Read Love Hurts for Free Online Page B

business,” Anna said, trying to keep her voice low. “I’m your sister.”
     
    “Well, I’m not your little baby anymore. So it’s not your business.”
     
    The all too familiar pressure began building at the base of Anna’s neck. She had no idea how to get through to her stubborn sister.
     
    Jilly whirled and, like an electric shock, stared at Anna with her dark blue eyes. “You have no idea what’s going on in my head. If you could spend one fucking day in my head, you’d be in a rubber room.”
     
    She pushed off from the counter and stomped into the living room.  
     
    Anna followed her, feeling at sea. Jilly sat on the sofa and began folding a pile of laundry. Her face was what Mamma used to call “la tormenta,” the storm.
     
    Anna sat on the other side of the sofa and searched her brain for the right words. Jilly’s emotions were often overwhelming—she’d blow her temper at the drop of a hat—but this was different. Anna didn’t know what to say to calm her down.
     
    “Jill, I’m sorry.”
     
    “Oh fuck!”
     
    “What?”
     
    “Don’t start that sorry shit with me, Anna. You’re not sorry. You’re just trying to calm me down. Just say what you mean. Let’s have it out for once.”
     
    Anna sat in stunned silence. There were no rules for this kind of behavior from her sister.
     
    Jilly grabbed a towel from the pile of unfolded laundry on the couch beside Anna. She folded it in several quick snaps and dropped it onto the coffee table in front of them. She folded another and tossed it on top of the other, not even trying to make them line up. Anna’s fingers itched to straighten out the edges until they were perfectly aligned, and she only kept her hands in her lap with intense effort. She looked up to find Jilly watching her, her look accusing as though to say, “See, I’m not the only one with problems.”
     
    Ashamed, Anna looked down at her folded hands.  
     
    “We’re screwed up, don’t you see that?” Jilly said. “Look what she’s done to us.”
     
    “No. I don’t believe that, I can’t accept that. We moved away, found new lives. Mamma’s not a part of us anymore.” Anna squeezed her hands together until they ached.
     
    Jilly studied Anna. “You can hope all you want, but hoping doesn’t make it true.” As if to punctuate her last words, Jilly snatched a candy dish off the coffee table and hurled it at the fireplace. They both watched, Anna in horror, and Jilly in what looked like fascination, as the thick glass shattered and sprayed all over the carpet.
     
    A squeak of surprise came from the doorway and Anna turned to see Matthew, his mouth hanging open. “What’s wrong, Mummy?” he whispered.
     
    Jilly didn’t even turn. Anna opened her arms to him. “It’s okay, honey. Mummy is just a little upset.”
     
    She carried him to his room and put his pajamas on. “I think it’s time for your nap, pumpkin. Want a story?” Matthew definitely felt better because he giggled and said, “I’m not a punkin, Auntie. Silly.”
     
    “Oops. Your big head fooled me.”
     
    Matthew threw back his head and laughed and almost fell on his butt. Anna tossed him onto the bed where he bounced a few times and then wiggled under the covers. He looked up at her, his tiny face almost overpowered by his huge blue eyes. He had Jilly’s eyes, but without the shadows. Anna drank in his face, knowing the time would pass too quickly and he would no longer want stories from his aunt.
     
    “Spiderman story, Auntie, please.”
     
    “Are you sure?” Dumb question .
     
    “Yes.” Matthew had already mastered the art of rolling his eyes.  
     
    They got comfortable and Anna read him the story, all the while keeping one ear open for more smashing glass. “Auntie? You stopped reading.”
     
    “Sorry.” Anna finished the story and only by sheer determination kept her thoughts where they belonged.
     
    Just as she finished the story, she noticed Matthew snoring, the