EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE Read Free Page A

her fork aside and sat up tall. “Yes, Mother.” Always the dutiful daughter. She was named after the Hollinsworths, and it was a name that deserved the utmost respect. Which meant Hollin had always been afraid of disappointing her mother while growing up.
    Rachel was the outcast, defying Angela and John at every opportunity. While Hollin and Brad had always aimed to please. In school, Rachel didn’t care about her grades. Hollin and Brad were straight A students. Rachel broke curfew, snuck out of the house, drank and smoked. Hollin had only drank on one occasion, and look where that had gotten her. She shuddered, remembering the party at Griffin’s trailer.
    “I don’t know why your sister has to sleep so late,” Angela said, interrupting Hollin’s thoughts. She picked up the white, cloth napkin from her lap and blotted the corners of her mouth. “Rachel knows Ed is supposed to be here shortly, and he wanted you kids present while he talks with me.” She scowled. “I have no idea why. John and I prepared our wills together. He left everything to me.”
    “I’m sure Mr. Townsend will explain when he gets here,” Hollin said reassuringly, staring at a strip of wallpaper that had come loose.
    But it wasn’t the peeling wallpaper that bothered her. She suddenly felt agitated that Chelsea had gone off to school while her mother was still in bed. Rachel hadn’t bothered to get up and see her daughter off. Josephine had handled that task, as well as dressing the little girl and making sure she finished her breakfast before the bus came.
    “Child, what’s wrong?” Josephine asked, bustling toward them from the kitchen. “Don’t you like my cooking anymore?”
    “Of course I do. You’re a wonderful cook. But with everything that’s happened, I’ve lost my appetite, that’s all.”
    “Maybe you’re coming down with something, like young Chelsea. She had the sniffles for a few days, but this morning she insisted on going back to school.” The gray haired woman leaned close and placed the back of her chubby hand on Hollin’s forehead. “You don’t feel warm. Would you like me to make you something else?”
    “No, thank you, Josephine. I’ll eat something later. I promise.”
    Once the housekeeper had cleared their plates, her mother whispered, “That was rude, Hollin. Josephine works hard for her age. At least you can do is eat what she prepares.”
    “I’m sorry.” And she truly was. She hadn’t meant to offend the woman who had been part of the household since Hollin could remember. Hollin slid her chair back a few inches. “Mother, have you any intentions of having the roof fixed?”
    Angela smiled brightly. “As a matter of fact, it’s one of the things I’d like to discuss with Ed this morning. He’ll no doubt be dissolving the partnership he had with John, so I’m expecting a sizeable amount of cash soon. With that, and along with John’s life insurance, I’ll be able to restore this house to the grandiose state it once was in.”
    Hollin forced a smile. Her mother sounded as if she cared more about money than losing her husband. She knew it wasn’t true. Angela had adored John. He’d spoiled her rotten. But when her mother didn’t want to face something, such as her husband’s death or her daughter’s brutal rape, she simply pretended the whole thing never happened.
    Angela leaned over and patted Hollin’s knee. “Why don’t you go wake your sister. I don’t want to keep Ed waiting once he gets here.”
    “What about Brad?” she asked, getting to her feet.
    “I don’t have to worry about Brad. He should be here soon. He’s always on time.”
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    “What do you mean there isn’t any money?” The room grew silent as Angela grilled her husband’s business partner. “John was a lawyer, a fine lawyer. He made plenty of money. What are you trying to pull, Ed?”
    “Angela, please.” Ed Townsend adjusted the wire rim glasses on his nose and ran a hand over his bald