Aftershock: A Charity McAdams Novella Read Online Free Page A

it all in for a few moments and remind myself to breathe.
    “Where’s Dad?” Brandon asks as we follow Sandy through the living room and into the kitchen. She has a few pots on the stove and starts to check something in the oven.
    “Oh, he ran to the store for some milk. I thought I had put it on the list when he went the other day but I guess I forgot,” she says. “Can’t seem to remember the littlest things these days.”
    “You’ve had a lot to deal with, Mom, give yourself a break,” Brandon says.
    She nods. “I suppose. Anyways, I made my famous chocolate cake for dessert, so milk is not optional! Charity, you remember that one, don’t you?”
    I smile. “How could I forget? It’s my favorite!”
    It’s the cake she makes for all special occasions, birthdays, graduation parties, and their family reunion every year. It truly is delicious. I hold that cake solely responsible for many of my “diet starts tomorrow” moments over the years.
    “I know! I made it special for you.” She smiles at me.
    “Thank you. That’s very sweet,” I answer, returning her warm smile. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
    “Oh no, sweetie, I have everything under control,” she waves me off and busies herself at the stove. “I’m feeling pretty good today.”
    Brandon comes over and wraps an arm around my waist and presses a kiss to the top of my head. He’s practically beaming and I let myself relax into him. Truthfully, I do feel much better than I had expected. In some ways, standing here, it doesn’t feel like any time has passed at all.
    “Brandon!” A boy, whom I instantly recognize as Brandon’s youngest brother, Marky, races into the room and flings himself at Brandon. He looks the same as I remember, just about a foot taller.
    “Hey!” Brandon calls back. Somehow their embrace turns into a wrestling match. I burst out laughing as Brandon lets himself get tackled to the floor by Marky.
    Boys…
    Steve, Brandon’s other brother, enters the kitchen a few minutes, looking more like Brandon’s carbon copy than ever before. They are almost the same height and have the same build and the same green eyes.
    “Hey Charity,” he greets when he sees me.
    “Hi! It’s good to see you,” I say.
    He nods as he goes to the fridge. He pulls out a pitcher and pours himself a glass of iced tea before plopping into a seat at the breakfast nook table. He pulls out his phone and starts texting a mile a minute, not paying any attention to the rest of us.
    There is a groan from the floor and I turn to see Brandon writhing. Apparently Marky landed a kick in the wrong place…oops. I smother a laugh as he gives me his best “pity me” face. The wrestling match is called off and I haul Brandon off the floor.
    Marky looks incredibly guilty, but Brandon messes with his hair and calls him “champ” which seems to help.
    A few minutes later, Brandon’s dad, Rick, arrives home with the stray groceries.
    “Charity! So glad you could make it!” He says. He sets down the bags on the counter before coming over to give me a hug and a quick peck on the cheek.
    “Thanks for having me.”
    “Anytime. Mi casa, your casa. Or whatever that saying is,” he laughs.
    Brandon rolls his eyes at his dad’s terrible Spanish.
    “Alright, boys, go wash up. Dinner is just about ready,” Sandy says, turning to Steve and Marky who are both engrossed with their cellphones at the small kitchen table. After a long pause, they both get up and stash their phones before heading off in the direction of the bathroom down the hall.
    “Why don’t you guys go get comfortable, there’s some wine on the table, help yourselves,” she says, turning back to us.
     
     
    Fifteen minutes everyone is seated around the formal dining room table and the dishes are being passed around. Rick asks about my job and I feel a little embarrassed to admit I’m working at a café after all this time but no one seems to think it’s odd.
    “How is your