Read The Devil's Beating His Wife for Free Online Page B

"Damn, big brother. Come sit down. Mary-Alice'll make you a plate." A large boyish grin spread across his face. He tapped the seat next to him. Feeling more than relieved, I handed my plate to Mary-Alice and joined my brother at the table.
    "What's on your agenda today?" he asked. Pride shone in his eyes when he placed his hand on my shoulder.
    Mary-Alice stood away from us, running her fingers through her hair. "You like biscuits, Baxter?"
    "Yes, ma'am," I said. "Pile them high."
    My greedy eyes sought them out. Flaky, doughy, and, most important of all, fresh. They were heaven sent. Exactly how a biscuit should be. Our Army rations had containers of biscuits, but they reminded me of thick, stale soda crackers. I had to gnaw on them until the bread softened a bit, and then I'd bite and swallow a chunk. Those biscuits kept me full because they would sit heavy in my stomach for what felt like days.
    "Eat up, big brother. There's plenty more." Carver grinned as he began forking slices of bacon onto my plate. After he'd piled a stack in front of me, he sat back and smiled with satisfaction. With his usual exuberance, he began to shovel eggs into his mouth. His lips smacked with each bite. This was the playful Carver that I knew and loved. Ever since we were children, he had chewed with his mouth open, talked with his mouth full, and burped with gusto.
    "C'mon, now, Baxter. Get to eatin'."
    The sound of an explosion echoed throughout the room. My body went into auto-pilot as a head-splitting wail sent me scurrying for the closest shelter. I could hear voices yelling at me. Are you alright? Do you need help? My hands slapped over my limbs, taking stock of any missing parts. A metallic taste filled my mouth. Blood. Was it a head wound?
    Get up, Baxter. Get moving. Now! The words roared through my head.
    This structure was too vulnerable to sustain another hit. I needed to get out, and get moving to someplace more secure. Listening for bomber engines, I waited for the precise moment to run. Why weren't there blasts of anti-aircraft machines?
    A hand appeared and wrapped itself around my forearm. It pulled me from my crouching position. The hand slapped across my face, and I stumbled against the table and fell to the ground. A blue pair of lady's pumps appeared in my vision.
    "Could you have hit him any harder?" a woman hissed.
    I blinked and shook my head. There was a ringing sound in my ears. The metallic taste was drowned out by the excessive saliva in my mouth. My body shuddered as I threw up acrid bits of scrambled eggs and strawberry seeds I had just consumed.
    "You see what you done did?" screeched the woman. "You done knocked the sense right out of him!"
    She stepped over my body. My hand shot out and wrapped around her ankle, causing her to lose her balance. Her body slammed against the oven and she slid down to the floor. My eyes connected with her face.
    "Fuck." I reached out to Mary-Alice, but she cringed away. Her hand was on her forehead, covering an open wound that oozed blood. She placed her other hand on the ground and pushed herself to her feet. Moving to the sink, she wet a rag and pressed it to her head.
    Carver grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet. He took my face in his hands and stared deeply into my eyes. My gaze roamed over his familiar features, noting the downward pull of his lips. For several minutes, he held me, watching me carefully.
    "I'm sorry."
    "Baxter?"
    "Carver. Mary-Alice. I—" The wailing sounds continued. Their high pitch registered deep in my mind. I sought out the source.
    Carver's hands tightened for a moment. His eyes never wavered from my face. "Goddamn it, woman, will you shut that boy up?"
    I glanced in Mary-Alice's direction. Her lips tightened as she stared at the back of Carver's head. Tossing the bloody rag aside, she left the kitchen and walked down the short hallway towards the bedrooms. I heard a bedroom door open and then the soft cooing sounds of a mother soothing her