Free The Good Wife by Jane Porter

together. “We could do roll sugar cookies and then decorate them. I have sprinkles and icing.”
    The kids agreed enthusiastically, with the four younger ones trailing after Meg into the kitchen while JJ skulked away, heading upstairs to his room.
    Sarah followed JJ, knocking on his open door. “Hey,” she said, when he turned around. “Can I come in?”
    “Oh, sure, Aunt Sarah.” He pushed his jacket to the foot of his bed and moved his mitt to his desk.
    “You don’t have to clean up,” she said as he made a halfhearted effort to tidy the top of his desk. “Just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
    “I’m fine.” He straightened, arms folding across his chest. “Just sorry you had to hear all that. My dad can be such a dick.”
    “I think he’s stressed.”
    “He’s not the only one. We’re all stressed. Grandma’s dead and Mom’s working almost full-time, even though they’re just paying her for part-time.”
    “How do you know that?”
    “’Cause they fight about money nonstop.”
    Sarah frowned. “Is money a problem?”
    JJ shrugged. “I don’t know. Hard to say. Dad says we spend too much, but I think money wouldn’t be so tight if Dad didn’t have a house and a car in Virginia.”
    “He has a house?”
    “Just bought one. Says he’ll use it for his office, too, but he’ll still need electricity and water, which is just more bills, you know?”
    Sarah tried to hide her shock. Meg must know about the new house in Virginia, but she hadn’t mentioned it. Sarah couldn’t imagine that her sister was happy about it either. Her curiosity got the best of her. “Is your mom okay with him buying the house?” she asked, delicately probing.
    “Mom’s afraid to fight with him. Doesn’t want Dad leaving.”
    Wow. Sarah sucked in air, shocked again. If JJ was aware of all of this, did Tessa and Gabi know, too? “There’s a lot going on here,” she said. “Can’t be fun.”
    “No. It’s pretty shitty—” He broke off, winced. “Sorry about the language. But I’m kind of over it. Ready to go. Get away. Hoping I’ll get a good scholarship so Mom won’t have to worry so much. Or work so much.” Suddenly his eyes were bright and he looked away. “I will feel bad, leaving her, though. Who knows, maybe I’ll stick close to home for college. Maybe Cal or Stanford might want me.”
    “How’s it going this year? Your mom said you guys had your first game last week.”
    “We’ve had three now, but I missed two yesterday ’cause of the funeral.”
    “You had a doubleheader yesterday?”
    “Yeah, but it’s okay. Coach knew I was going to miss, and I played Thursday in our opening game and got a home run and a double. Pretty sweet.” He grinned a lopsided grin. “Was strong defensively, too. I think all the training I did this winter helped. You know Uncle Boone set me up on a conditioning program. Had me doing weights and sprints and stuff. My legs are a lot stronger.”
    “That’s great. I’ll tell Boone the exercises helped.”
    “Yeah, do. And let him know I can’t wait until June when I can come out and see you guys and watch him play. He’s said I can go to the park with him while I’m there. He’ll take me to the locker room and onto the field, and introduce me to some of the scouts, too.”
    “He said he’d invited you out. We’d love to have you.”
    “I’m coming, for sure, this year. I’m already looking at flights, trying to find a cheap ticket.”
    “We’ve got miles, JJ—”
    “No, I’m using my own money. I’m saving up.” He fished out his phone, glanced at the time. “Hey, uh, Aunt Sarah, you mind if I run? Heather keeps texting me. She wants to know where I am. We’re supposed to be hanging out.”
    “Go. Have fun.” Sarah kissed his forehead. He’d grown this year. He was as tall as her now, five ten, and still growing. “Just drive carefully.”
    He flashed her another grin. “I always do,” he said, grabbing his coat, checking for