Trying to Survive (The Kiser #1) Read Free Page A

on my coffee. I smiled as he walked through still rubbing the sleep
from his eyes.   “Morning.   Sleep well?”   I almost laughed at his disheveled look.   I don’t know what he did last night but I assumed he thought about Kaitlyn
all night and hadn’t slept much.
         “Not really.”   He grinned.   “What do have planned for today?”   He asked while grabbing his own coffee.
         “Nothing really, why?”   I watched
him as he came over and sat down at the breakfast bar beside me.
         “Let’s go fishing.”   That came out
of nowhere.   “Like we use to.”   When Graysen was alive, we would take our
one-man pontoon boats and float the river.   I loved it.   We had…well have three of them but after Graysen
died, we quit going.  
         “Ok, but we may have to buy more fishing rods.   Let me do all my morning meds and we’ll
go.   We can stop by Walmart and buy what
we don’t have.”   His beaming smile warmed
my heart.
         “Good.   While you get ready, I’ll
go load the boats and see what we need.”   We finished our coffee and then went our separate ways.
         Austin had the boats loaded on top of the Subaru. What fishing supplies
we had were in the back along with his bicycle.   We stopped by the store and picked up two new rods along with hooks,
sinkers and a container of night crawlers.   We were set!
         We chained Austin’s bike to a tree where our float would end so he could
ride up the road and get the car when it was over.   Driving on down the road, we found our
familiar spot and unloaded the boats.   After readying our supplies, we were on the river with fishing poles in
hand.
         “Thanks mom.”   He said solemnly
and without looking at me.
         “You’re welcome.”
           Floating the river was a great
idea.   Being on the river had a calming
affect for both of us.   It made us think
of Graysen, but instead of internalizing it, we talked about him a lot.   I never realized the depth of which his death
affected Austin.   I knew he took it hard
but it’s easy to get caught up in your own grief.   Once again, I felt thankful that we both went
to counseling and had such a close relationship.

Chapter 2

 
    Thanksgiving!

 
         Before I knew it, Thanksgiving had arrived and I spent the whole morning
cooking.   My mother always had a big
dinner with all the fixings.   My sister
Beth and her husband Scott would be there, along with their three girls.   Sometimes my Aunt and Uncles would come, but
usually it was just us.   Mother always
baked a turkey, and I fixed sweet potato casserole.   Of course, we had many other things as
well.   “Mom, are you about ready to
go?”   Austin asked as he walked in to the
kitchen.   “Mm, something smells
good.   Did you bake an apple pie?”   He asked at the same time he opened the oven
door.
         “I did.   I know that’s your
favorite.”   The pie was in the oven so it
would stay warm.   Everything was
ready.   “I’m ready.   We just need to load the food up.”  
         Austin drove as always.   Graysen
never would let me drive either.   Forty-five minutes later, we arrived at mom and dad’s house.   Beth and her family were already there.    Mom came over to give me a hug.   “Lana, I’m glad you made it, and on time
too.”  
         “I know can you believe it?   This
is like the first time I’ve never been late.”   I said, smiling.   She loved to play
this little game, always figuring that I will be at least fifteen minutes late
everywhere I go.
         “Hi Grandma.”   Austin said before
hugging her.  
         “Look at you.   I think you’ve
grown more since I saw you last.   And
look at your arms, have you been working out?”   Without answering, he blushed.   “Okay, the food’s on the table.   Let’s unpack yours and eat.”   Mom
started setting the food out while my sister