Read Online Poison Me by Cami Checketts - Free Book Online Page B

to her stomach. “This is what happened.”
    “We all know how that happens,” Ellie said. “But where is he now?”
    “St. George.”
    Ellie scowled. “Doing what?”
    “He leads backpacking adventures in Zion’s Park in the summer and is a ski instructor in Park City in the winter.” Brinley glanced at the plush rug covering the wood floor. “It’s not possible for him to care for a family. I told him to go. He didn’t make a fuss about leaving.” She paused. “Leaving didn’t seem to bother him at all. The only time I heard from him was when he offered me money for an abortion.”
    Ruby grabbed onto the arm of the couch, her beautiful face distorted in anger. “The scum.”
    “Yeah.” Brinley nodded. “See, Aunt Ellie, he isn’t a loser, he’s a class-one jerk. Now he’s gone, and I made a mistake again.” She closed her eyes for a moment and let out a deep breath. “Is that what you needed to know, Aunt Ellie?”
    Ellie patted Brinley’s hand. “Yes. But you know, sweetheart, uncrossing your legs that often ain’t a mistake.” She cackled. “It’s an addiction.”
    Brinley jerked her hand from Ellie’s, rose to her feet, and started to walk away.
    “Ellie, you stop this meanness right now,” Ruby ordered. “You never know when you’re past the point of funny. Brinley has got enough stress without you making her feel worse.”
    “Sorry,” Ellie said, and for once she actually looked apologetic. “I thought if I cracked a joke it would take the strain off the abortion issue.” She whistled and shook her head. “I love that girl, but she’s got to learn to stand up for herself. She’s been too pampered. If your son would cut off the funds and give her a taste of a real single mom’s life, maybe she’d have to take some accountability for her sexuality and tell these jerks where to go, if you know what I mean.”
    “No, I don’t know what you mean, and I’m grateful,” Ruby replied. “At least she doesn’t have to worry about supporting herself and trying to be a single mom. You know she’s just trying to find love any way she can get it. It’s not like David and Don were great male role models. You act nice before you make my sweet girl cry and she never comes to see us again.”
    Jake re-entered the open area, thankfully without the beautiful nurse. After hugging his sister, he took up pursuit of his nephew. The voices around Chanel faded as she watched him pretend to run as fast as he could. Trevor giggled and screamed, “Don’t catch me, Unca Jake. Don’t do it!”
    A shrill voice interrupted the game. “What on earth is a child doing in the facility? Those despicable little things should be outlawed.”
    Jake swooped Trevor into his arms, shielding him from the glowering Jennalou. “He isn’t hurting anything,” he said.
    “He’s giving me hearing damage.”
    Trevor jerked farther away from Jennalou, burying his cheek into his uncle’s shirt. “What a wench bucket,” the child said.
    “Oh,” Jennalou gasped. “You little brat! I swear children these days have no manners.” The angular woman glared at the group, then stomped past, muttering about putting an end to the screaming and swiping at the air with an antibacterial wipe. “Of course he would be related to that creepy Ruby Merrill.” She shuddered. “Children. I swear those monsters put viruses into the air just by living.”
    Chanel heaved a sigh of relief as Jennalou disappeared down the hall. Jake walked over to the group of women, with Brinley trailing him and Trevor giggling in his arms.
    “My little Trevor, a brat?” Ruby tossed her head. “Creepy Ruby Merrill?”
    “I wouldn’t worry about anything the psycho says,” Marissa comforted her.
    “Trevor’s right—that woman is a wench,” Brinley said.
    “I not in troubles?” Trevor asked.
    “No, sir.” Brinley tweaked his nose. “Not when someone is that nasty.”
    “Nice parenting, Sis,” Jake said.
    Brinley chuckled, then