Read EMS Heat 06 - Red Lights and Silver Bells for Free Online

his guy would do. Then just a quickly, another sensation of sadness came over Kaleb as he realized how much Dylan had lost in the past year.
"I know what your father did to Dylan and I just don't mean kicking him out," he told her.
    Tears filled Becca's eyes. "It was so horrible. Even though I was in another room, I could still hear everything. I tried to run to Dylan and help him, but Terry held me back and wouldn't let me go."
"Why didn't you try to contact him after?" Kaleb pressed.
     
"Dad took away my cell phone and computer. It wasn't until I turned eighteen last month that I finally gathered the courage to rebel against him."
     
Kaleb couldn't hold in his sound of disbelief. "Even after everything he did to Lucas and Dylan?"
    "I know it sounds stupid now, but you don't understand how things worked in our house. Our dad ruled our family and we were always taught to obey without question. We were to go to church on Sundays and Wednesdays, get good grades and respect our elders."
    The practiced way she said the last sentence let him know it was phrase she'd been forced to recite numerous times before. His gut turned at the thought of someone as free-spirited as Dylan being raised in such a strict household.
"Did your father abuse all of you like he did Dylan?" Kaleb asked, pushing his breakfast away. The discussion ruined his appetite.
     
"No, he just used the paddle on our rumps when we got out of hand."
     
Even though that comment came out dismissively, it still took a while for Kaleb to realize that she actually didn't think it a big deal. "As in, he hit you with a piece of wood?"
     
"Yeah, all the parents from our church and private school did it to their kids. Mary Jilliks and I used to compare the bruises on our butts."
     
"You shared them, like they were no big deal?" Kaleb's outrage echoed through the kitchen.
     
"What's the issue? We went to the privacy of the bathroom first. It's not like we lifted our skirts in the middle of biology class or something." She rolled her eyes.
     
"That's not what I mean. What has me appalled is that any parent would ever discipline their children so harshly that marks were left behind," Kaleb explained.
     
She paused for a second as if considering his words. "I guess you may have a point."
     
Kaleb swallowed hard before asking the next question, "Did Dylan get paddled a lot as a kid?"
     
"Yeah. He, Lucas and I always got it the worst. We could never stay out of trouble. But Dad never used his fists on us until that night with Dylan."
     
He blanched. When she put it that way, it almost sounded as if it were normal and business as usual. "Did you know that Dylan still hasn't told Lucas about what happened?"
    "That would make sense. They were always trying to protect each other, that is when they weren't watching out for me. That's what makes me so sad about Dylan not getting into Christmas this year. If anyone deserves a good holiday, it's him."
Kaleb thought a moment longer before he made up his mind as to what needed to be done. "Dylan can take his car into work. I'm going shopping with you."
     
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Why? Are you worried that I'll overspend and max out his card? If so, don't worry. Lucas is the clothes whore in the family, not me."
     
"No, I need to pick up a few things of my own. The first being a big tree."
     
Becca let out a squeal of excitement before she sprang from her chair. She ran over to Kaleb and embraced him so tight he winced in pain before awkwardly returning the hug.
     
"You are the best. No wonder Dylan is gaga over you," she exclaimed as she continued to cling to him.
     
"I guess that means you'll be willing to help me. I've never had a family celebration, so I may need some guidance."
     
She pulled back to give him a frown. "You guys weren't kidding about that whole dysfunctional family thing? You really didn't have a close relationship with your parents?"
    "Try I didn't have any relationship with them period. I would