Infringement Read Online Free Page A

boys, each holding a fish so small it would scarcely feed a mouse, typified the understated steady peacefulness Declan remembered so clearly about his dad. Nothing rattled the man, not even the cancer which took his life a mere 362 days after that photo, on Declan’s eleventh birthday. Declan looked into his dad’s eyes, into everything he remembered, loved and missed about the man.
    “Here, honey,” his mom said coming up beside him.
    “Thanks,” he replied taking the open beer from her. “I was just looking at the picture of us with dad at the lake house that summer before he got really sick.”
    “That’s my favorite picture of you three.”
    “Mine too, I think. He just looks so strong still, so happy.”
    “He was. He loved taking you boys up to that house.”
    “I remember he’d sit there on that little pier fishing with us for hours, just waiting for someone to get a bite. He didn’t really seem to care if we caught anything.”
    “He didn’t. Your dad was just happy to be out there with you and Evan, to have time to talk with you both. He loved you boys more than anything or anyone, except God. I know he’s still proud as can be of both of you.”
    “I hope so.”
    “Of course he is. You following in his footsteps in the FBI and your brother being a doctor? We’re both extremely proud of you boys. You’ve turned out as well as any parents could pray for.”
    “I still miss him.”
    “I do too, honey. Every single day, but I know I’ll see him again someday, relatively soon perhaps.”
    Declan paused for a second, then, wanting to avoid the subject of God and heaven, asked, “Are Evan, Michelle and the kids on the way?”
    “They should be. You know they never really get anywhere on time these days.”
    “Trust me, I know. Evan even has trouble getting places on time when he doesn’t have the family in tow. What are we having for dinner?”
    “My lasagna with salad and garlic bread.”
    “I was hoping that’s what I smelled. Do you need help with anything?”
    “Since you ask, it would be great if you’d help me set the table.”
    “Of course.”
    “What do you think of the new amendment?” his mom asked as they went to set the dinner table together.
    “Hmm?”
    “The constitutional amendment, you think it’ll get passed?”
    “It wouldn’t surprise me. There was plenty of push for it toward the end of the last administration. I think it has a good chance.”
    “What do think about it? You think it’s a good idea to have the same president for more than two terms?”
    “I don’t know. I know what
you
think of it, but I’m not really sure yet. I mean, if it passes, it doesn’t mean the president would be re-elected, it would just allow for that possibility. That doesn’t seem so horrible. Besides, we’re essentially talking about a person who is my boss, so I can’t or shouldn’t really say anything negative. Neither should you really. We’ve talked about that before.”
    “Yes, of course, we shouldn’t criticize the president, or the vice president, or the speaker, or any of our self-serving so-called leaders. We know all too well these days that nothing we say is private.”
    “Mom, we’ve been over this and you know I can’t talk about this stuff, except to tell you what I’ve told you before, which is that we all need to be really careful about what we say, what we write, or what we look at and do online. Things aren’t the same as they were before. People can’t just go around saying whatever they want about our leadership.”
    “Sadly, I never thought such a thing would ever be said about this country in my lifetime. I just think it’s another huge step in the wrong direction. Too much power in the hands of one person who already has way too much power to begin with.”
    “I know, mom. I know you and Evan think we’re headed to a dictatorship, the fall of America, a one world government and all that, but I just don’t see it. I’m surrounded by this