Read Taking the Fall for Free Online Page A

let them get away with everything, yet Sammy and I get yelled at constantly, or at least I do.”
    “Hey, I love playing with John and Peter. They are so much fun especially now that Peter is running around. Maybe if you were nicer to them or gave them some of your attention, John wouldn’t have felt the need to throw your phone down the stairs,” Sammy said as she placed her dish in the sink and grabbed her backpack off the counter.
    “Shut up, Sammy!” Jess barked again, as she glared at her little sister.
    “So, is that what happened to your phone? I am so glad my money tree keeps growing, especially when I have to shell out four hundred bucks when my daughter tells me her phone fell out of her locker,” Molly said sarcastically, as she placed the last folded towel in the overfilled laundry basket.
    “See, as always, it is my fault. I don’t know why I bother anymore. When something goes wrong, just blame Jess!”
    Jess stomped over to the trash, deposited her half-eaten apple, and stalked to where her books and backpack laid in the connected living room. Molly remained mute as Jess mumbled to herself while she stuffed things into her bag. Molly took a good look at her fifteen-year-old daughter. Jess’ blond hair was curled down her mid-back, falsifying its true length of just above her tailbone. The black streaks she put in her hair against Molly’s wishes were beginning to fade, and as much as Molly hated to admit it, they did give Jess’ hair depth. Her already developed figure was beginning to get her noticed a little too much for Molly’s taste. She wore a ripped sheer leopard print shirt over a plain black tank top paired with her usual low-rise jeans. Jess’ beautiful wide jeweled green eyes were outlined in dark black pencil with equally dark mascara. She looked twenty instead of fifteen, yet Molly knew the fight that would ensue if she commented. To be honest, Molly just wasn’t up for it right now.
    By the time they all piled in Molly’s small SUV, Jess had insulted Sammy a number of more times, and Molly wished she had popped some Tylenol before closing herself in the car with her two daughters.
    She pulled out of the small carport where her car parked under the stairs that led up to their place. After Molly’s divorce had finalized eight years ago, she convinced her parents to convert the empty attic space above the restaurant into a two-bedroom apartment for her and the girls. Florence had insisted that Molly and the girls move in with them in the big house, but Molly wanted her own space, and since she had taken over the restaurant the year prior, being this close only made sense.
    As she pulled out onto Main Street, she noticed Greg had already opened the kitchen up and was starting to prep for the morning usual. As if sensing her, Greg looked up just in time to give a little wave to Molly as she turned the car onto Birch Street to head to the school complex. Greg had worked for her dad for twenty years before Molly took over, and she hoped that he would work for her for as many more. He knew the restaurant better than anyone and was quite picky about who he allowed into his kitchen.
    “God, you would think he would have better things to do with his time than dig in the dirt,” Jess said as she looked down and began to text frantically.
    “Who, sweetie?”
    Not bothering to look up, Jess just pointed out the windshield. “Him.”
    Molly turned her attention toward the town common, where the large white bandstand stood, draped with patriotic bunting for the impending Memorial Day Festival and welcoming someone to come and sit on its wide steps. The lush green lawn made you want to lie down on your back and stare up at the passing clouds. All the shrubbery began to bloom with their own newness of the season enhanced by a fresh layer of redwood mulch around their roots. It was one of her favorite sights—she’d always loved the small common. To her, it represented small town life and