One More Shot (Hometown Players #1) Read Online Free

year so far at University of Vermont. Callie’s made us giggle with crazy stories of life in LA, and I’m smiling— really smiling. I know I’m a big part of the reason that they’re as well adjusted as they are, and I’m proud of that. But even more so, I’m simply relieved. They deserve everything they want in life, and it seems like they’re getting it.
    “Do you think…” Rose starts, her tone low and soft. She bites her lip and circles the rim of her beer bottle with her index finger before continuing. “Do you think she wished we’d been here? Been with her when she…died?”
    She’s talking about Grandma Lily, of course. The reason for this reunion. Callie clears her throat, probably just to stop the depressing silence that’s filling the room.
    “It was sudden, Rose. Her heart just stopped in the middle of the grocery store. I don’t think she had time to wish for anything.” Callie sips her beer and leans back against the old red and yellow plaid couch. “She’s never asked us to visit since we left town. Hell, she doesn’t… didn’t even call on birthdays. She died alone because she wanted to be alone.”
    “But she let me come back every summer. She never charged me rent or anything,” Rose says timidly.
    Rose’s dark eyes get watery as she shifts on the musty carpet we’re sitting on. I have never been able to see my sisters upset. It feels like something is clawing at my heart, tearing away tiny little chunks. And after the life we’ve had, there’s not too my chunks left to tear.
    “Maybe we should say some nice things about her,” I suggest because I know it’s what Rose wants. Rose romanticizes everything. She needs to believe there is good in everything. I admire that in her and I’m grateful for it. I would see the world a lot more bleakly if she weren’t around. “Lily took us in. Even though she thought of us as a burden, she still took on that burden. She could have left us in foster care. Separated. But she didn’t.”
    Rose nods at that and gives me a weak but thankful smile. We both turn to Callie, waiting for her to share a positive memory of our grandmother.
    “She never hit us,” Callie says, rolling her eyes. “All her punches were emotional so at least she didn’t mess with our pretty faces.”
    Now it’s my turn to roll my eyes. Rose shakes her head but smiles despite herself.
    Then suddenly there’s a knock on the front door and it swings open. We all turn toward the intrusion. A serene, smiling face peeks around the door and I see arms holding a huge pan covered with tin foil.
    “Donna!” Callie calls out happily, and scurries to get up off the floor.
    “Hi, girls,” Donna Garrison responds. “Sorry to interrupt.”
    She walks into the kitchen and we follow her. She looks exactly like I remember. Of course, unlike her sons, I had seen her in the last six years. Twice in the last six years she and her husband, Wyatt, have taken golf vacations to Arizona and stopped by to visit me at school. It was awkward both times. It’s not her making it uncomfortable, it’s me. I can’t let go of the humiliation because she knows what happened between me and her son. And I’ve always felt like I can’t hate him and still love her. But I do still love her, and that’s why I’m awkward.
    She still has the same shoulder-length honey hair, although now it’s a little gray on the sides. And the same smiling sky-blue eyes that look exactly like his. Something pinches inside my chest, but I ignore it. She places the casserole pan on the stovetop and immediately starts digging in the big canvas bag on her shoulder.
    “I brought you some perogies and other essentials,” she tells us, placing milk, coffee grounds, bread, butter and homemade jam on the kitchen table.
    Callie reaches out and hugs her. “You always take such good care of us. Thank you.”
    Donna closes her eyes and hugs my sister tightly. “My pleasure. As always.”
    When she lets go of Callie,