Free B008DKAYYQ EBOK by Joyce Lamb

they had been shoved off the coffee table and onto the floor in front of the sofa, and the TV was on too loud. A cereal bowl with pink milk in the bottom sat in front of the TV, next to a Nintendo Wii. A recent, cranberry-colored stain marred the beige carpet in front of the couch.
    Dread began to squeeze her chest as she spotted empty beer cans among the litter. James had been drinking around Austin. That contradicted everything her brother had accomplished in the past year. She’d never even heard him swear in front of his son.
    Before she could deal with the mess or James or anything else, though, she decided she needed to rest a minute. Easing down onto the closest chair, she noticed her nephew watching her curiously, as if sensing something wasn’t right with her. Her stomach fluttered. He was so young, so innocent. The need to protect him nearly overwhelmed her.  
    She gave him a reassuring smile. “Where’s your dad?”
    “In bed.” Leaning against her leg, he clasped her fingers in his. “Want to play the shoot ‘em up game? I got 300 points last night and hit all the tin cans all three times. It was so cool. Want to see?”
    She brushed wisps of hair off his forehead. “What about the aliens? Did you get all of those?”
    He puffed up with pride. “Yep. I saved everyone. And I got the last ducks, too.”
    Cole chuckled. “You two are speaking in a language I don’t understand.”
    Bailey looked up, startled that she had momentarily forgotten him. The way he was smiling at her almost made her fidget. “Oh, thanks for seeing me up, but I can take it from here.”  
    “Your hand is cold,” Austin said. “And why are you shivering? It’s hot out.”
    She gently disengaged from his clinging fingers and patted his shoulder. “I’m fine, honey. Let’s say goodbye to Cole, okay?” She pushed to her feet, not moaning aloud taking every ounce of willpower she could muster. The three steps to the door were among the hardest she’d ever managed. All she wanted to do was curl into a fetal ball and whimper. First, she had to get rid of Cole. All she had to do was get the door open and push him out. “Thanks for—”
    “I’m not going just yet,” Cole said.
    Bailey’s breath hitched with alarm. “You don’t—”
    “Don’t protest.” His voice was low so Austin couldn’t hear as he placed his hand at the small of her back.
    She stiffened at the contact. “What are you doing?”  
    “I’m going to feed you, and then you’re going to take a pain pill. And when I’m satisfied that the shakes have gone, I’ll make like a tree and leave.” Flashing a grin at Austin, he said, “What’s for breakfast, big guy? Your Aunt Bailey’s famished.”
    Austin glanced from Bailey to Cole and back again, baffled. “You’re fam-what?”
    She forced a smile. “He meant to say I’m hungry. Sometimes he uses big words where little ones will do just fine. That’s called pompous.”
    While Cole smirked, apparently amused by her jibe rather than offended, Austin brightened. “Hey, I had some Froot Loops. Want some?” He took off for the kitchen.
    Perfect, Bailey thought. That would make for a quick and easy breakfast, ensuring Cole would be out of here sooner rather than later. “That sounds great—”
    “She needs something more substantial than that.” Cole smoothly cut her off and followed Austin as if they were on a big adventure. “What about eggs? You got eggs?”
    Austin pulled open the refrigerator and peered inside. “We got Coke, pickles, ketchup, mustard.” He peered up at Cole. “I hate mustard. Let’s don’t make anything with that, okay?”
    Chuckling, Cole ruffled his hair. “You got it.”  
    Bailey paused at the threshold into the kitchen, appalled to see dirty dishes piled in the sink and spread across the countertops. A plastic milk jug with an inch of milk in the bottom sat on the counter, probably left there after Austin had helped himself to a bowl of cereal. She