in front of him with her arms out. Joshua ran past her and into Madison’s arms. He wasn’t stupid. He knew she
    was trying to use him to look like the perfect mother for Grandma. Of course he probably picked up on the not so subtle clues
    she dropped about that. If Grandma thought she was a good mother she would leave her alone to take care of the kids. She did
    not want to clean or cook. That was okay for Madison, but not for her. Candy was meant to make men happy.
    Madison looked around. The sun was shining. Birds were chirping. The leaves were a beautiful multicolor and she was
    freezing her ass off. She was shivering. How could it be this cold if the sun was out? It was freezing!
    “This is where we live?” Jill said in the same bitchy tone Candy used. It grated on Madison. She hoped her grandmother
    worked miracles otherwise she was afraid that she would be beating some sense into her sister soon.
    She took one last look at her young sister’s new wardrobe. Everything was too tight and too small. Jill was short for her age
    and underdeveloped. The clothes made her look like a child prostitute. This miracle better happen fast.
    Madison kissed Joshua’s cheek. “Go knock and remember to be polite.”
    Joshua nodded. He ran to the door and knocked loudly. A minute later the door opened wide. He walked inside with his head
    held high. The three women walked in after him.
    A tall woman in her late fifties stood in the foyer. She didn’t look anything like Madison imagined she would. She expected a
    short plump gray-haired grandmother like the one off of that cookie box back home. This woman was strong and capable and
    had a no nonsense air about her.
    Candy pushed past her and headed for the woman. She dragged the woman into a hug and gushed. “Oh, Mama, I’m so happy to
    see you!”
    Grandma pushed her back and dismissed her. “I bet it is.” She focused on the three grandchildren. She took in Joshua and
    smiled, then Madison and beamed, then Jill and frowned. The breath Madison hadn't realized she was holding left her body.
    Her grandmother didn’t like the looks of Jill. She was going to help. Thank god.
    “Well, let’s go into the living room and have a talk.”
    Madison sat on the loveseat. Joshua took the seat next to her. He reached for her hand and held