Read Online Judging Joey by Elizabeth John - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Elizabeth John
Ads: Link
working on these briefs.”
They all said goodbye, then Caitlin turned her focus on Joey again.
“I hate going to the Laundromat. It takes too much time.” Joey had to admit that was one of the disadvantages of living on his own.
“Of course, why go there when you can come here, have Mom do it, and get fed at the same time?” Caitlin made no attempt at mincing her words. She never had.
He leaned over and grabbed a new pillow off the couch and threw it playfully at his sister. “Why you . . . I can’t help it if she insists on doing my laundry.”
When he reached for another, Caitlin shouted, “You better not. Mom will kill you if you rip her new pillows.”
Thinking his sister happened to be right, Joey rose and fluffed up the pillows and straightened them up on the couch. Then he sank down into the comfort of the plush cushions. He ran a hand down the smooth material. “Nice.”
Caitlin’s eyes turned into slits. “Seriously, Joey, the only girlfriend we want our kids to meet is the future Mrs. Joey O’Neill. Is that clear?”
“Cait, when is it going to be clear to you that you haven’t been able to boss me around since grammar school?” He leaned back and put a pillow behind his head watching her clench her teeth together and getting ready for a fight. At times like these he instantly recalled the many brawls he and Caitlin had had over the years. Since they were the youngest and closer in age than the rest of his siblings, they seemed to argue with each other the most. And Caitlin could fight like a boy. She’d had plenty of practice observing her older brothers.
He loved busting on his sister, but if his love life was affecting his nieces and nephews the way they all seemed to think, then he could easily keep his dates away from his family. He shrugged. “Sure why not? It’s not like I plan to get married any time soon. Probably never.”
Caitlin smiled, victorious. “Good. Knew you’d see it our way.”
Joey raised his arms and placed them behind his head. “Now tell me about Miss Madeline White.”
Chapter 6
“How come neither one of us remember her from high school?” Joey scratched his head as he pondered possible explanations.
Kevin came back in the room and looked as if he was about to say something, but before he could, an idea came to Joey as he recalled Madeline’s shapely legs. Spectacular long legs that led up. And up. “You ran track, Caitlin. Did Madeline do track? I didn’t hang with any of those guys.” He let out a low whistle. “She sure has the legs for it.”
Caitlin stood suddenly and puffed up like an indignant peacock whose feathers got ruffled. Her whole body began to shake. “Don’t talk about Christopher’s teacher like that.”
“Like what?” Instinctively he moved back a degree. Man, his sister was sensitive today. And more bossy than usual.
“Ugh!” She rolled her eyes at him and turned to her husband for help. “Forget it. He’s impossible.”
Kevin shook his head and frowned at Joey. Then he grabbed his wife’s hand and pulled her toward him. “I know. Let it go, honey,” he said in a loving and understanding tone that Joey never did quite get.
The familiar, yet foreign tone Joey immediately recognized, having heard his parents and his married siblings use it many times, was lost on him. Something twisted in his gut as the idea hit him that maybe there were some perks to the whole marriage thing. Married couples seemed to have a bond, a connection like no other. He looked away from his sister and her husband. Suddenly Joey felt like a third wheel.
Caitlin plopped down on the couch and hugged a pillow. “No, Madeline wasn’t on track. I would have remembered her then. But I did ask around today about that because I thought it was kind of weird too. I already knew some stuff about her having a bad childhood. And both her mom and her aunt died recently. Just about a year ago.”
Joey, more serious now, turned back to his sister and
They all said goodbye, then Caitlin turned her focus on Joey again.
“I hate going to the Laundromat. It takes too much time.” Joey had to admit that was one of the disadvantages of living on his own.
“Of course, why go there when you can come here, have Mom do it, and get fed at the same time?” Caitlin made no attempt at mincing her words. She never had.
He leaned over and grabbed a new pillow off the couch and threw it playfully at his sister. “Why you . . . I can’t help it if she insists on doing my laundry.”
When he reached for another, Caitlin shouted, “You better not. Mom will kill you if you rip her new pillows.”
Thinking his sister happened to be right, Joey rose and fluffed up the pillows and straightened them up on the couch. Then he sank down into the comfort of the plush cushions. He ran a hand down the smooth material. “Nice.”
Caitlin’s eyes turned into slits. “Seriously, Joey, the only girlfriend we want our kids to meet is the future Mrs. Joey O’Neill. Is that clear?”
“Cait, when is it going to be clear to you that you haven’t been able to boss me around since grammar school?” He leaned back and put a pillow behind his head watching her clench her teeth together and getting ready for a fight. At times like these he instantly recalled the many brawls he and Caitlin had had over the years. Since they were the youngest and closer in age than the rest of his siblings, they seemed to argue with each other the most. And Caitlin could fight like a boy. She’d had plenty of practice observing her older brothers.
He loved busting on his sister, but if his love life was affecting his nieces and nephews the way they all seemed to think, then he could easily keep his dates away from his family. He shrugged. “Sure why not? It’s not like I plan to get married any time soon. Probably never.”
Caitlin smiled, victorious. “Good. Knew you’d see it our way.”
Joey raised his arms and placed them behind his head. “Now tell me about Miss Madeline White.”
Chapter 6
“How come neither one of us remember her from high school?” Joey scratched his head as he pondered possible explanations.
Kevin came back in the room and looked as if he was about to say something, but before he could, an idea came to Joey as he recalled Madeline’s shapely legs. Spectacular long legs that led up. And up. “You ran track, Caitlin. Did Madeline do track? I didn’t hang with any of those guys.” He let out a low whistle. “She sure has the legs for it.”
Caitlin stood suddenly and puffed up like an indignant peacock whose feathers got ruffled. Her whole body began to shake. “Don’t talk about Christopher’s teacher like that.”
“Like what?” Instinctively he moved back a degree. Man, his sister was sensitive today. And more bossy than usual.
“Ugh!” She rolled her eyes at him and turned to her husband for help. “Forget it. He’s impossible.”
Kevin shook his head and frowned at Joey. Then he grabbed his wife’s hand and pulled her toward him. “I know. Let it go, honey,” he said in a loving and understanding tone that Joey never did quite get.
The familiar, yet foreign tone Joey immediately recognized, having heard his parents and his married siblings use it many times, was lost on him. Something twisted in his gut as the idea hit him that maybe there were some perks to the whole marriage thing. Married couples seemed to have a bond, a connection like no other. He looked away from his sister and her husband. Suddenly Joey felt like a third wheel.
Caitlin plopped down on the couch and hugged a pillow. “No, Madeline wasn’t on track. I would have remembered her then. But I did ask around today about that because I thought it was kind of weird too. I already knew some stuff about her having a bad childhood. And both her mom and her aunt died recently. Just about a year ago.”
Joey, more serious now, turned back to his sister and
Similar Books
