Page 95 of Family Bonds- Garrett & Justine

“Most of this could just be statements,” Jordan said.

“Not this,” Justine said, pulling out something from an alarm company. “This isn’t the same company for the alarms on the house.”

Jordan glanced at it. “It’s probably junk or something.”

“Doesn’t look it,” she said.

She opened it up and frowned.

“What?” Jordan asked.

“It’s an annual bill. A notice that the rates are going up and the payment is due in two months.”

“Did Dad have another security system that we didn’t know about?” Jordan asked.

“I don’t know,” she said. “You’ve been getting into the house the same way I have been, right?”

“Yeah. You’re not going to ask Elise, are you?”

She snorted. “No. This isn’t even a local company.” She pulled her phone out to call, but her buzzer went off and their food was here.

“I’ll go get it,” Jordan said.

“This place is closed anyway. It says the hours on it. I’m not worrying today. It’s not due for two months. I could just pay it, but I wanted to see what it is before I do that.”

“Your choice,” Jordan said. “It’s not much, might as well pay it. Now we can eat.”

Her sister returned a few minutes later carrying the pizza box and a bag on top.

“Mushrooms and peppers for you,” she said.

“My favorite,” Jordan said. “I know you’re not a big fungi eater.”

“It’s not horrible. Dad liked it.”

“He did,” Jordan said. “That’s why I wanted it. Here’s to Dad. We eat and we cry and then we laugh and tell funny stories. I think we need to do that now.”

Her bottom lip trembled. She turned to look at the little red cardinal that Garrett bought her.

“Do we have to?”

“Justine,” Jordan said firmly. “You’ve put it off long enough. You talk about it just enough to think you are pacifying me. We both need this. I have to work where he did. I have to hear people talk about him daily. It’s hard for me to show no reaction. I can do that here.”

It was selfish of her to not realize her sister might have needed this escape too but wouldn’t come out and say it.

She walked over to get two plates.

“Then to Dad,” she said. “What the hell were you thinking marrying Elise?”

“That’s the best way to start it off,” Jordan said and let the tears fall first. “We curse the bitch out, then we talk about the good times. We can have our crying hangover and the best medicine for that tomorrow is a beach day. I saw the weather. Deal?”

“Deal,” she said, grabbing a slice, taking a bite, and saying, “I never liked her and wished that I could have been as standoffish as you were.”

“Nah,” Jordan said. “It’s not you. You be you, I’ll be me. Dad had a lot of lectures for me over my treatment of Elise.”

“Not me,” she said, smirking. “I was the good kid.”

“Bitch,” Jordan said, laughing.

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