Read Online After All by Lynn Emery - Free Book Online Page B

and Mama
would blame the dead man for soiling his precious hands.” Brian's
voice held a tinge of bitterness.
    “ Don't
exaggerate.”
    “ And you're just as bad.
When will you both learn that bailing him out doesn't help? Dad's
right, it's way past time for Dominic to stand on his
own.”
    “ I don't make excuses for
everything he does, but Daddy won't give him break. He's treats his
employees better than Dominic. He's the youngest and Mama went
overboard spoiling him, it's true. But going to the other extreme
is just as wrong. Brian, come on.”
    “ Not this time little
sister.” Brian went back to scanning the papers on his desk.”I've
let you talk me into protecting Dominic for years, but no more.
I've been burned too many times, especially when I get between him
and Dad.”
    “ But Dominic really wants to
prove he can stick to something. You know how he feels about you.
Your opinion means a lot.” Michelle watched for some sign that he
would relent.
    Brian's head came up sharply. “Yeah,
sure it does. Like the stunts he pulled in college. Using the money
Dad was sending for tuition and books to party non-stop. It wasn't
until the end of the second semester that we found out he wasn't
even enrolled.”
    Michelle looked away. “Well he
shouldn't have--”
    “ Oh, and the time he took
off for a fun filled week in Jamaica with a young lady, leaving
behind her very large, jealous fiancé. Who was it convinced Dad to
give him money for the trip because Dom said he was going to an
academic conference in San Francisco? Me, that's who. Who saved his
butt from getting beaten by that seven foot tall psycho? Me, that's
who.”
    “ Listen, Brian, I know
you've tried but--”
    Brian cut in again. “As a matter of
fact, Dad probably wouldn't listen to me anyway considering my
track record of being such a sucker for the little con artist.”He
shook his head.
    “ Come on, all that happened
a long time ago. Dominic says he's willing to settle
down.”
    “ Then if he's so grown up,
why isn't he here speaking for himself?”Brian crossed his arms over
his chest.
    “ Now that you mention it,
he's outside now. He didn't want to come, or for me to try talking
to you either.”Michelle jumped to her feet and went to the door as
she spoke.”Dom, come in.”Michelle pulled him into the
room.
    “ Hey, big bro. What's up?”
Dominic had their mother's facial features but with a masculine cut
to the planes of his face. Where Brian had the rough handsomeness
of Thomas, Dominic had the boyish good looks that attracted all
ages of women.
    “ Hi.”Brian did not return
his smile.
    “ This wasn't my idea. Before
I knew it, we were here.”Dominic, no longer smiling, glared at
him.
    “ Look, don't you two start
arguing. Brian, Dominic just wants Dad to give him a job. He's
willing to work his way up from the bottom. Right,
Dominic?”Michelle nudged him.
    “ Sure.”Dominic stared at the
floor.
    “ Then you go to him,
Dominic. Stand up to him and show him you're ready to be a man,”
Brian said.
    “ I tried. He told me to go
out and find a job on my own. If I could get and keep one for at
least a year, he'd reconsider. He didn't even offer to help,”
Dominic complained.
    “ Sounds like a plan to
me.”Brian looked from him to Michelle.
    “ But Brian--”Michelle
stamped her foot.
    “ No. Michelle, I'm won't
baby him.”
    “ To hell with it then,
Brian. I don't need you or him.”Dominic stormed out.
    “ You could have been a
little more diplomatic, dammit.”
    “ Michelle, stop. Stop
putting yourself between Dad and Mama, between Dad and Dominic.
Live your own life. I learned the hard way.”Brian went to
her.
    “ You mean be selfish. You've
withdrawn into you own little world of wife, two kids, and a dog,”
Michelle spouted without thinking.
    “ That's not fair and you
know it. We can't have normal family gatherings with Mama sniping
at Dad, Dad sitting around not talking at all to keep from arguing.
I enjoy the peace