Away From Everywhere Read Online Free

laborious. Concentrating on his wording, and distracted by the weight of those words on the tip of his tongue, he never saw Gail approach the table.
    â€œAre you fucken kidding me,Mom?”Her arms sprang from her body for emphasis. Twenty heads turned to face Owen’s table and a sudden and pronounced silence enveloped the room. “I almost convinced Alex to take the kids and come join us. What if–”
    â€œSit down and lower your voice, Gail.” Lillian nudged a chair out with her knee. “These people didn’t come here to watch you put on a show. And spare me the theatrics. He is still your cousin.”
    Gail rose from the chair the second she sat down, as if it were spring-loaded. “I’d sit, Mom , if that piece of shit weren’t here.”She pointed at Owen with a quick nod of her head. Arms folded now. She looked at him as if there had never been any love between them, and as her eyes wandered up and down his body, her face puckered up like she smelled sulfur, like she had a mouthful of it, thick and gritty on her tongue.
    â€œHe might still be your nephew, but I don’t consider him family anymore.” Her head shook back and forth in short, quick gestures of incomprehension. “In fact , he seems to be destroying our family every chance he gets–”
    â€œYou can leave now, Gail.”
    â€œMy pleasure. Quite frankly, I have better things to do. I think while you dine this piece of shit, I’ll go look in on his brother and the kids. I mean … Goddamnit! ”
    Owen couldn’t look either of them in the eye. “Look, I’ll go. I’m sorry I came anyway.” He slid his chair out from the table, but never stood up. “And you’re right, Gail. No one is denying–”
    â€œShut up. You don’t get to act all repentant or noble or whatever you’re doing. You’re a heartless bastard and you know it! If you care about your brother at all, if you have any dignity left, you’ll get out of this city and go drink yourself to death, because that’s all you are good for.” She bit her lip, hard, and shook her head even faster. “And you know it, right?”
    She waited for his subtle nod. And then until he nodded more hardily.
    It hurt all the more because, growing up,Gail had been like a sister to Alex and Owen. They had traditions, games they’d play together in the backyard. The way she shrieked joy as they chased her around the yard with the hose, worried they’d knock out her contacts with the spray. It was only a bittersweet memory now, of what was. Of who they had been.
    It was a small, ten-table restaurant, booked to capacity. A waiter approached them to silence the scene, but Gail was out the door before he got to their table. Lillian apologized to the waiter and ordered for them both.
    â€œI’m so sorry for that, sir. We’ll both start with the featured blue-cheese beef medallions and theWaldorf salad.”
    â€œYes.” The waiter fumbled awkwardly, embarrassed by the scene. “Well.” He took out his notepad. “Can I get you anything else to drink?”
    â€œTwo glasses of the house shiraz.”
    Owen shot her a quick look, surprised by the order.
    â€œSorry, one glass of shiraz, and some more water for my nephew. Thank you.”
    The waiter walked away, and Owen felt every set of eyes in the room peeling themselves off of him, one by one, though they all shot back quick glances throughout their meals.
    â€œLillian, I love you, dearly. You’ve been a surrogate mother to Alex and me, but if this is about me being a charity case, if you are here because you feel bad or obligated to Mom…spare me. Spare yourself from scenes like that one.” He nodded in the direction of the door, as if Gail had left a trail of fire behind her. “I am fine on my own. I always have been, right? And I don’t want you to be here with me for the wrong