Read Online Under Construction by J. A. Armstrong - Free Book Online

“What do
you mean Mom’s crying?” he asked.
    “It’s
not my fault,” Marianne defended herself.
    “Bullshit,
Marianne. What did you say?” Michelle barked.
    Rick
noticed the argument beginning and discretely asked Jameson if she would hold
Spencer. “What is going on?” he asked as he toweled off his short hair.
    “Ask
your wife,” Michelle answered without removing her gaze from her sister.
    “I
didn’t do anything,” Marianne insisted. “I just asked her a simple question.”
    “What
kind of question?” Jonah asked.
    “I just
asked if she had considered the fact that Jameson might want kids someday. What
would she do then?” Marianne explained as reasonably as she could.
    “Why
the hell would you even ask that?” Michelle asked.
    “Come
on, Shell! You can’t seriously see Mom with another baby! Jesus! You want
brothers and sisters the same age as your own kids? I’m just trying to help her
be realistic.”
    “No,
you’re just trying to cause trouble for her and J.D.,” Michelle said in
disgust.
    “Jonah?”
Marianne implored her brother.
    Jonah
shook his head. “Why can’t you just let them be?”
    “Don’t
tell me you are suddenly all for this relationship?” Michelle asked her
brother.
    “Why
wouldn’t I be? J.D.’s been nothing but good to all of us. I don’t give a shit
about their age difference.”
    “It’s
not the age difference, Jonah. It’s the reality difference. You didn’t see J.D.
watching Mom yesterday with Spencer. I mean….come on! You’re twenty-four. You
seriously want to have little brothers and sisters?”
    Jonah
shrugged. “Why do I care?” he asked. “I’m not raising them.” Rick snickered at
his brother-in-law’s response.
    “You’re
not helping!” Marianne chastised her husband.
    Rick
nodded. “I don’t actually see your point in any of this,” he said honestly.
“Your mom and Jameson are adults. They can do whatever they want.”
    “You
want Spencer playing with his uncle?” Marianne asked pointedly. Rick shrugged
again, unaffected by the scenario.
    “God,
you can be such a bitch,” Michelle chimed.
    “I’m
just trying…”
    “To
what? Be the center of attention?” Michelle’s voice was rising fast. “What are
you afraid of? That Spencer won’t command center stage or something? Why do you
care? How about if I have a baby? How about Jonah!”
    “Don’t
look at me,” Jonah put up his hands. Rick snickered again.
    “I’m
looking out for Mom,” Marianne defended herself.
    “Bullshit.
You are looking out for you, just like you always do. What the hell is your
problem?” Michelle nearly screamed.
    “My
problem? What are you talking about? Look at J.D. with Spencer! Look! Don’t you
think they need to consider this stuff! My God! Are you two completely stupid?”
Marianne yelled.
    “Why
don’t you just shut up, Marianne. It’s none of my business and it’s none of yours,”
Michelle said angrily. She was coming dangerously close to hauling off and
punching her sister.
    “The
hell it isn’t! Shell….Mom is fifty-five…almost fifty-six. The last thing she
needs…”
    “The
last thing she needs,” a voice came upon them. “Is you three fighting over
something that not one of you knows anything about,” Pearl said firmly.
    “We
were just,” Marianne began.
    Pearl
folded her arms across her chest. “I’d like a moment with your sister,” Pearl
said to Michelle and Jonah. They both nodded and shook their heads as they
walked away. Rick started to follow.
    “Where
are you going?” Marianne asked her husband.
    “Going
to go talk to Granny J.D.,” he tried not to laugh at his comment. Marianne bristled.
    “Are
you through?” Pearl asked the younger woman.
    “What
do you mean?” Marianne answered. “All I did was ask a question.”
    “No,
all you did was suggest an issue to your mother that doesn’t even exist.”
    “Yet,”
Marianne interjected.
    Pearl
took a deep breath. “Marianne, I love you like you