Read Online Flee From Evil by Connie Almony - Free Book Online Page B

need that bathing suit to do it?”
    Her smile grew mischievous. “It’s all for the cause.”
    Cassandra smirked back. “Oh, don’t think I don’t know what’s going on in your head. I was your age once.” And that’s exactly what worried her. She shot a glance to the heavens with an added prayer for protection for her daughter as she negotiated the teen years.
    Mom came out of the kitchen in her bathing suit cover-up. “You sure you can’t come with us to the pool.”
    Cassandra sighed. “I’m sure. I have to make some notes on these programs, call a couple more churches, research on the internet, and that guy who’s going to build the addition is coming at eleven.”
    “Okay, dear.”
    “Just please keep a good eye on Tibo in the water.”
    “I won’t let him out of my sight. Besides, you know Sophie’ll shadow his every move.”
    “Well, she’ll have her eye on something else at that pool, it seems.” Cassandra’s heart ached. “And I want her to be able to think of something besides caring for her brother for once. She needs a little fun.”
    “I know, honey. You need a little fun too, you know.” Mom folded a towel, and stuffed it in a bag. “I’ll take care of the kids today. Don’t worry.”
    “I know you will.” Cassandra stared at the mosaic of forms in front of her. “I need to figure out which type of program will work best for this congregation.” She shook her head. “I just can’t believe I’m doing this for Vince Steegle.”
    Her mother’s brows furrowed.
    “I mean Pastor Vince.”
    “I don’t know what you have against him. He’s a wonderful man, and preaches some of the best sermons I’ve ever heard.”
    “A little too smooth if you ask me.” Cassandra didn’t mean for her voice to be so hard. “I don’t trust anyone that smooth.”
    “Cassandra …” Her mother seemed to war with what to say … or ask.
    Please don’t put the bread crumbs I’ve dropped together, Mom. I can’t bear for you to find out.
    Mom’s features softened. “He’s a very good man. So what if he has a terrible past. It’s what made him value his present—his salvation. And he’s real good to your kids too.”
    Cassandra jolted. The last thing she needed was for Vince Steegle to become closer with more members of her family. She stared at the burgeoning young woman entering the room, now dressed in her adult-like bathing suit with those dark wavy locks and piercing blue eyes. Cassandra’s chest pounded an erratic beat.
    Next thing Mom would say was that Vince Steegle would be a wonderful father. Little did she know his usual method of fatherhood, back when she knew him, was to pay for the ending of his child’s life.
    “He knelt to speak with Tibo, and even got a high-five from him. He’s promised to tell Sophie his testimony.”
    The gasp came out before Cassandra could suppress it. Her mother stared.
    “Sophie doesn’t need to be immersed in his decadent history.”
    “She wants to be a ‘collector of testimonies.’” Mom glared. “Like her dad.”
    Cassandra gathered her hair in a sloppy bun. “Well, maybe she should start a little smaller.”
     
    ~*~
     
    Kevin pulled his Dodge truck up in front of the ranch-style home. Cassandra’s mom’s house. Why hadn’t Cassandra bought herself a fancy mansion in the more expensive neighborhoods surrounding Annapolis, with all that Whitaker pharmaceutical money? Every time someone sneezed they had to pay the Whitakers to cure it. She must have moved here for the retarded kid, so he could be with his grandma.
    The door opened as soon as he knocked. “You’re here. Great. I’ll show you the room.” Cassandra’s hair poured out of her funny-looking bun, spraying all around her face. Even frazzled she was hot.
    Expensive. That’s what Kevin needed to remind himself. All she cared about was a guy’s bottom line. So, he didn’t have the cash her usual boyfriends had. But that was about to change. And he’d be long gone