Storms of Passion Read Online Free Page B

eyes to Vivian. The image of motherly concern etched her porcelain cheeks. “Rebecca’s daughter, Nancy, just got married. You remember her from summer camp?” When Vivian stared at her mother un-answering, her mother continued. “Rebecca thought for sure marriage was never going to happen for Nancy. Wild that one.” She paused and rolled her eyes, before focusing her attention back to Vivian. “Anyway, Rebecca encouraged her daughter to go on one of those on-line dating sites and now she’s married. No more foolishness.”
    It was the same old story. Always a different example, but every conversation ended with a statement about how Vivian wasn’t married. Headline news in this house in bold capital letters—Vivian Margaret was not married.
    Starring at her mother biting her lip with her front teeth, Vivian fought the urge to throw her napkin on the table and leave.
    Agghh, Vivian wanted to scream, but her parents would see it as an emotional collapse and recommend a nice doctor, who wasn’t married. Why did they only focus on her failures? Why couldn’t they see her success—the café and shop? Oh, yes, they’d say that accomplishment was due to her business partner’s vast abilities as a chef. What about her fairly prominent position within a publishing house doing a job she loved? No, not tangible either. Reality remained, Vivian wasn’t married and hadn’t provided them with grandkids. Her brothers married and reproduced soon after. Obviously her parents thought something was wrong with her, and as a result, they treated her like a child.
    Vivian tried again to justify her plans, taking a different tract outlining her trip as a simple vacation. “It’s just a chance to get away. I need a break.”
    “Hell of a time to take a break,” her father jumped in, having finished his dinner and wiping his face with his napkin, “Leaving your business partner, with two small kids of her own, to hold down the fort.” He shook his head. “Running off is irresponsible, that’s what I would call this little break of yours. We should review your first quarter financial statement before you go running off somewhere. Maybe it’s time for a reality break. Time to get your priories in order.” He emphasised his words, lifting his hand to make air quotes.
    Vivian pressed her lips together and didn’t speak of her trip during the remainder of dinner. She allowed her brothers and their wives to monopolize the conversation, finally releasing a sigh of relief when it was time to leave.
    As she gathered her coat and purse from the closet, Vivian’s mother held her purse while she pulled her coat over her arms. “Now, promise me.” Her mother tapped Vivian’s cheek. “You’ll cancel this foolish trip and plan something nice with one of your girl friends.”
    Having endured the battle of dinner, Vivian would not surrender. Taking a step back from her mother’s reach, she straightened her shoulders. “No, Mother. I’m not going to promise. You think I’m foolish, but I’m a thirty-one year old woman who will do as I please.” She grabbed her purse from her mother’s hands.
    Her mother rolled her eyes and storm off to the kitchen.
    “Now who’s acting like a child,” Vivian muttered under her breath as her brother walked toward her.
    “Don’t fuss, Sis,” Tyler said, reaching in the closet to get his wife’s jacket. “You know our folks are the way they are. So set in their ways. Mother wouldn’t think of getting groceries at a different store for heaven’s sake. You go for it. Have fun. You deserve it. I’ll even drive you to the airport.” He gave her a kiss on the cheek.
    Vivian turned to leave, smiling for the first time all evening.

Chapter Three
    “Shit,” Tuck muttered, slapping the palm of his hand flat on the water’s surface. Taking a deep breath, he lifted the goggles from his eyes and settled them on the top of his head.
    “Brother, you just don’t know how sweet this is.” Nate