Tangled Lies Read Online Free Page B

But what she lacked in heft, she made up for in attitude. Sasha smiled and leaned down to pet Bella.
    “Have you met my dog?”
    “We have a dog.”
    “Right. And for now, we have two.”
    Blaze’s eyes widened. “You’re not staying.”
    Sasha stood and realized she towered over the girl.
    “Actually, I am.” She shrugged. “So maybe we could get along, huh? For Mama’s sake?”
    Blaze huffed out a breath. “Nobody wants you here. Especially not Mama.” She spun around and stomped back to the main house.
    Sasha sighed and followed her across the now-empty yard.
    Sasha found Pop and Mama in the living room, with its sagging flowered sofa and the lumpy loveseat that she and Eve and Cathy—oops, Cat—used to fight over. Now, Mama sat in one of those fancy electric recliners, eyes closed, feet up, while Pop sat beside her in the old wooden rocker, gently holding her hand. Blaze huddled in a corner of the loveseat, arms still in the upright and tightly crossed position. Eve sat beside her and tried to put an arm around her, but Blaze shrugged her off and leaped to her feet. She crossed the room and plopped down on the floor at Pop’s feet. An aging beagle lumbered in and flopped down beside her. Bella pranced in behind the dog and immediately collapsed on Blaze’s other side. Bella sent Sasha a questioning look, as though asking, OK to be here? She needs me.
    Sasha smiled as she sank down on the sofa and nodded. Bella put her muzzle on Blaze’s knee and promptly dozed off. Her loud snoring coaxed a reluctant smile out of Blaze and woke Mama with a start. She opened her eyes and smiled groggily as she looked around the room.
    “Where is my Cathy?” she finally asked.
    Sasha had wondered the same thing. Eve, who had always known everything about everyone, said, “She couldn’t come, Mama. She’s very sorry. She’ll call you soon.”
    Blaze huffed out a breath. “She didn’t even bother to call.”
    Pop stopped rocking. “You will not talk about your sister with disrespect.”
    Blaze ducked her head, a flush spreading up her cheeks. “I just meant—”
    “Enough,” Pop said gently. “Let’s enjoy those who are here.”
    Sasha hid a smile as Blaze managed—just barely—to bite back another deep sigh. It would have been funnier if Blaze didn’t remind Sasha so very much of herself as a teen, all attitude and prickly desire for affection hidden behind walls of insecurity.
    Just then the door opened and Cathy breezed in, movie-star shades hiding her eyes, straight black bob swinging around her face as she slowly walked to Mama in heels so high and a skirt so tight it was a wonder she could move at all.
    Mama’s eyes widened and filled with tears. “My Cathy. You came.”
    Cathy bent, careful not to tip over, and kissed Mama’s cheek. “It’s Cat now, Mama. Happy birthday.”
    “You missed the party,” Blaze announced, earning a stern look from Pop. “I’m just sayin’.”
    Cat straightened and noticed Sasha for the first time. “What are you doing here?”
    Sasha stood and forced a smile. “Same thing you are, sister.” She took a step to hug Cat, but her sister retreated to a safe distance.
    “I can’t believe you had the gall to show up here after what you did.”
    “Cat, look, I’m sorry. Truly. I never meant to—”
    Cat held up a hand. “You never meant any of the horrible things you did. You just didn’t think. Ever. Not about anyone but yourself.” She shook her head. “This was a mistake. I need to—”
    “You will sit down.”
    Every head turned toward Pop. Cat automatically plopped down in the nearest chair. Nobody argued when Pop used that tone of voice.
    Mama fumbled with the remote, and the chair slowly raised her head and lowered her feet. Once she squirmed and settled, she looked at each of them, eyes still sparkling with unshed tears.
    “My girls, together at last. Thank you for coming, all of you.” She clasped her hands together over her heart. “You have