Totlandia: Winter Read Online Free PDF Page A

For the first time in a long time, she and her mother seemed to be on the same side about something.
    I just don’t like being on this side , Bettina thought miserably.
    Apparently, neither did Eleanor, who confirmed this when she murmured, “We’re a fine set of bitches, aren’t we?”
    “Hey, what did I miss?” Art’s cheery voice boomed from the foyer, where he was taking off his raincoat.
    Both women chose to answer him by walking out of the room in different directions.
    I get no respect around here , he thought. Really, I get no respect anywhere. I’ve got to work on that.

Chapter 3
    Tuesday, 6, November
    10:20 a.m.
    Over the next couple of days, whenever Bettina or Eleanor called Lorna’s cell phone, she let it go straight to voice mail. A good thing, because had she taken the time to listen to their messages, they would have made her cry.
     
    10:30 a.m.
    Eleanor: “Lorna, darling, I was wondering if I should ask my good friend, Dr. Hibbert, to stop by and take a look at Dante’s bump. Matthew assures me it’s almost gone, but he also mentioned something about Dante seeming more lethargic than usual. Hibbert’s a good man. He just recently retired as Chief of UCSF’s Neurology Department, and he lives right around the corner from you, so it would be no imposition at all. You know what they say, Better safe than sorry. Think about it, dear, won’t you?”
     
    1:15 p.m.
    Bettina: “Lorna, you know I wouldn’t be calling if I wasn’t concerned about…well, about what happened yesterday. Granted, you have every right to be miffed. We were all a bit too rambunctious. That said, perhaps you can reassure me that my one and only nephew is all right. Is that too much to ask?”
     
    3:55 p.m.
    Eleanor: “Lorna, dear, I don’t mean to be a pest. And I thoroughly understand if you’d prefer your own doctor. Matt assures me you’ve taken Dante to see him, but when I phoned your pediatrician’s office, they said you hadn’t been there. Did you decide to go to a specialist? To be perfectly honest with you, I’d feel a little better if you gave me some sort of update. Please don’t think of me as nosy, just…concerned. Good-bye.”
     
    8:44 p.m.
    Bettina: “Lorna, it’s me again. Where the hell are you? I presume you know Mother is totally distracted over this business with Dante’s fall! And Lily hasn’t quit crying all day. She thinks you hate her. Of course, she blames me for that, too. This really isn’t fair. We love him, and just want to know he’s okay, so…just…call.”
    Lorna knew she couldn’t avoid Bettina at the next day’s meet-up.
    She also knew that both Bettina and Eleanor turned off their cell phones after nine o’clock at night.
    She chose 9:41 p.m. to leave a message for both of them. Yes, I’ve taken Dante to a specialist, and everything is fine, but it would be wise for Dante to take it easy for a couple of days. That said, he will be missing Wednesday’s meet-up.
    Bettina would certainly cut her some slack for that.
    But appeasing Eleanor would take more than a doctor’s note.
    It would break Eleanor’s heart to hear the truth.
    Another reason to lay low.
    If, by some miracle, Dr. Remfeld was wrong about Dante’s initial tests, it would be worth the wait, even if it only made her in-laws dislike her even more.

Chapter 4
    Thursday, 8 November
    7:41 a.m.
    “You’ve been a very, very bad boy.” The cat-o’-nine-tails cracked the air before coming down onto Art’s left ass cheek. “Say it. ‘Bettina is a bitch. I hate her.’”
    Art whimpered into a leather muzzle, knowing full well that any sound other than those sentences would earn him another strike of the whip. But when? And where would it land?
    Ruminating was half the fun.
    He couldn’t see his mistress because he was strapped facedown onto a spanking bench, but he could hear the click of her heels on the wood floor as she circled him. When she finally stopped, he braced himself for the sting. Knowing