The Lost Truth Read Online Free Page A

voice.
    Janice’s eyes were wide, and she said, “Wow. I’m impressed, Brother! I didn’t think you would.”
    My heart began racing as I tried to figure out what had just happened. Panicked, I just replied, “Well, it’s the truth.”
    “Great. I’ll pick you up at five.”
    What just happened? I couldn’t go back on whatever it was that I agreed to. I feared the worst. It was a fishing trip, I just knew it. If I backtracked, I’d look like a fool. I’ll clear it up with Janice later and let her know I can’t go. Keeping the dumb grin on my face, I nodded again and said, “Sounds great.”
    I spent the rest of his visit making sure to pay attention to what he was saying when he spoke to me. I didn’t need any more commitments that I didn’t want to do.

CHAPTER 4
    P aul left after dinner and dessert. As Janice closed the front door and came back toward the kitchen, she wore a smile on her face. I wasn’t surprised so much that she was grinning, but I caught a glimpse of something different. There was a twinkle in her eye that I hadn’t seen before.
    “What are you so happy about?” She came over to the table as I dealt us out a hand of Rummy.
    She pulled a seat out and just kept smiling as she sat down. When she brought her hand up onto to the table to grab the cards, I saw why she was so happy. It took the form of a rock, and it was on her finger. Boy, was it gorgeous. The white gold of the band and the diamonds caught the lights above the table just right and reflected a beautiful array of colors. In a slow drawl, I said with a smile, “’Bout time he put a ring on that lonely finger of yours.”
    She beamed with joy as she glanced down at it. She seemed genuinely happy. “He loves me, Clay. He really does.”
    “After five years of dating, I’d hope so.” I glanced down at my cards.
    She giggled as she began organizing her hand. “I always knew he was the one, from the first time I laid my eyes on him down at the Spokane County Fair.”
    Blatantly ignoring the reminiscing state, I pried. “Did he clue you in onto why he waited so long?”
    She shook her head. “I don’t know why, and honestly, I don’t care.” Janice’s smile grew wider as she looked at her ring again. “We’re finally getting married.”
    “Grats.” Remembering I’d agreed to some sort of fishing trip with the guy, I asked, “What’d I agree to? A fishing trip or something?”
    “What do you mean?” Tilting her head as she looked over at me, her smile fell away and then returned a moment later. “Were you not listening?” Janice’s sinister smile grew bigger.
    Flush with embarrassment, I shook my head. “The medication I’m on doesn’t let me remember.”
    “You mean Advil?” she replied with a laugh.
    “Shut it . . . was it fishing?”
    “Yes, a fishing trip is where you’re going, little brother. Have fun with that.”
    “When?”
    “Tomorrow. Why do you think he left so early?”
    Sighing heavily, I shook my head. “Tomorrow’s not going to work.”
    “Really? What do you have to do?”
    “Anything else . . .” I looked over at her as she glared. “You know what? I’m a man! I can’t be told what to do all the time!”
    Her eyes went wide. “You call him and tell him you’re not going and that it was all a misunderstanding because you weren’t listening .”
    Clenching my jaw, I knew I couldn’t get out of it. My pride was too big. “I’ll go. I haven’t been fishing since . . .”
    “I know,” she replied with a soft tone. “Dad.”
    I nodded as my eyes fell on that ring of hers again. “Man, that rock is big!”
    She smiled and held it out again to admire it. “I know . . . Paul sure is the sweetest man in the world.”
     

     
    We played cards until it was ten o’clock. Janice stretched her arms out and yawned. “I’m going to bed. I have a showing of a house tomorrow morning at seven.”
    I tossed my cards into the mix on the table. “And Paul’s picking me up at