Sweetness Read Online Free Page A

uncomfortable.
“Didn’t what? Think she was telling the truth?”
“Ummm…yeah. Sorry.” This isn’t going very well.
Way to be a bitch Hill.
“Emma, I understand. Don’t worry. I get that you
didn’t believe her. After all the years of torment I put her
and you kids through, I don’t blame you for not
believing her.” I am seriously confused. Paul is really
being thoughtful and genuine and I feel a twinge of guilt
for looking at him like he is a crazy person. “Look I have
to go and talk to the caterer for your mother but we will
talk later, OK,” he murmurs as he walks away, looking
off in the distance at the large white tent in the middle of
the yard.
“Ooo…kkk,” I said almost silently. Wanda is
watching me about three feet away with her mouth open
in shock from what she just witnessed.
“What the fuck was that all about?“ Wanda asks in
amazement. “Was that Paul?”
“Yeah…uh…I think so…” I’m not sure what just
happened but if Paul is sober and his devil spawns are no
where to be seen then maybe this day won’t be so bad
after all.
    The rest of the afternoon is eerily normal…well, not
normal for us, but normal for most other families.
Everyone is relaxed and having a good time. It is the first
time in a long time I have felt comfortable in my own
home. My mom and Paul are being affectionate and
loving with each other and there isn’t a hint of drama to
be scene.
    Mrs. Jones and I catch up and discuss my move to
Manhattan. She seems pleased that I will be working at
my fathers company and we make plans for her to come
out and stay with me for a short vacation once we are
settled. As the day goes on I realize I haven’t yet seen
Mark. I went in search of my mother to find out where he
was. She tells me he is at a friend’s high school
graduation party and he would be here soon. She said
that since he is going to be leaving with me today, and
wouldn’t be home for a while so he wanted to see his
friends one last time before they all got split up and went
to college. I guess I understand that.
    I am in a good mood and begin to wander away
from the party. I just want to enjoy some peace and quiet
at a place that never allowed it before. By the time my
head comes out of the clouds I find myself standing in
front of the playground. “How’d I wound up here?” I say
to myself, swallowing deeply and pushing back the
memories the start to flood my mind. I loved the
playground and used it quite often when I was little. It
was my own personal sanctuary. Mrs. Cross would take
Mark and me out here when things got intense in the
house. My father had the playground put in for my 5th
birthday. It was the last birthday we spent together as a
family.
    The playground covers a huge area of the yard,
comparable to any public park. It has a large jungle gym
type structure in the middle composed of tunnels,
bridges, slides and poles to slide down. The whole area
has a color scheme of bright yellow, red, and blue. Off to
the far left side of the area is a tree house that stands
about four feet off the ground on wooden stilts. There are
stairs at the back of the tree house. A grey, plastic
climbing structure that resembles rocks on the front to
gain access to the wide platform that holds up the brown,
wooden, log cabin type house. It was Marks favorite
place to play when we were younger and he rarely let
girls in there. I giggle at the thought of him wearing his
Superman cape telling me to get off his rock. On the far
right side of the area there is a merry-go-round, an empty
sandbox, and a line of swings that are swaying in the
breeze. I doubt anyone ever comes out here any more but
judging from the newly planted flowers the area is still
kept in pristine condition. It is every kid’s dream…until
it became my nightmare.
CHAPTER 2
I close my eyes and drift back as though it is happening
right in front of me.
    Mom and Paul are arguing