Read Online Home with My Sisters by Mary Carter - Free Book Online Page A

I’M HEALTHIER, FITTER, SMARTER, RICHER, MORE IN LOVE, HAVE CHILDREN. SO MUCH BETTER THAN MY SISTERS. “Guess who invited us over for Christmas?”
    â€œWho?” Faith was immediately on guard.
    â€œOver the river and through the woods.”
    â€œI’m hanging up.”
    â€œTo Grandmother’s house we go.”
    â€œYou want to spend Christmas in the cemetery?” There was a grunt. Faith was still stretching. Maybe she wasn’t as limber as she claimed.
    â€œYvette Garland.”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œDad’s mother. Our paternal grandmother.”
    There was a clatter, then swearing. Faith had dropped the phone. When she spoke again, she was out of breath. “Dad’s mother?” Panic was evident in her voice. They rarely talked about their father and when they did their voices always resorted to higher pitches.
    â€œHer neighbor showed up at the shelter yesterday looking for me.”
    â€œLooking for you? Why did she look for you first?”
    â€œHe.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œThe neighbor is a he.”
    â€œSo? Why did he come to you first?”
    â€œMaybe our grandmother is a wicked witch and he was ordered to bring back one of our hearts on a silver platter.”
    â€œOh, and you’re Cinderella, and we’re the Wicked Stepsisters?”
    â€œAnd how!” Hope laughed. Faith did not.
    â€œMy kale is wilting,” Faith clipped.
    Holy night. Faith was jealous. It didn’t matter how old they were, they could succumb to their childhood roles within seconds of speaking. Faith, as the oldest, always felt she was entitled to be first. “He probably came to me first because I’m closer to Leavenworth.”
    â€œSeattle is closer to Leavenworth. So if it was a geographical decision, then Joy should have been first.”
    â€œOh my God. Who cares who he approached first?”
    â€œIt just doesn’t make sense.” Everything had to make sense in Faith’s world. Which meant everything had to agree with the way Faith saw the world.
    â€œOur paternal grandmother is not only alive, but she’s requesting to see us. Can we focus on that for a second?”
    â€œWhy does she want to see us now?”
    â€œShe’s dying. This might be her last Christmas, Faithy. She wants to spend it with us.”
    There was a snort. “Too bad.”
    â€œDon’t be like that.”
    â€œWhat about Dad?” Hope could actually hear the lump forming in Faith’s throat. Maybe this was why they never got together. It reminded them that there was a piece missing to their family puzzle. The one who had torn a hole in all of them. The one who never came for them. He happened to be the one who loved Christmas the most, even gave each of his three daughters holiday-themed names. Maybe they never got together because then they’d have to face the pain of losing him all over again. Being rejected year after year when he didn’t call, or show up, or send a freaking Christmas card. They didn’t even know if he was alive or dead.
    â€œAustin doesn’t know anything about him.”
    â€œWho’s Austin?”
    â€œThe neighbor.”
    â€œHis name is Austin?”
    â€œWhy would I make that up?”
    â€œIs he an old man?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œIs he attractive?”
    Hope looked at the wall between her room and Austin’s and lowered her voice. “What does that have to do with anything?”
    â€œJust wondering how a total stranger convinced you to go and visit that woman.”
    â€œShe’s our grandmother.”
    Faith snorted. “I have to go.”
    â€œShe had a picture of the three of us. You and I are in dresses. Joy is just a baby and I’m holding her. I must be about four in the picture, which would make you eight or nine—”
    â€œEight,” Faith said.
    â€œI don’t remember it at all,” Hope said.
    â€œThe day Joy came home