Read Orpheus: Homecoming (The Orpheus Trilogy Book 2) for Free Online Page A

you're hungry.”
    He kissed her exposed neck, and she cocked her head to one side.
    “Mmmm, that's nice.”
    “No, that's actually pretty gross, Ma.”
    Holt laughed into his wife's neck. “Looks like breakfast for two is out.”
    He saw Ethan standing in the doorway rubbing sleep out of his eyes and yawning. “Rachel will be down in a sec. She wanted to brush her teeth, but I decided to just launch face first into food.”
    “I'm sorry, sweetie, I didn't mean to wake you.”
    Ethan grabbed four coffee mugs, added cream and sugar, and filled them, which all but killed the pot. He took a sip, savored it, and said, “It's all good, Ma. I don't think that any of us sleep all that heavily anymore. Is everything okay?”
    “Yeah, I just had some energy to burn off.”
    Ethan put the mugs on the table and sat down. He nearly fell out of the chair as one of the wooden braces underneath separated from the rest. His arms pinwheeled for a second, then he righted himself. “Maybe not that one.” He flipped it over and banged the wood back home.
    The elder Holt said, “I'll pick up some wood glue and fix that later.”
    Rachel padded into the kitchen and flipped her long hair sleepily. She sat down at the table, crossed her arms, and plopped her forehead down.
    “Good morning, Rachel!” Holt said with exaggerated cheer, and Rachel gave him a muffled response and a thumbs-up. Holt slid a coffee mug closer to her. She didn't raise her head, but fumbled around blindly until she found it.
    Jackie finished cooking, Holt set the table, and Ethan made a new pot of coffee.
    Save for the hour, breakfast was normal.
    “So, what were you two yelling about in the basement?” Ethan asked between forkfuls of eggs.
    Holt was surprised, and traded a glance with his wife. “I was a little tense about something and took it out on her for a second. Normal married stuff.”
    “Ah. Is it about the anniversary gala?”
    “Now how in the world did you know that?”
    Rachel smiled thinly. “My parents got my invitation the day before and called me. I didn't take it well, either.”
    “We thought you already knew about it, Dad.”
    “It's all right. It just took me by surprise.”
    “Are you going to be okay with the speech?”
    Holt paused, a strip of bacon an inch from his lips. “What speech?”
    “Oh, boy,” Ethan said. “You didn't actually read the whole thing, did you?”
    “Judging by his tone, I'm going to guess not,” Jackie said.
    “Tell me.”
    “Um, you're kind of the keynote speaker.”
    The kitchen fell into silence, and no one moved. Whether subconsciously or not, all movement ceased while they anticipated what the reaction would be: violence, depression, tears, or something else. Everything was on the table.
    The reaction was a long sigh followed by a defeated, “I suppose it's too early to start the heavy drinking.”
 
     

Party Animal
     
     
    Holt fiddled with his tie for the tenth time in half as many minutes. He looked through the tinted windows and could just make out the dozens of humanlike shapes lining either side of the entryway. He could sense their energy, hidden just below the surface, waiting to explode.
    He felt a light punch in his thigh. “Chill, Dad. If you looked anymore handsome, you'd be me. Am I right, ladies?”
    Rachel said, “Make it stop.”
    “You're both handsome, sweetie,” Jackie said.
    Ethan smirked. The driver opened the door. Ethan said, “Let's do this!” as he grabbed his fiancée’s hand and led her out the door. There was a barrage of camera flashes and cheers. Ethan raised his arms above his head and yelled, "Hello, Boston!"
    Holt didn't move from his seat. He closed his eyes and bobbed his head subtly back and forth, trying to calm himself.
    Jackie squeezed her husband's hand. “You okay?”
    “Not as okay as that kid, apparently. I don't know how he bounced back so quickly.”
    “He doesn't know what you went through as a parent. Hopefully, he never will.” She