Sweetness Read Online Free

to you all.”
After a moment of uncomfortable silence Mrs.
Cross invites us further into the house and tells us to
head out to the back yard where the other guest are
gathered. My mother escorts us out to the patio where
there is a small group of family and friends, huddled
together chatting and laughing. Her friends, not mine. I
didn’t stay in contact with any of my friends from high
school. Once I graduated I was out of town so fast I
didn’t even bother to say goodbye to my mother or Paul.
Packed as much as I could cram into my car and never
looked back to this hell hole.
I scan the group quickly in hopes that Holly and
Glen would not be here. My body relaxed a bit when I
don’t see them. Max, noticing how tense I am, puts his
arm gently around my shoulder and gives me a friendly
tug into his chest. When I look at his beautiful face he
gives me a small grin, telling me he is still concerned. I
quickly put on the fake smile, I have perfected after many
years of practice, and begin making my way around the
crowd thanking the guests for coming.
About a half hour later I notice my stepfather,
Paul, walking toward me. He is clean-shaven, well
dressed in dark blue slacks and white polo shirt and from
what I can tell…sober. It is only two in the afternoon but
still; I don’t think I have ever seen him look so collected.
Perhaps it is because there are people around, who
knows, but I notice he looks better than he ever has
before.
Paul has always been a very attractive man, no
denying that. I could always see what my mother saw in
him physically. He is not the suit and tie guy that my
father is. Paul is ruggedly handsome with short brown
hair and brown eyes. He has a badass persona and he is
very smooth, especially around women. It’s when he gets
too much liquor in him that all niceties are out the
window and he turns angry. His temper takes him to a
dark place no one should have to witness. Especially not
kids.
“Emma, look at you. You look great,” he gushes as
he gives me a tight hug. I flinch at first because this side
of him is foreign to me.
What the hell is going on? I feel like I’ve entered
the twilight zone. Paul was never really mean or abusive
to me personally but... this is weird. I can count on my
one hand how many times in my life Paul Maser hugged
me and never has he hugged me like this. My mother
was his whipping post not Mark or me. Paul simply
never acknowledged us. Me particularly. We barely
talked. We never hugged. What is his game?
“Hi..i..i, Paul. Thank you. You look nice too.” He
hugged me hard and long. He was hugging me longer
then what was socially acceptable. Why is he not letting
me go? Ok, beginning to feel creepy. I try to pull away so
I can look at him, to read his face.
“Sorry. I haven’t seen you in a long time. You
haven’t been home in what is it four years now,” he
chuckled as he took a step back. I did see my mother and
Mark on holidays but I never, ever came home so I guess
the last time I saw Paul he was leaving for work the day I
left home.
“What?” he says with a smile. I must have a whatthe-fuck, expression on my face. God knows I am
thinking it.
“Oh nothing. I was just shocked to see you, that’s
all.”
“See me sober? Is that it?” He still has a smile on
his face and I am trying to read him to see if it is sincere
or not.
“Well, yea. I mean…you look great.” I am trying
not to sound like a jerk but Paul being sober and
affectionate isn’t something I am used to.
“Sober two years next month. You would know
that if you didn’t stay away so long. Your mother never
told you?” He was speaking with kindness and affection.
Crazies of Hill House indeed.
“Well yeah-“
“But you didn’t believe her?” he says as he reaches
for my hand and clasped it between his. He is being
warm and kind, I feel as if I am being punk’d.
“Well, it’s not that. I just didn’t…” God this is