Read Online Every Happy Family by Dede Crane - Free Book Online Page B

to meet Faye. In her more youthful fantasies, she wore white, billowy skirts and peasant blouses, bare orphan feet. Yesterday she finally settled on skinny jeans and a white ruffled blouse. And, for a touch of high fashion, red spiked heels, red lips. She limited her jewelry to silver bracelets and one pair of earrings. All tattoos were discreetly covered. Not that Faye took any notice. In her sleek black sweatsuit and runners, Faye had just come from teaching what she called “a private.” Her words were directed to Les, always Les, her grey businesslike eyes hooded to look professionally bored. Dyed blonde hair, bone straight like Les’s, was pulled back into a whisk of a ponytail that tugged at the corners of her makeup-free eyes to make her look vaguely Asian. So this is what a murderer looks like, thought Annie. A murderess?
    A flight attendant drifts by, eyeballing seatbelts and chair backs.
    â€œSo you were in New York on business?” asks her seatmate.
    â€œWell, I did show my work at e-MERGE, a trade show for new designers, and actually got a couple of commissions out of it.” She hooks her thumb at Les. “My brother’s idea, so I could write off my expenses. I really thought my flapper tops made from plastic straws would be a hit but no, leather cummerbunds.” She shrugs. “The main reason was so we could meet our birth mother. Well, so I could. Les didn’t have the same compulsive need but kindly came with.”
    â€œYou mean this was –”
    â€œFirst time, yeah. Finally tracked her down after all these years. Planned to spend the week with her but she put us off until yesterday. Gave us a whole hour and a half.”
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    â€œAt least I can let that fantasy go.” The plane turns onto the runway and squares-off with the sky. “Ooh, I love takeoffs.”
    He lets go a long exhale. “Flying unnerves me. Especially takeoffs.”
    â€œNo, no, I’ll guide you through.” The engines rev to a high whine and the plane shudders. “Listen, flying is so totally out of your control,” she says over the noise.
    â€œThat’s what I find –”
    â€œSo liberating.” As the plane starts forward, she grips the back of his hand and lifts it, raising her arms in the sign of surrender. When he tries to tug free, she holds on and he laughs, a deep purr of a laugh, and lifts up his other hand. “Lean back and close your eyes,” she tells him. The plane picks up speed. “Feel the power of this amazing machine...exhilarating...vroom... Feel it?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAnd now...oh yeah...listen for it...that hush as the wheels...release us from the earth.” The plane lifts off the ground and noses skyward. “Ahh.”
    After another minute, she reluctantly lets him go. “Better?”
    â€œThe nicest takeoff I’ve ever had. Thank you.”
    â€œAnnie.” She holds out her hand.
    â€œJonathan.” His hand swallows hers whole. His handshake, not too tight and not too loose, tells her he’s sensitive, considerate, self-aware. And the subtle squeeze before they let go of each other’s hand, that he’s interested.

    Les is reclined and asleep when the trolley rolls by with complimentary drinks and Annie orders him a Bloody Caesar so she can have two. Jonathan orders a minibottle of red wine.
    â€œIt’s called the Reunion Registry. Reunion. Makes it sound all happy tears. As if you had something to reminisce about. Remember when you abandoned me as a baby?” She drinks and then raises her glass. “Tastes terrible. Yours?”
    â€œTerrible.” They tap plastic.
    â€œMy mom, the one who adopted me, that is – Gerry, short for Geraldine – single after I came along, worked in a bridal shop. Taught me to sew. She was a rock, a practical throw-a-can-of-mushroom-soup-on-it kind of person and used to answer my questions about my