The Good Sister Read Online Free Page A

also learned Jessie wasn’t really known for her manners, elegance or sophistication. He was there for Jessie at a point in her life when she needed him, but nothing more. They remained good friends and he happily offered her the part-time position when she and Will moved back to town after Will left active duty.
    “If you met Elliot, you’d understand what I’m talking about. It’s like this unholy chill surrounds the air wherever he steps. Actual goose bumps break out on my skin. He’s that cold and chilling. And on top of it all, he’s a big, fat, scum bag.”
    “You describe him like he’s a zombie.”
    “Maybe he is.”
    “Who’s a big, fat, scum bag? Not me, I hope.”
    Noah glanced backwards. “Will, how goes it?”
    Will had recently been hired as a production manager by a new manufacturing plant that produced component parts for HVAC systems. The job was light years from what Will spent the majority of his adult life doing in the Army Special Forces. He was overqualified and certainly capable of handling any kind of stress this civilian job could throw at him. After all, he was militarily trained to handle life-threatening situations, so learning the details of this job and what they manufactured was pretty easy for Will Hendricks, Super Soldier. He stayed in the Army Reserves, but abandoned active duty after his contract was up. It shocked everyone. No one ever expected Will Hendricks to retire. But he did. For Jessie.
    Jessie, meanwhile, began taking classes at Central Washington University in town where she was studying for a pre-veterinary degree. Their developing child was a true blessing and a long time coming for a couple Noah could truly say he never saw another equal to. Their lifestyle and choice to live in a small, little town were far removed from the one her sister and husband opted for in Virginia.
    Will smiled at Noah after first seeking his wife’s gaze before she blushed and ducked her head. It amazed Noah whenever Jessie ever acted bashful. Only Will could bring such things out in her. “No, not you. Elliot.”
    Will’s mouth tightened. “Oh, him. Yeah, can’t argue there. What was his reason for not allowing Lindsey to come?”
    “I don’t know yet. But I’m sure it will be forthcoming soon. She had to check with him, but we all know that is just Lindsey code for she has to beg him.”
    “Jess, you didn’t say anything like that to Lindsey, did you? We’ve talked about that. She’ll clam up and retreat from you. You know that. Whether you like it or not, Lindsey can’t help falling into a lifetime habit of keeping quiet.”
    “I didn’t say anything,” Jessie grumbled, “Not really, anyway.”
    “She’s not you. She willingly accepts his controlling ways. Maybe, tragically, she even likes them. I don’t know, but to keep in contact with her, which is a must for you, you have to ignore the subject and keep quiet.”
    Jessie stood, and her stomach protruded as she was seven months pregnant. She grimaced as she put a hand to her back. “I will and I did keep quiet.” He smiled and took her hand.
    She glanced up at Noah. “So, how was your date last night? You never said.”
    Noah slid a glance Will’s way. It worried him a bit when Jessie acted so familiar with him in front of Will. Not that Will ever complained or anything about it. Will was always nice, and smiled easily in his presence. But Will was ex-Special Forces, and still in the same physical shape, so he could do some real damage if he had to.  And Noah had slightly, kind-of, almost dated Jessie when they temporarily broke up, just before Will disappeared in Afghanistan.
    “I never said because I probably didn’t want to discuss it with you.”
    Will snickered and slapped him on the back. “You might as well answer; she’ll just keep at you until you do.”
    He glanced at Will before relenting with a sigh that Will was right. “It was fine. Good. We went to dinner and a movie. She was nice and polite