Sanctuary Lost WITSEC Town Series Book 1 Read Online Free Page B

near-constant movement and
focused on him. “I’m not buying it. What did Grant say? Did he tell
you about Genevieve?”
    John nodded. “He wants me to take a job out
of town. A sheriff’s job.”
    “And Pat?”
    “He’ll be going with me.”
    She was quiet for a minute. “You walk the
path the good Lord puts in front of you. There’s nothing else. Not
if you want to be really, truly happy.”
    “You’re not mad you won’t get to see Pat too
much?”
    “That’s what Skype is for, darlin’.” She
picked up the knife and grabbed the lettuce again. “Besides, your
momma’s a busy woman.”
    John drained the bottle of water.
    “Did you think I’d be mad?”
    “That seems to be going around lately.”
    “Tell me about it. Your brother, last night.”
She shook her head. “That boy needs help.”
    “He’s forty-eight, Mom. That’s not the
definition of a boy.”
    His mom nodded once, fast. “Ellen showed up
at Grant’s place last night with Pat, before she brought him here.
Genevieve answered the door. One of the girls called him and he
rushed over. Wouldn’t accept all the boxes the delivery men were
trying to leave, yelling about how kids should be with their
fathers.” She sniffed. “I don’t think it was about Pat. Not
totally.”
    “No kidding.” John sighed. “Did anything else
go to crap while I was gone? I heard Nate made the Dolphins’
team.”
    The ghost of a smile flashed on her face.
“He’s happy. I think.”
    “And Ben?”
    Her nose wrinkled. “Who knows with that boy?
He’s too much like your father, keeps everything to himself.”
    Like high blood pressure.
    She didn’t have to say it; John heard it in
the silence. She was worried Ben would die the same way their
father had. John wrapped his palm around the back of his mom’s neck
and kissed her forehead. “You’re not going to lose us. I
promise.”
    She waved him away. “Tell your son dinner is
ready.”
    That was two promises in two days. Unless you
counted the promise to Grant that he’d give him an answer soon.
    John trailed through the modern house to find
Pat. If this was his mom’s taste, how had she ever survived being a
plumber’s wife? She’d either done what was necessary to fit herself
into his dad’s life, or she’d since discovered something she hadn’t
known before.
    The light was on in the guest room where all
the grandkids slept when they visited. “Hey, Pat.” John sat on the
side of the bed and squeezed his son’s white socked foot. “You
doin’ okay?”
    Pat lowered the book. “What’s this word?”
    John looked where he was pointing. “Liege.
What are you reading?”
    “It’s about knights.” Pat chewed his lip.
“Are we really moving?”
    “If that’s okay with you. It’s a mountain
town, kind of remote.”
    Seriously remote. As in, no roads, no cell
reception, very limited internet and more stipulations than tax
law.
    “I’m going to be the sheriff. The school has
five kids so they only do class in the morning and then you’ll get
to spend the rest of the day hanging out in town or with me at the
sheriff’s office.”
    “Can we go hiking?”
    “Sure.”
    “Fishing?”
    “Maybe.”
    “Camping?”
    John laughed. “Whatever you want.”
    “Okay.” Pat smiled but he wasn’t fully happy.
“I tried to call mom. I think she was out.”
    John did the same thing he’d done with his
mom, he held the back of his son’s neck and kissed his
forehead.
    “Gross, Dad.” Pat broke away and wiped his
sleeve over his face. “You slobbered on me.”
    “Get used to it, kid.” John pulled his son to
his feet and put his arm around Pat’s shoulders as they headed back
to the kitchen.
    “Are we going to have a house, or an
apartment like you have now?”
    “A house, I guess. We’ll have to see.”
    “With a yard?”
    “Probably.”
    “Can I bring my rat?”
     
    Just before five the next morning, someone
moved through the darkened living room. John was about to sit up
when