Consume Me Read Online Free

didn’t we stay there?”
    “We were only supposed to be there for eight months.  That’s how long they gave your dad to train the crew there.  The money rolled in.  His paychecks were huge.  I could hardly believe it.  We were housed and they even gave him a gas and grocery allowance, so we had little expenses.  I started dreaming of everything we could do with those big paychecks.”
    She turned to look at Taryn.  “I wanted a house.  I had never even dreamed of the possibility before, but as the money rolled in… I didn’t want anything big and ostentatious, just a cute little bungalow with a nice yard, in a nice area.”
    “I guess that would have been nice.  So what happened then?”
    Sam shrugged.  “The minute we got back here, your dad went out and paid the rounds for his buddies.  Then there were the late night poker games and of course the casino.  I think there may have even been a few women involved in his escapades.  Anyway, within two months there was nothing left; not even enough to pay the next month’s rent.  For all that work, we were back to square one.”
    A long lingering silence hung over them.
    “Is that why I don’t really remember much about him?  I don’t ever remember opening Christmas presents with him, or going to a ballgame or the park.”
    “He was relatively good with those things when you guys were really young, but before you turned five he’d lost interest in playing the daddy role.  For the next few Christmases, he promised to be there, but would either arrive hours after you guys had opened your presents and gone to bed, or worse still, he’d arrive early but he’d be so drunk, he’d ruin everything for everyone.”
    She threw a few things into the suitcase then ran her fingers through her hair.
    “I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to bring up…”  She turned her attention to packing her own things.
    “That’s okay.  It’s probably time you knew a bit more about him anyway. You’re a grown woman now. It’s only normal that you wonder about him, but I have to admit, it’s no walk through the park talking about it.”
    “He hurt you, didn’t he?” Taryn pulled a few things out of the suitcase and when her mom didn’t answer, she turned to hug her.
    For a brief moment of weakness, Sam leaned into her daughter and gave way to the pain of the past.
    “The important thing is,” she said as she pulled back, “I got back on my feet and came out stronger than ever.  I never wanted you kids to feel the effect of an absent father.”
    “You succeeded, Mom.  And I’m sure Bobby would agree.”
    Sam patted Taryn’s cheek.  “Now enough of this talk and let’s get you off to Paris.”
    Tar looked at the almost full suitcase and reached in to pull a few more things out.  “I think I have more than enough.  I’m only going for the weekend.”
    As she started to pull items out, Sam grabbed her wrist and stopped her.
    “Bring more.  You never know.”
    “Mom, I’m not going to leave you alone for an entire week.  Bobby is so preoccupied with school.  He’s become so ambitious lately and all he thinks about is developing new ideas, and new recipes.  I would hate to see him have to take time out from his classes to be here because you're alone.”
    “I told you sweetie, I’m back on my feet.  I’m back to my old self.  Bobby can go to his classes, work on his recipes and plan his future all he wants.  In fact, I want him to.  I think he’s going to make a great chef one day.”
    Taryn grinned.  “I think so, too.  Who knows?  Maybe one day he’ll even come to the Culinary Institute in Paris.”
    “Can’t say I wouldn’t like to have an Errol King in the family,” Sam said with an amused giggle.  “He has all the makings to give Errol a run for his money.  I just don’t want the restaurant to hold him back.  Sam’s is my baby and I’ll handle it.  Bobby is smart enough to end up in Harvard or Oxford, if he chooses, and