Ink and Ashes Read Online Free

from his stool and delivered a backhand to Avery’s chest.
    Avery looked around the room. “You all saw that, right? Domestic violence?” He turned his attention back on Mom. “So?”
    She whipped up her head and frowned. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen this before.” Her hand gripped tighter, her fingers digging into the paper. “This could be about a lot of things,” she said. “I know about as much Japanese as you guys do, so it’s not like I can read it. I mean, obviously I can read the numbers, but how would I know what they’re for?”
    Avery held out his hand so she could return the note.
    “I’ll hang on to this,” Mom said, wetness pooling in the corners of her eyes. She creased the paper in half and jammed it in the pocket of her jacket, still hanging on the chair. “All of you need to mind your own business, and I think this conversation is finished unless you want me to tell your dad what you were up to.”
    “But Claire was the one who . . .”
    Avery’s voice faded when Mom’s stony expression turned on him. We all hurried to help put the rest of the groceries away, and though I tried to make light conversation, Mom responded with one-word answers. I edged closer to the kitchen table, and when her back was turned, I slipped my hand into the pocket of her jacket. Mom wasn’t going to share anything else, but the letter might.

    After we finished, we herded upstairs and gathered in my bedroom.
    “That was awkward,” Forrest said. He perched on the edge of my desk and crossed his long legs at the ankles.
    Parker collapsed on the bed among several Hello Kitty pillows, his wide feet hanging off the edge. “It doesn’t make sense,” he said. “If they were friends in their early twenties, he would have known Dad years before he married Mom.”
    Avery stretched out facedown on the floor, drawing in the rose-colored carpet with his finger. “Mom’s probably thinking of a punishment as we speak. You have totally ruined the rest of my day, Claire. And to think it started out so nicely.”
    I stood over him, my hands on my hips. “I ruined your day? This only happened because you decided to show Mom—”
    “Stop,” Avery said. He sat up and waggled his finger at me. “All these accusations are hurting my feelings. I’m very sensitive, you know?”
    I forced myself away, fighting the urge to kick him and help him truly find his “sensitive” side. Forrest patted the spot next to him, so I sat on the desk, conflicted between thinking of all the ways I would make Avery’s life miserable and the thought that my parents could be hiding something from us.
    The unknown made me most uneasy. If I had never found the letter, would they ever have said anything?
    “Mom’s obviously not going to tell us anything,” I said, “but I have this.” I reached into my pocket and retrieved the letter. “And these.” I tapped my phone and held it up.
    “What are those?” Parker asked.
    “Pictures from the funeral,” I said, “and the letter, but it’s in Japanese. If we can get it translated, it might give us more information.”
    “How’d you get that?” Parker asked.
    “Stole it while she wasn’t looking.”
    “Parker!” Mom yelled from downstairs. “Get down here right now!” She must have realized the note was missing from her jacket.
    Parker climbed to his feet. “Why am I getting blamed?” he mumbled. “You’re the one who took them.”
    “It’s not my fault you’re the eldest son,” I said.
    Avery huffed and stayed on the floor. “Hide it!”
    I scanned the room for a good hiding place. “Stall her as long as possible,” I said to Parker.
    “Now!” Mom screamed. Only on rare occasions did her voice ever reach such decibels.
    “Dude, you gotta stop her from coming up here,” Avery said in a quiet, rough voice.
    Parker tore out of the room just as I heard her footsteps coming up the stairs. “Yes?” he sang as if innocent.
    I heard Mom questioning Parker, and