Read Spore for Free Online Page B

wiped away tears and met her sister’s gaze. I’m not dead or missing, I’m right here. Dani’s my baby sister. She has to believe me, she HAS to. “I… I know this is going to sound crazy, but I really am me.”
    Dani closed the door, cutting off their mother’s wails and took an angry step toward Mindy. “No, you’re not. I had to identify her body because her asshole husband didn’t have the balls. She’s dead. My big sister’s dead . And you’re some sick—“
    What? No! Jeff! What’s happening? Mindy steadied herself before she crumpled to the ground. “How’d I die?” she asked, her voice quaking. “Where’s Jeff? Why is—“
    “My sister died in a car accident, but you surely knew that before you came here, just like you know her husband’s name.”
    Mindy searched her memory for a detail, any detail, which might confirm her identity. “I also know you played flute but gave it up your junior year, despite being the best in band. You said it wasn’t a challenge anymore, but you really quit because you had a crush on Trent Sparks and he thought band kids were stupid.”
    When Dani’s eyes grew wide, Mindy said, “You got your first period while we were at our cousin’s house. He kept teasing you about being on the rag and Mom yelled at him then took us home. You like caramel on ice cream, but won’t eat it in candy.”
    Dani paled and grasped the deck railing. “How did you know—“
    What else? There has to be something that’ll convince her. “Your first date with Mikey was to see Twilight. You hated the movie but said ‘he’s a keeper’. Last I knew, he still was.”
    “Still is,” Dani said, nodding.
    Mindy managed to smile despite her trembling lower lip. “Christmas engagement?”
    Dani took a step down the deck stairs. “No, actually, it was while we were planning your funeral. He said he didn’t want to wait anymore, didn’t want to lose one moment we might have together.” Tears poured down her cheeks. “We were married by Christmas, pregnant with our daughter by Easter. We named her Melinda, after you.” She wiped the tears away. “Oh, God, how can you be here? This can’t be—“
    “I was driving home in sleet, I remember it like it was just a few hours ago, then next I knew, I’m in some guy’s yard. Standing there. This morning. Almost three years later, in July.”
    “This has to be a lie,” Dani said. “It has to. What you’re saying is impossible. Dead people don’t come back.”
    “It’s the truth. It happened. You have to believe me.”
    Dani pursed her lips and shook her head. “You do look like her, sound like her, but Mindy’s dead.” She took a deep breath and let it out. “Mom can’t take this, all right? Mindy’s death and all the legal shit broke her heart, broke her , and she’s been sinking ever since. I’m just thankful she’s still with us. If you give her false hope that some miracle happened, and it’s a lie, it’ll kill her. I can’t let you do that.”
    What? “What’s wrong with Mom? What do you mean ‘all the legal shi… What legal stuff?”
    “Your calcu…, no, Mindy’s calculating shit of a husband had insured her for over a million dollars before the accident. Grieving husband, my ass. We caught him fucking her best friend at the visitation. He ran off and married the tramp before my sister was cold in her grave.”
    Mindy took a step back, shaking her head. “He what ?”
    “You heard me. Big shot banker cheating bastard son of a bitch. Bad enough he treated Mindy like stale bread, but Mom blew her savings suing him. Turned out the brakes were bad in Mindy’s car and the airbag malfunctioned. Wonder how that happened?”
    “No, my Prius was fine! It had to be! Jeff just bought it for me, brand new, in October.”
    “Yep. Mindy picked out her car three days after he bought the insurance policy. The dealership had proof all parts were new, but the crash investigator said Mindy’s brake hoses were old and