Read Online The Ties That Bind by Andi Marquette - Free Book Online

University of California Press wants me to edit an anthology about extremists. Left and right. That's in the planning stages and it looks like we'll score a chunk of change from the NEH for that." I walked back into the kitchen and took a bottle of Tazo iced tea out of the fridge. "I don't know how I'd be able to teach full-time and do all that shit. Geez. How did you do it all of those years?" I shook up the tea and, bracing my phone between my ear and shoulder, I unscrewed the top.
    She laughed. "Sometimes I wonder that myself."
    I heard their home phone ring in the background.
    "That's probably your father. I'm supposed to pick him up at the library."
    "You'd better get it then. Talk to you later. Love you."
    "I love you, too. Give our love to Sage. Bye, hon."
    "Bye."
    I hung up and took a long drink of tea. I stood in the kitchen a while longer, thinking about Kara and what my mom had said about raising the bar. I hate it when she's right . I speed-dialed Kara's cell. One ring...two...
    "Hey, Kase! I was just going to call you."
    Sure you were. Mom guilt-tripped you. "Cool." I kept my tone light. "Can you talk? Or are you busy?"
    "No, it's fine. I'm on I-10 and traffic's not bad."
    "All right. So for real. What's your schedule? Sage was asking me so she could get things ready."
    "Aww! I love your girlfriend. I'm on my way to Mom and Dad's right now. I should be there around eight Arizona time. I thought I'd leave for Albuquerque Wednesday morning."
    "Are you sure? That's only, like, a day with Mom and Dad." I swirled the tea in the bottle.
    Pause. "And?"
    "I just--um--shit, I don't know."
    Kara giggled. "Girl, you know how it goes. After about a day Mom starts asking me when I'm going to go to law school so I can become a lobbyist. Then Dad wants to know about my latest boyfriend. Then Joely calls to find out what project I've been working on so she can write yet another freakin' whale-lovin' hempgrowin' hippie story." She sighed. "Does she not know anybody else to write about?" She asked plaintively. "Is our sister deprived of human companionship?"
    I grinned in spite of myself. "Good point. I'll tell Joely it's time to write about lesbians who research the latest in neo-Nazi ideology and fashion."
    "Would you please? I'm so tired of being a stereotype at her department meetings." Kara laughed, but I thought I detected some tension underneath it.
    "I'll see what I can do. Okay, do you want me to pick up any kind of food in particular?"
    "Nah. You guys eat pretty much the way I do."
    "So you're not still vegan?" That surprised me.
    "I go through phases. I'm in a fish and poultry phase now. Which pretty much ruins Joely's day, I guess. I'm not the pure-asthe-driven-snow hippie chick anymore."
    "When did that happen?" I moved the phone a bit so I could take another drink of tea.
    "About four months ago. I wasn't feeling well and my acupuncturist recommended animal-based protein so I reintroduced it and started feeling better right away."
    "Wow. So, are you--"
    "Yes. I've reconciled it with my belief system..." She trailed off. "Jesus, I sound like Dad. Smack me when I get there."
    "Nah. The realization is punishment enough."
    Kara hooted. "You're pretty damn funny for my uptight older sister."
    "Thanks. I guess." Uptight?
    "No worries, Kase. That's why you have me in your life. To loosen you up a bit. Oh--hold on--gotta pass this guy."
    I waited while she performed the action. Uptight? I heard music in the background but I couldn't identify it.
    "Okay, I'm back. Anyway, can you e-mail me directions to your place? I know Central and Nob Hill all right, but those residential areas--not so sure."
    I leaned against the counter. "Yeah. I'll do that tonight. Anything else?"
    "Not a damn thing. I'll call you if anything changes."
    "Awesome. Drive carefully."
    "Will do. Love ya. Bye."
    "Bye."
    I stood staring at my phone. Aliens. That was the only explanation. Aliens had landed and one obviously took over my sister. She sounded