Read Online Beyond Innocence by Carsen Taite - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Carsen Taite
Ads: Link
caffeine would be great.”
“I can make a pot of coffee.” She may not have a well-stocked fridge and pantry, but coffee was one staple she’d never be without.
Serena’s smile was real this time. “I’d love some.”
“Join me in the kitchen?”
“That would be nice.” Serena lifted the water glass and followed Cory into the massive room. “What a wonderful kitchen. You must be an accomplished cook.”
Cory followed her gaze to the bright copper pots and pans dangling from the ceiling. The room was pretty impressive. And clean. Very clean, since she never used it. “Actually, I can barely boil water.” She gestured to the large oak table. “I copied the kitchen of my childhood. I have tons of good memories from being a kid, sitting around the kitchen table, watching my mom craft amazing meals, not to mention cookies and cakes. I never got the chef gene, but re-creating the atmosphere is the next best thing. Sometimes I burn one of those cake-scented candles for ambiance. Do you think I’m a total dork?”
Serena mumbled something and looked away. Cory was torn between pressing for affirmation and accepting that her banal conversation wasn’t endearing her to Serena. The dork comment was already out, she may as well go for broke. “Now I’m sure you think I’m a dork.”
Serena turned to face her and Cory saw tears in her eyes. “I don’t think that at all.”
“Good. Most people get to know me a little better before they draw that conclusion.” Cory reached for a napkin and handed it to Serena. “I didn’t mean to make you cry with my ramblings.”
“You didn’t.”
“Okaaaay,” Cory drew the word out. Better than calling Serena a liar. She’d clearly hit a nerve, but she couldn’t imagine how. She reviewed her words. She’d been talking about the kitchen, her mother, cooking…“Was it the mention of cookies? Because I might have a box of store-bought ones somewhere in here.” She grinned as she kidded. Anything to get the smile back on Serena’s face.
Serena’s smile didn’t reach her eyes, but it was something. “Thanks, but I’ll pass on the cookies,” she said.
Cory gave it a last shot. “How about a good ear while you tell me what’s wrong?”
Serena half stood, and for a minute, Cory thought she’d chased her off. Instead, Serena walked over to the coffee pot. “I don’t trust a woman who can’t boil water to make my coffee.” She reached into the coffee canister and started scooping grounds. “But I guess if you’re going to be my brother’s lawyer, I better trust you enough to tell you our story.”
Chapter Six
“Eric raised me.” Serena had never spoken those words before, but she knew with all her heart they were true. “We shared a mother, and neither of us knew who our fathers were. Didn’t matter. We may as well not have had any parents at all. The woman who gave birth to us didn’t care about anything other than where she’d get her next fix or fuck.” Serena met Cory’s eyes and was pleased she didn’t flinch at the profanity. Instead, she looked interested in hearing more. Serena wasn’t used to telling her story, but the interest and instant compassion reflected in Cory’s eyes compelled her to keep talking.
“Our mother was a junkie. She slept with whoever would buy her drugs. Sometimes she was home, but most of the time she was at the local convenience store, begging a smoke from everyone who walked in, scoping the customers out until she found the one who would make her night.
“I don’t remember how old I was when I figured out she wasn’t going to take care of me. The food on the table was there because Eric put it there. I never wondered how my brother, only a few years older than me, provided for us. We never had much, but we always had something to eat, at least once a day.
“We moved a lot. I remember angry words when the landlords would come by, looking for the rent. Eric would pull them aside, and after the
“I can make a pot of coffee.” She may not have a well-stocked fridge and pantry, but coffee was one staple she’d never be without.
Serena’s smile was real this time. “I’d love some.”
“Join me in the kitchen?”
“That would be nice.” Serena lifted the water glass and followed Cory into the massive room. “What a wonderful kitchen. You must be an accomplished cook.”
Cory followed her gaze to the bright copper pots and pans dangling from the ceiling. The room was pretty impressive. And clean. Very clean, since she never used it. “Actually, I can barely boil water.” She gestured to the large oak table. “I copied the kitchen of my childhood. I have tons of good memories from being a kid, sitting around the kitchen table, watching my mom craft amazing meals, not to mention cookies and cakes. I never got the chef gene, but re-creating the atmosphere is the next best thing. Sometimes I burn one of those cake-scented candles for ambiance. Do you think I’m a total dork?”
Serena mumbled something and looked away. Cory was torn between pressing for affirmation and accepting that her banal conversation wasn’t endearing her to Serena. The dork comment was already out, she may as well go for broke. “Now I’m sure you think I’m a dork.”
Serena turned to face her and Cory saw tears in her eyes. “I don’t think that at all.”
“Good. Most people get to know me a little better before they draw that conclusion.” Cory reached for a napkin and handed it to Serena. “I didn’t mean to make you cry with my ramblings.”
“You didn’t.”
“Okaaaay,” Cory drew the word out. Better than calling Serena a liar. She’d clearly hit a nerve, but she couldn’t imagine how. She reviewed her words. She’d been talking about the kitchen, her mother, cooking…“Was it the mention of cookies? Because I might have a box of store-bought ones somewhere in here.” She grinned as she kidded. Anything to get the smile back on Serena’s face.
Serena’s smile didn’t reach her eyes, but it was something. “Thanks, but I’ll pass on the cookies,” she said.
Cory gave it a last shot. “How about a good ear while you tell me what’s wrong?”
Serena half stood, and for a minute, Cory thought she’d chased her off. Instead, Serena walked over to the coffee pot. “I don’t trust a woman who can’t boil water to make my coffee.” She reached into the coffee canister and started scooping grounds. “But I guess if you’re going to be my brother’s lawyer, I better trust you enough to tell you our story.”
Chapter Six
“Eric raised me.” Serena had never spoken those words before, but she knew with all her heart they were true. “We shared a mother, and neither of us knew who our fathers were. Didn’t matter. We may as well not have had any parents at all. The woman who gave birth to us didn’t care about anything other than where she’d get her next fix or fuck.” Serena met Cory’s eyes and was pleased she didn’t flinch at the profanity. Instead, she looked interested in hearing more. Serena wasn’t used to telling her story, but the interest and instant compassion reflected in Cory’s eyes compelled her to keep talking.
“Our mother was a junkie. She slept with whoever would buy her drugs. Sometimes she was home, but most of the time she was at the local convenience store, begging a smoke from everyone who walked in, scoping the customers out until she found the one who would make her night.
“I don’t remember how old I was when I figured out she wasn’t going to take care of me. The food on the table was there because Eric put it there. I never wondered how my brother, only a few years older than me, provided for us. We never had much, but we always had something to eat, at least once a day.
“We moved a lot. I remember angry words when the landlords would come by, looking for the rent. Eric would pull them aside, and after the
Similar Books
