Read Online Unholy Blue by Darby Kaye - Free Book Online Page B

I wouldn’t change a thing about you. Now, we really should let Cor out. Plus, I think we all need some lunch, and afterwards, you’re getting a neck massage.”
    â€œJust my neck?”
    The truck door opened a few inches. “Um…Dad? I have to pee. Really bad.”
    â€œCome along, son.” Bann waited until Cor dashed past them into the house, and then asked. “What did Weston Tully say?”
    Shay told him. “We need to talk to Hugh and Ann. As joint leaders of the clan, they would want to know about his threats.” As Bann started to speak, she laid a finger on his lips. “Don’t even start with the whole it’s-my-fault-your-clan-is-in-danger crap. This posturing is typical Tully behavior. Belligerent little bastard.”
    â€œBut—”
    She pushed him toward the house. “Nope. No buts allowed,” she said following him inside. She eyed his posterior.
Well, maybe just one
.

5
    â€œD AD ?” C OR SPOKE AROUND a mouthful of ham and cheese sandwich. Dots of bright yellow mustard decorated each corner of his mouth. “Is Tully coming back?”
    â€œNo, son. Never again. And swallow, then speak.” Bann took another bite of his own lunch.
    The boy complied, almost choking before he got the mouthful down. “Dad?” he asked again, this time with a note of wariness in his voice. “Are you…are you and Shay still mad at each other?”
    Bann recalled all the times he and Cor’s mother had fought, often right in front of the boy, slashing each other with words chosen, like freshly honed blades, to leave the most damage. The boy would flee to his room, neither parent noticing his absence until after the bloodbath had ended. Mostly, it was Bann who would go in search of his son, pulling the small body out from under the bed—Cor’s favorite hiding place—and sitting on the floor, cradling the boy in his arms as he tried to explain how you can love someone and be mad at them at the same time.
I wonder if, even then, I was lying to him and to myself
.
    â€œNot at all.” He reached over and swiped the nearest blob of mustard off the boy’s face with his thumb, then licked the digit clean.
    â€œTrust me. You’ll know when we are.” Shay joined them at the kitchen table and placed a plate of sliced apples and pears in the middle of it. “Five slices, kiddo.”
    As Cor selected the five smallest pieces, Bann cleared his throat. “Cor, Shay and I were not really angry. We were just—”
    â€œYou were yelling at each other,” Cor pointed out. “I don’t like it when you guys yell,” he added in an undertone.
    â€œWe were frustrated, not mad. And we weren’t taking time to really listen to each other,” Shay said. “But, now we’re going to sit down and talk about things in a calm manner.”
    Cor munched on an apple slice. “What kind of things?”
    â€œAll sorts of things.” Shay reached for the pear. “Since the three of us are going to be a family, we need to decide who does what.”
    â€œLike who’s the boss and all that?”
    Bann smiled. “Aye. Although it’s a bit more complicated than that.”
    â€œI know an easy way,” Cor said.
    â€œYou do, do you?”
    â€œYup.” He looked from his father to Shay. “Shay’s the boss when we’re
inside
the house and Dad’s the boss when we’re
outside
the house,” he said in perfect eight-year-old logic.
    â€œYou did not just say that!” Shay growled in mock indignation.
    â€œWhy, that’s a fine idea.” Bann patted Cor on the head. “Clever lad.”
    The doorbell rang. “That’s probably Hugh and Ann.” Shay started to rise.
    â€œHow do you know?”
    â€œI went ahead and called them about Tully. Hugh wanted to come over and talk about it in person.”
    Bann pushed to his feet, waving her