Read Online Rough Drafts by J. A. Armstrong - Free Book Online Page A

woman.
    “You
think because I am old, I am senile?” she asked him. Candace snickered in the
distance.
    “No!”
Jonah defended himself. Just as he was about to continue, another figure appeared in the doorway.
    Candace
smiled at the tall, attractive man who was looking at her hesitantly. “Hi,
Jeffy.”
    “Hey,
Candy,” he greeted her. They shared a
silent glance before Jeffrey shifted his attention to Jonah. “Jesus, you look
like your Mom!” he said to the younger man. “Only younger and male.”
    “Thanks,
I think,” Jonah laughed.
    “Hey , I think I managed to fix the leak in the
old,” Jameson was carrying on excitedly as she entered the back door and hung
up her coat. “Barn,” she finished.
    “Jameson,”
Pearl said. “You are filthy. What the hell are you doing outside in this cold?”
    Candace
rolled her eyes and looked at her wife to answer. “Fixing the leak in the
barn.”
    “In
February? I seem to see your wife here, don’t you have better projects to get
your hands on?” Pearl teased. “Warmer ones?” Candace covered her mouth to hide
her chuckle as Jameson blushed furiously.
    Jonah
snickered. “What’s so funny?” Jameson asked him.
    “Nothing,”
he said with a raise of his hands. “Just wondering what you were repairing at
about eleven-thirty last night,” Jonah smirked.
    Jameson’s
mouth flew open. Candace closed it with her hand. “Jameson,” she said. “This is
Pearl’s son, Jeffrey.”
    “Nice
to meet you,” Jameson said. She went to
extend her hand and withdrew it when she noticed how filthy it actually was.
“Sorry,” she wrinkled her nose.
    Jeffrey
was intrigued. “No need for apologies. Nice to finally meet you, Jameson.”
    “J.D.,”
Jameson said.
    “I’m
sorry?” Jeffrey was confused.
    “Everyone
calls me J.D. except your mom and Candace. I don’t what their problem is.”
    “It’s
your name, isn’t it?” Candace said.
    Jameson
rolled her eyes. “That or lunatic,” she answered smartly. Candace threw a dish
towel at her. “Hey! I get the hint,” Jameson said. “If you’ll excuse me, I
think Nana here is telling me I need to get cleaned up.”
    Candace
shook her head affectionately as Jameson placed a kiss on her cheek. “Lunatic.”
    “That
makes you Mrs. Lunatic,” Jameson called back.
    “We
all have our crosses to bear!” Candace called after her. Jameson waved her off just as Jinx made his presence
known. “And, where have you been?” Candace asked the cat at her feet.
    “What
is that?” Jeffrey asked.
    “Oh,
that’s Jinx,” Jonah answered.
    Jeffrey
was dumbfounded and looked at his mother to explain. “Candy got a cat?”
    “No,
Jameson made a deal with Candy. Candy got out-negotiated,” Pearl explained.
    Jeffrey
watched Candace pick Jinx up, cuddle him and place him back on the floor. “You hate cats,” he said in utter disbelief.
    Candace
shrugged. “Like I said, we all have our crosses to bear.”
    “So?”
Pearl chimed. She made her way to the kitchen table and plopped in a chair.
“What were you two discussing about me when I so rudely interrupted?”
    “Uh…”
Jonah stammered.
    “Jonah
has some news,” Candace said.
    “Oh?
Is this coffee or wine kind of news?” Pearl asked. Jonah went pale. Pearl
raised her eyes to Candace’s. Candace smiled and gave the signature raise of her brow. “I see,” Pearl said. “Did
you get arrested?”
    “What?
No!” Jonah said.
    “Okay.
Did you crash that nice car your mother bought you?” Pearl asked.
    “No…”
    “Flunk
out of school?”
    “No!”
    “Hum.
Well, you didn’t elope because I don’t see any girl here,” Pearl paused. “Told
your mother you’re gay?”
    Jonah
started laughing. “I’m not gay, Grandma.”
    “Joined
the CIA like this one here,” she pointed to Jeffrey, who was now sitting beside her.
    “I
am not in the CIA, Mom,” Jeffrey laughed.
    “No,”
Jonah chuckled.
    “Well,
that leaves two possibilities. Either you are in love or