Beyond Always: Book Nine in the Somerville Series (Featuring Lex & Amanda) by Carrie L. Carr

Author:Carrie L. Carr [Carr, Carrie L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-10-13T22:00:00+00:00

The moment Amanda stepped into her grandparent’s home, she could hear her father’s angry voice in the living room. She closed the door behind her and followed the noise.

“Jeannie, I realize you’re getting the deal of a lifetime, but have you really thought this through?”

“Daddy, if you’d just listen to me for a second, you’d—”

Michael threw his hands in the air and spun away, only to be met by his other daughter. “Oh. Amanda, hi.”

“Hi. I could hear you from outside,” Amanda told him. “What’s going on?” She exchanged looks with her sister while she sat on the nearest loveseat. “Where’s Gramma and Grandpa?”

Jeannie perched on the arm beside her. “Gramma’s upstairs, showing them the stuff to take. Grandpa went to the VFW with a load of donations, already.”

“How much stuff?” Amanda looked at Jeannie, whose red-rimmed eyes belied her flippant attitude. She put her hand on her sister’s knee. “Daddy told me a little about it, but—”

“If you hadn’t brushed me off when I called, I’d have told you more,” Michael muttered. “Our entire family has lost its mind.”

Amanda turned to him. “I didn’t brush you off. But you were ranting and not making much sense.”

He lurched to his feet. “I was not ranting! I was asking for your help, but you had more important things to do. And now, my mother is upstairs, giving away everything that’s not nailed down! And my father is just as bad.”

“That’s enough, Michael,” Anna Leigh ordered from the doorway. Her hands were on her hips, and her tired eyes sparkled with anger. The navy-blue tracksuit she wore had dust spots on the knees and belly, but she still held herself with grace. “I thought we finished this discussion this morning. If you have nothing useful to say, you’re welcome to leave.”

“Now, look. I’m just trying—”

“To run our life,” Anna Leigh finished for him. “Which we don’t need you to do.” She smiled at her granddaughters. “Girls, would you like to join me in the kitchen? I’ve made a fresh pitcher of tea.”

Michael sputtered and shook his head. “All right.” He stopped in front of his mother. “I only want what’s best for you, you know.”

Her anger faded. “I know, dearest.” She held out her hands, which he took. “It’s quite all right. As long as you remember, we’re both fully functional adults.” She kissed his cheek and whispered into his ear. “It’s going to be fine, Michael.”

“Uh, yeah.” He held her tightly to him for a moment. “I love you, Mom. Call me if either of you need anything, okay?”

“We will.”

Michael murmured his apologies to both daughters before leaving.

Once the front door closed, Jeannie heavily exhaled. “Thank god.” She looked at Amanda, then to Anna Leigh. “I don’t know why he’s getting so bent out of shape. It’s not like you and Grandpa are moving out of town.”

Anna Leigh put her arm around Jeannie’s shoulders. “He’s got it in his head that we’ve gotten old and feeble and need his assistance in making decisions.

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