Read Online Dying Forever (Waking Forever Book 3) by Heather McVea - Free Book Online Page A

phone. “Let’s start without him.” Jules insisted. “Otherwise, it could be hours.”
    The group began plating the food. Alison looked at her mother, who was clearly annoyed with her husband as she kept looking accusatorily at him.  Alison was reminded of a passage from Anna Karenina : All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.
***
    It was Alison’s turn to do dishes as the rest of the family lounged on the deck, occasional bursts of laughter finding their way into the kitchen and bringing a smile to Alison’s face.
    “Need help?” Chad walked in, a half empty glass of wine in his hand.
    Alison looked suspiciously at her brother as she finished filling the top rack of the Kenmore dishwasher. “I’ve known you my entire life and you’ve never offered to do dishes.”
    Leaning against the granite counter next to Alison, Chad smiled. “I offered to help .”
    “I see. Well, in that case, you can load the flatware.” She nodded toward the left side of the sink that was full of forks, spoons and knives.
    “Check.” Putting his glass down, Chad began loading the Kenmore’s silverware basket.
    Alison and her brother had always been comfortable with silence, but she had the distinct impression, given his usual absence during dish washing, the man had something on his mind. “How are things with you?” She asked casually.
    “Oh, fine. And you?” He didn’t look up as he loaded the last of the knives into the dishwasher.
    Alison shrugged. “Uneventful.”
    Chad nodded. “Seeing anyone?” An image of Bryce shot through Alison’s head along with a flush of heat to her face, causing her to drop a blue serving platter in the sink. She cringed at the loud clink the plate made as it hit the bottom of the sink.
    “Shit.”
    Chad chuckled. “Am I to take that as a yes?”
    Lifting the large blue plate up, and inspecting it for cracks, Alison feigned ignorance. “What?”
    Chad leaned on the counter and smirked. “Who is she?”
    Determining the plate was undamaged, Alison placed it in the dishwasher. “Who?”
    “Whoever is causing you to blush like that.” Chad picked his glass of wine up and took a drink.
    Dropping the detergent pellet into the dispenser, Alison closed the dishwasher’s door and pressed the wash button. Before she could reach for the small white hand towel next to Chad, her brother grabbed it and hid it behind his back. “So?”
    Her hands still dripping with water, Alison felt a surge of annoyance with her brother. “It’s nothing.”
    Chad’s eyebrows shot up. “You admit there is someone to quantify as a nothing .”
    Alison rolled her eyes. “And to think, some disreputable institution gave you a degree with that kind of logic.”
    Chad shook his head while still clutching the towel behind his back. “I won’t be distracted. What gives?”
    Alison playfully flicked water at her brother, who instinctively started to wipe his face with the hostage hand towel, affording Alison the opportunity to grab it from him. “Serves you right.” She flung the now damp towel at the amused man. “And for the record , it really is nothing.”
    Chad tossed the towel on the counter. “I have news.”
    “I assumed something was going on given your sudden interest in dishes.” Alison reached for Chad’s glass of wine and took a drink. “Spill it, brother.”
    Looking over his shoulder toward the deck and then past Alison to ensure they were alone, a sadness flashed across his eyes. “Gayle has decided to pursue alternative medicines for the infertility issue.”
    Her brother’s tone and body language told Alison he didn’t agree with this approach. “That’s becoming more popular these days.” She didn’t know very much about the process or the means, but one of the administrative assistants at the university had success with a variety of Chinese herbs , in spite of being nearly forty-three when she conceived.
    “It just seems like a last desperate