Read As I Breathe (One Breath at a Time: Book 2) for Free Online Page A

doesn’t seem right. It must be frightening for her to be alone. We can’t allow her to think she’s crazy. She needs guidance. If nothing else, I can help her understand the gifts she was born with. And, if you accept— this as a gift, instead of a curse—it might also help you to heal once and for all.” Grandmother’s aging hands gracefully shuffled the cards.
    “ Mom, please, I have asked you so many times...do not read those in my home,” my mother scolded Grandmother as she tossed a kitchen towel over the cards. “I need to take a bath. Would you please keep an eye on the children? And, no tarot cards, I mean it.”
    “ Fine, I will read them later at home. Brandy, I think you are overreacting to all of this. I’m sure Brielle is just lonely and has made up some imaginary friends to keep her company.” Shockingly, my grandmother relented, giving up her side of the argument. Even I knew the voices were real. “Why don’t you think about having another baby?”
    Wow, nothing like changing the subject.
    I would love a little sister!
    “ That’s insane and you know why.” My mother threw her arms into the air and exited the kitchen.
    I stayed hidden in the dining room until I heard her marching up the stairs like a spoiled teenager.
     
     
    -3-
    I Spy
     
    I hesitantly peered around the corner of the kitchen door, making sure the coast was clear. There was no sign of my mother around. Grandmother Katie was sitting at the table, staring out the window.
    “Hi, Grandma, whatcha doing?” I ran to her and gave her a big hug. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
    “ Hello, Angel. Look at me...every time I see you, it looks like you’ve grown another inch.” She placed her palms firmly on each side of my face and aligned it with hers. “A kiss, a peck and a hug around the neck!” She kissed my cheek, pecked the end of my nose with hers and then hugged me.
    “ Grandma, stop...that’s for little kids, and I’m twelve and three-quarters-years-old now. I’m practically an adult.”
    “ So you are. Hmm, did you know I was almost a child bride? And not much older than you at the time.”
    I shook my head, no , as my reply.
    “ Well, it almost happened when I was sixteen-years old.” She smiled suspiciously. “I told him to take a hike when he tried to get fresh with me.”
    “ Fresh? You mean as in he tried to kiss you or something?”
    “ Yes, he did.” My grandmother said, adding a nod.
    “ Yuck.” I half chuckled. “Tell me more,” I said, wide eyed, and curiously.
    “ Well, the big wedding ceremony had all been arranged by my fiancé’s snooty parents. They insisted on planning everything—I didn’t like them much. Anyway this one night, a few weeks before our wedding date, he took me to a fancy dinner. Then, afterward, he surprised me with tickets to a show. I was very excited because I had never been to the theater before—my father couldn’t afford it in those days.”
    “ Oh...” I interrupted. “What was the man’s name who you were going to marry?”
    Momentarily, Grandmother’s eyes darted upward and she spat out, “Garrett...Garrett Davis. What a dickens he was,” she sighed breathily. “At first he was very sweet and bought me all the popcorn and candy I wanted. But when the lights went down during the show! Oooooh boy! I soon figured out why he was being so nice!” Grandmother’s tone rose to a higher pitch.
    “Why?” I interrupted. She looked at me and leaned back in her chair and exhaled.
    “ Maybe we should wait until you’re a little older to have this conversation.” She thoughtfully nibbled the skin of her bottom lip.
    “ No, Grandma. I’m old enough, I’m almost thirteen, remember? If it’s about the birds and the bees, I already know things. We are learning all about sex in health class,” I blurted out.
    “ Oh my word, Breezy...the world sure has changed since I was in school.”
    “ It sure has,” I said, a slow grin spread across my face. “So