Read Online Be Sweet by Diann Hunt - Free Book Online Page A

something you should know,” Janni says.
    He turns and looks at her.
    â€œMom’s moved in.”
    â€œI ’ve missed you, Char,” Dad says, giving me a big hug, then a kiss on the cheek.
    â€œI’ve missed you, too, Dad. Thanks for meeting us for breakfast.” Janni and I scoot into our seats in the booth, causing the vinyl to squeak in protest—and this before breakfast.
    Dad’s slight frame—though he’s taller, his build is not much bigger than Mom’s, really—slips into place across from us. His lips curve in a smile, but his face looks gaunt and wrinkly, reminding me of a dried apple.
    I stretch out my hand and touch his arm. “You okay, Dad?”
    â€œI’m fine, Zip,” he says, his gold tooth flashing front and center, compliments of a kick from our long-ago pet mule, Francis. Like the roots of a tree, Dad is the foundation for our family. The patriarch. This whole thing with him and Mom is a bit disconcerting, to say the least.
    Just then the waitress steps up to our table, and we order our drinks. Janni and Dad get coffee. It amazes me that people can drink that cheap stuff. I opt for orange juice.
    Dad looks at Janni and then me. “It’s hard to believe you girls are all grown up.” He shakes his head. “Seems only yesterday I hauled you down to the general store for penny candy.”
    â€œBoston Baked Beans, Lemon Drops, candy necklaces—”
    â€œWax lips, candy cigarettes.”
    Janni gasps. “We weren’t supposed to get those.”
    â€œThey were my favorite. Sorry, Dad.”
    â€œThose were the days,” he says as though he didn’t hear a word we said.
    I decide to play along. “Remember how you used to throw us into the hay piles?”
    Dad’s mouth splits into a wide grin. “I sure do. Your mom would have a fit because she was always afraid there might be something in the hay to hurt you.”
    â€œWhat’s going on with Mom?” Janni asks, slipping out of her coat.
    Dad shakes his head. “I don’t know, girls. She’s acting so strange. I’ll look up from reading the paper, and she’ll be staring at me. When I go into another room, I feel her presence behind me. She peeks at me through cracks in the door, and has even followed me to town.”
    â€œWhat do you think it is, Dad?”
    He shakes his head. “I have no idea.” No one speaks of the fearful possibilities.
    â€œHow long ago did it start?” Janni asks.
    â€œI started noticing a couple of weeks ago,” he says.
    The waitress brings a pot of coffee and places it on the table. Janni picks it up and starts filling her and Dad’s cups. I take a deep whiff. Even the cheap stuff smells good.
    â€œWhy would she think you’re trying to kill her?” I ask.
    Dad’s head jerks up. “She thinks that?”
    â€œShe mentioned something about rat poison,” Janni says, as though she hates to bring it up.
    It does seem a little odd that he would have rat poison next to the coffeepot, but our family is a little strange, after all.
    â€œI woke up from our nap before she did, so I thought I would surprise her with some coffee. I was trying a little multitasking. You know, take care of our recent mouse situation while fixing her some coffee. She took one look at the coffee, the rat poison, and drew the wrong conclusion. Is that what you’re saying?” Dad wraps his hands around the coffee cup and gazes into it. “She has to know I would never hurt her.” He looks up. “Maybe she’s just worn-out from our move and all.”
    As we settle in to breakfast, we try to encourage Dad and then talk about the good old days. When it’s time to leave, I pick up the tab, and we make our way out to our cars.
    â€œShe’ll come around. Don’t you worry. We’ll get to the bottom of this,” I say. Janni nods in agreement. “And