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Chapter Four
On SaturdaybayA blur of three children rushed through Cora’s front door past her and into the living roo, “Hi, Aunt Cora”
Cora glanced over her shoulder with a sht chef’s kitchen and the sleek,rooht to the white leather couch and the books that Cora had bought for theo
“Did Mom call you?”
Cora turned to her older sister of three years, Cassandra While Cora had her father’s genes, Cassandra lookedbrown eyes “Yup, big ole family dinner for Dad’s birthday—two months from today”
Cassandra laughed, spying her children over Cora’s shoulder “She is ridiculous, planning so far ahead” She looked to Cora with a frown “We’re going to have theht?”
“I had the “But I don’t ain”
“Nah” Her sister dismissed Cora with a wave of her hand “Besides, it’s easier at our house for the kids It’s kid-proofed, and they won’t break anything”
Cora stared at her sister, who resu her head and pushing her sister toward the front door “Okay, go have fun I’ll see you in a couple hours And I’ll put dinner on my calendar”
Worry etched Cassandra’s eyebrows “You’re sure you don’tfor a bit?”
“Of course not The little stinkers are fun”
Her sister had already been back through the house despite Cora’s efforts, repeatedly kissing the kids Finally getting Cassandra onto her front porch, she figured her five-year-old nephew, Eddie—as the spitting iusted at his mother’s constant affection “It’ll be fine,” Cora reassured her once again
Cassandra’s husband, John, was halfway down the drive They’d been high school sweethearts and still seemed so happy They lived the American dream, and even had the white picket fence She was sure her sister was very vanilla, though they never really talked h
John still looked like the football jock he’d been in high school Tall, fit, with a baby face and soft brown eyes “Come on, Cassandra, how often does this happen?”
Her sister had always been the straight-A student and a worrier In fact, Cassandra reminded Cora of her friend Presley, only without the kinky side If her sister knew the lifestyle Cora led, she’d likely faint in pure dramatic fashion