Read 90 Miles to Freedom for Free Online

always seemed happy, and always had something to talk about. It could be anything from the local news, books or something as trivial as a new game one of them found on the internet to play, but there was always something for them to share.
    The only thing that could possibly make his parents any happier than they already were would be to have grandchildren. Although Collin and Joey had no immediate plans of having children, Collin knew that when they did, their children would be pampered and spoiled rotten - in a good way.
    Collin listened to the song come to an end and watched his father place his fingertips on his mother’s cheek. She looked up at him as if there were no one else on earth but the two of them. George bent down slightly so he could give her a soft kiss on her lips. They held each other’s gaze for a moment longer, then they smiled.
    All at once their romantic interlude was over and they were back to their playful selves. Betty grabbed George by the backside and growled something that sounded suspiciously like “hubba hubba!” while a sly little grin crossed her face. George grinned from ear to ear and whispered something into Betty’s ear. She giggled like a school girl.
    Collin rolled his eyes. He and Joey had, for as long as he could remember, learned to endure their parents’ endless flirtations. It always felt odd, and a little uncomfortable, to witness their parents flirting with one another. Not that they ever did anything that was inappropriate in any way. It was just that it seemed weird. Weren’t they too old to flirt?
    Nevertheless, his parents were undeniably their own best friends. If something ever happened to one of them, the other would surely die of loneliness and a broken heart. He wasn’t even sure one could actually live without the other.
     
     

Chapter 9
     
    May 2011
     
    What’s that damn noise?
    Collin lay in bed, rocking gently on his fishing boat, his mouth tasting like the inside of an old sock. Keeping his eyes squeezed safely shut against the possibility of bright sunshine, he stretched out one arm as he recognized the irritating beep of the alarm clock. His hand waved and fumbled around, trying to locate the snooze button, knocking over beer cans as he searched. Half a dozen cans crashed onto the floor next to his bed, then rolled around noisily while he continued to hunt for the snooze button.
    Just ten more minutes. That’s all I need. Within moments, the sounds of the water had rocked him back into a deep, peaceful sleep.
    “ Are you going to get up today?” A voice called from above. It was Joey, waking Collin in the most annoying manner, as he did every day.
    “ Leave me alone,” Collin grumbled, curling an extra pillow tightly under his arms.
    “ The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and you’re still asleep at two in the afternoon!” Joey practically sang. He moved around as loudly as he could, banging boxes and pots, stomping heavily on deck.
    Collin rolled over onto his back, arm slung over his eyes. “What day is it?” he managed.
    “ What day is it? It’s Mom’s and Dad’s anniversary,” Joey stated flatly. Collin heard his brother’s footsteps as they stepped off the boat.
    Anniversary? What in the world was Joey talking about? Mom and Dad’s anniversary? Mom and Dad were married in June, and right now it was only the middle of May. Damn, Joey. Let me sleep!
    Then it all came back like a recurring nightmare, and Collin felt as if someone had just punched him, knocked the wind out of his lungs. Today was indeed his parents’ anniversary. The anniversary of their deaths. George and Betty had been killed on Joey’s graduation day, one year ago today.
    The police report had stated that the car explosion was a freak accident. A leaking fuel line, to be more precise.
    Collin had never forgiven himself for that freak accident. The car had belonged to him. It should have been he who had died in that explosion. But Collin hadn’t been the