AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Alright, again,” she said, fingers poised over the keys.
Billie raised an eyebrow. Maybe Jules had more tenacity than she’d thought.
Chapter Eight
Jules stomped down the driveway to the home. Not that the damn place looked like an old people’s home. It was far more reminiscent of a posh country club, and she was damned if she knew how Granddad Jim afforded it.
How dare Billie Brooke imply that she was terrible at the piano? Because that was what it came down to. After all, tiny little four year olds on YouTube could play the damn thing. So Billie was implying that she was shit and worse than a little kid. And that she didn’t practice.
Alright, she didn’t actually practice. But still.
And she’d called her orange.
And implied that she ate too many carrots.
The sun was shining and the air was clear and the countryside was beautiful, but all Jules could think of was Billie’s stupid face and stupid words and stupid everything.
She couldn’t even summon up a smile when Granddad Jim waved her over from across the lavishly appointed community room. As she approached, a cadre of other elderly men got up and excused themselves. She eyed her grandfather.
“What were you up to then?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
“You weren’t planning… anything?” she said as she took a seat at the table.
“Like what?”
“Like… like turning the place over or anything?”
He barked a laugh. “Were we buggery, we were talking about the racing form. Now, what’s got you coming in here with a face like thunder and a scolding like your grandmother used to give me, God rest her soul.”
“She’s dead then, is she?” asked Jules.
Jim shrugged. “Not a clue. Might as well be for all the good she ever did me.”
“She gave you two kids and cleaned house and kept you fed for as long as it took to get sick of your fancy women,” said Jules, who might not remember her grandmother but did know her grandfather far too well.
He sniffed. “Yeah, you might be right about that. We were always better off separate. And you haven’t answered my question, girl. What’s got you all riled up?”
Jules sighed and shook her head. “Nothing.”
“I can smell a lie a mile off, just tell me or else why did you come to visit?” he asked, he pulled a cigar out of his pocket but didn’t light it. The home was strictly non-smoking. He smirked. “Or was it to get my advice on how to reverse a magic Oompa-Loompa spell?”
“Ha ha, very funny.” She looked down at her hands which were distinctly orange in the fluorescent lights of the community room. “If you must know, I’ve taken up the piano.” She looked up at him. “Is anyone in the family musical?”
“Your Uncle Ed could play the spoons. Other than that, no, we’re not a family known for that kind of talent. You any good?”
She thought about lying, but there was no point. “No.”
He barked another laugh. “Well then, at least you know. Maybe try something else, pottery perhaps. They do that here and it looks like fun.”
She leaned forward. “See, the problem is, I don’t really have any choice.”
“Someone blackmailing you or something?” he asked.
“No, but, um…” She blushed and didn’t look him in the eye. “I might have got myself into some trouble.”
“Jesus Lord, are the lesbians getting pregnant now too?”
