Wishing Lake Read Online Free PDF Page A

shot back.
    “You look great, Mom.” Darius looked at the other two women. “You all do.”
    “I feel happier than I have in thirty-four years.” Ethel slid her estranged husband a look before shimmying her hips so the fringe hem swirled around her.
    “So do I.” Simon’s scowl contradicted his claim.
    Darius rubbed his eyes with his left thumb and two fingers. Did either of his parents realize he’d been born thirty-four years ago? Did they care?
    “Whose idea was the flapper costume?” Darius needed to change the subject. He was beyond tired of his parents’ constant bickering.
    Doreen gestured toward Audra. “Our resident songwriter.”
    Audra kept hold of Jackson’s hand. “I thought it would be fun to dress up as a female singing group.”
    “What made you decide to come to the Halloween event this year?” Darius directed his question to Ethel. “You’ve never come before.”
    Ethel jerked her chin toward Simon. “ He never wanted to come before, so we stayed home. Doing nothing. As usual.”
    Simon met Darius’s eyes before confronting Ethel. “Me? You’re the one who never wanted to come.”
    Ethel’s glare was fierce. “What bull —”
    “You can both do whatever you want, whenever you want. Why not stop arguing and enjoy that?” Darius’ stomach muscles twisted into familiar knots. He didn’t want his parents to argue, especially not in front of Peyton. She was new to Trinity Falls. Couldn’t they give her more time before exposing her to their craziness?
    Ethel looked toward her coconspirators. “I’m real grateful to Doreen and Audra for letting me be a part of their group.”
    Audra squeezed Ethel’s shoulder. “It’s our pleasure.”
    Ethel glowed from Audra’s kind words. Why hadn’t his approval meant as much?
    Simon’s scowl darkened. “You look ridiculous.”
    Ethel struck a pose, cocking her right hip and pressing her palms into the small of her back. “Jealous?”
    Peyton’s chuckle surprised Darius. She approached his mother, offering her hand. “Ms. Knight, I’m Peyton Harris, the new history professor with the university. It’s nice to meet you.”
    Ethel shook her hand. “Yes, you arrived in the summer. Call me Ethel.”
    “Thank you. I’m Peyton.”
    “Darius!”
    He turned at the sound of his name and saw his half brother, Noah Cale, striding toward him. Noah’s mother, June Cale, followed in his wake. This is what he’d been afraid of when Simon and Ethel had turned up at Books & Bakery this afternoon. From the look in June’s almond-shaped bright brown eyes, she had concerns about their reception as well.
    Ethel’s voice shook with fury. “Who the hell invited them?”
    “I did,” Darius answered quietly.

CHAPTER 3
    This wasn’t what Darius had wanted. He’d never meant to hurt his mother. But he hadn’t expected Ethel or Simon to attend the costume party. They’d never come before.
    “ You invited them?” His mother’s brown eyes were filled with betrayal. “Why?”
    “Because they’re my family.” Darius willed his mother to understand.
    She didn’t.
    Ethel turned her scorching glare on Simon, who flinched from its heat. She gave June and Noah a dismissive look before disappearing into the café.
    Peyton felt the tension rolling over her shoulders and up her neck. And she’d thought there was drama in her family. What had just happened?
    “I’m sorry.” There was pain in Darius’s voice as he apologized to his two guests. It broke Peyton’s heart.
    “It’s not your fault.” The woman put a protective hand on the young man’s arm.
    Darius embraced her. She hugged him back. A sharp pain twisted in Peyton’s gut. Envy? No way! But who was this pretty lady? There was no denying the resemblance between Darius and the young man. Was he Darius’ son? Impossible! The newspaper reporter was too young to have a son who looked to be seventeen years old. What was going on?
    “I’m glad you came.” Darius stepped back but