Read Online Avenging Alex by Lewis Ericson - Free Book Online Page A

Jag?”
    â€œI wanna ride in Dad’s truck,” John Michael insisted.
    â€œMe too,” Chloe chimed in.
    â€œThere’s room,” John said. “Why don’t we all ride together?”
    Lorraine nodded agreeably. As far as she was concerned, as long as they were in the same space they could have taken public transportation to the school.
    Once they made it to the auditorium Chloe found her teacher and the other girls and dashed off to get ready. Lorraine carried her head a little bit higher as she and John strolled inside. She smiled and waved at the other mothers she was sure had been cattily discussing the state of her union behind her back. If she could have reached out to take John’s arm to show their solidarity she would have.
    Barbara Mitchell, John’s mother, was already seated when she noticed him and John Michael. Her youthful countenance and shapely figure gave little away of her fifty-plus years. Her eyes lit up and she waved, signaling that she’d saved seats for them. They exchanged hugs before settling in. Barbara glanced over at Lorraine, nodded, and smiled disdainfully. It was the kind of interaction that only a mother would give to the woman who had hurt her son.
    The conversational chatter in the auditorium hushed twenty minutes later when the lights dimmed. The overture rose from the orchestra pit and Lorraine settled back, basking in her small triumph as the curtain went up. Chloe may have been the lead of Becket Academy’s presentation of Swan Lake, but it was Lorraine’s performance that would win the day . . . with everyone except her disapproving mother-in-law.
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    After the show John took them all out for ice cream; his mother chose not to go. Despite that, he and Lorraine found common ground as they raved about Chloe’s dancing. By the end of the night Chloe had worn herself out and fell asleep on the way home. John carried her up to bed while Lorraine saw to John Michael. When John came back downstairs Lorraine had taken the liberty of fixing him a drink.
    â€œI should be going.”
    â€œIt’s only a little after nine,” Lorraine said. “Can’t you at least have one drink with me?”
    John scratched his forehead and took the glass.
    â€œTo our prima ballerina,” Lorraine toasted.
    â€œAll those dancing lessons paid off.” John laughed. “At least she knows stage right from stage left, which is more than I can say for the Thompsons’ kid.”
    They both laughed. Lorraine casually poured more brandy into John’s glass. He didn’t object. “Thank you for recording tonight. Mom and Dad would really be upset if they didn’t get a chance to see Chloe’s debut.”
    â€œAre they still in Belize?”
    â€œThey should be back tomorrow.”
    John nodded and tossed back the brandy. Lorraine seized the opportunity to make a move. Her fingers delicately traced his brow and down the side of his face and she kissed him. His reaction wasn’t immediate. It wasn’t until she tugged at the buttons of his shirt that he moved away.
    He shook his head. “Lorraine, don’t.”
    â€œYou still want me. I know you do.” She stepped back in front of him and stared into his eyes. The room was still and thick with tension. The light was dim. There were yet unresolved emotions that had not been dealt with and they both felt it. Her fingers caressed his lips and he yielded to her, promptly pulling her sweater up over her head and kissing her neck and lips and face. She threw her head back in ecstasy and nimbly undid the buckle of his belt. His breathing grew more intense as she massaged his erect penis. She slowly sank to her knees and took its fullness into her mouth. He gasped and quivered. After a few seconds, as if snapping out of a trance, he pushed her away.
    â€œStop,” he insisted.
    â€œYou don’t want me to. I know you don’t.” Ignoring his