Читать книгу Every Move She Makes - Jannine Gallant - Страница 9

“Wake up, girls. Last day of school.” Rachel gave a perfunctory knock on Lark’s door before pushing it open to poke her head inside. “Rise and shine.”

Standing with her back to the doorway, hair damp from a recent shower, her daughter wore nothing but a pair of panties and a bra. Soft light from the bedside lamp highlighted the small blue tattoo on the white skin of her left shoulder.

Rachel gasped and closed her eyes. Surely she was seeing things. When she opened them, the tattoo was still there, a delicate bird perched on a leafy branch.

“Oh, my God.” She started to speak again then stopped, struggling for words. “What have you done?”

Lark spun, eyes defiant as she stared at her mother. “It’s just a tattoo. It’s no big deal.”

Stomach churning, Rachel shook her head. “You’re wrong. It’s a very big deal.”

Don’t yell. Stay calm.

She took a breath. “Cutting and dyeing your hair was bad enough. Hair will grow out. That tattoo is permanent.”

“Lark got a tattoo?” Jade peeked around the doorframe wearing a pair of pajamas with Girls Rule emblazoned across the front. Her red hair hung down her back in tangles. “Wow, do you have a death wish or something?”

Ivy floated up in a long white nightgown. “I want to see. Can I see it?”

“Get lost, both of you.” Lark’s voice quavered.

Neither of her sisters moved an inch.

“Turn around, Lark. Let me see what you’ve done to yourself.”

Slowly her daughter turned, presenting her back for inspection. Rachel examined the tattoo. Thankfully the skin around it appeared to be healthy.

“At least it’s not infected. Why did you do it?”

“Don’t be so dramatic, Mom. It’s just a little bird. Rose got a rose, and I got a lark. Get it?”

“Cool.” Jade’s voice held awe.

“Can I get a tattoo of some ivy when I’m older?” Her youngest flipped her long, blond hair over her shoulder with a mischievous smile.

Rachel turned to glare at them. “Shouldn’t you two be getting dressed for school?”

“We have to miss all the good stuff.” Jade pushed her sister in front of her as they headed back to their rooms.

Rachel forced her hands to unclench. “When did you have this done?”

“Last weekend in San Francisco. Rose’s brother drove us.” Lark dropped her gaze and ran a toe through the carpet.

“You didn’t ask me first?” The final word ended on a screech. “You said you were spending the night at Rose’s house. You didn’t think I needed to know where you were?”

“If I’d asked, you would have said no.” A spark of her usual defiance surfaced. “Anyway, Rose’s mom knew where we were going.”

“She knew about the tattoos?”

“Maybe not, but she knew about the haircuts. She likes them. She said they rock. She’s not stuck in the Stone Age like you.”

Mentally, Rachel counted to ten before she spoke again, trying to regain some control. “I don’t understand how this happened. No reputable shop would tattoo a couple of fourteen-year-olds. There are laws against it. You could get in trouble. I could get in trouble.” Her voice grew louder. “Did you let some deviant on the street poke you with a dirty needle? For God’s sake, Lark, people contract HIV that way.”

Her daughter’s eyes widened. “It wasn’t like that, honest. Rose’s cousin did it at his house. Everything was very clean, I swear.”

“Why would her cousin do such a thing? He’d lose his license—”

“I don’t think he has one. It’s just a hobby.” Lark stared down at her feet.

“I should press charges.”

Her daughter’s head snapped up. “Mom, you wouldn’t! It isn’t Rusty’s fault. He’s only a little older than Gavin, but he’s an artist.” She touched the tattoo. “His work is amazing, and we told him we had our parents’ permission. I’ll die if you call the cops. Rose would never forgive me.”

“I don’t care what Rose thinks. You let some little punk stick you with a needle. It doesn’t look infected, but—”

“I swear I’m not going to get a disease. He’s Rose’s cousin not some stranger. Rusty made sure we knew it was safe.”

“Illegal, Lark. Getting a tattoo is illegal.”

“So’s underage drinking. Kids do it all the time.”

Rachel massaged the back of her neck. “Unfortunately, we don’t have time now to discuss this further. Get ready for school.”

“What’re you going to do to me?”

“I don’t know yet. You’re a little too old for a time-out or a spanking. This is serious.”

“It’s just a little tattoo. You have to admit it’s adorable.”

Rachel didn’t smile. “You drove into San Francisco with a sixteen-year-old boy and got a tattoo without my knowledge. Don’t kid yourself. There’ll be consequences.”

“Are you going to tell Grandma and Grandpa?”

“Probably not today, but they’ll find out soon enough. It’s the beginning of summer. You can’t keep your shoulder hidden forever.”

“Grandma’s going to freak.” Lark’s head drooped. “I guess I shouldn’t have done it.”

“You shouldn’t have done a lot of things. Get dressed. We have a long day ahead of us.”

* * * *

Somehow, Rachel got the kids to school on time. Balancing a tray full of banana bread and a bag of muffins in one hand, she unlocked the rear door of her shop, went inside then pushed the door closed with her foot. After setting her load on the front counter, she glanced around the store she’d worked so hard to create. The Book Nook was her pride and joy. Opening the shop had restored her self-esteem after her divorce and given her life purpose beyond mothering her girls. A coffee bar and sitting area occupied the front with the remainder of the large space filled with books. In back were a supply room and her cubbyhole of an office. Up a set of spiral stairs, she displayed gift items and office supplies.

A short time later, the coffee was brewed and the espresso machine steaming when she opened the front door to let in her first employee.

Chandra entered on a wave of perfume and trailing skirts. “Wow, you look great.” She eyed Rachel’s hunter green dress and matching jacket. “What’s the occasion?”

“Jade’s fifth grade promotion ceremony is this afternoon.”

With gorgeous brown eyes, toffee-colored skin and high cheekbones, Chandra Jabeaux was nothing short of stunning. Today her black hair was braided into dozens of tiny cornrows.

“That’s right. This is the last day of school, isn’t it?”

Rachel nodded. “Lark’s eighth grade graduation is this evening.” She took a deep breath. Just thinking about her eldest daughter sent her blood pressure soaring.

“What’s wrong? Are you sad your little girls are growing up?”

“I wish motherly sentimentality was all I had to contend with.”

One brow lifted. “What’s Lark done now?”

Rachel grimaced. “She and her friend got tattoos.”

Chandra covered her mouth with both hands, eyes wide. “You must have flipped when she told you.”

“You could say that. I might feel better if she’d had the sense to confess. I discovered what she’d done when I walked into her room this morning.”

“It’s not the end of the world. I have a tattoo.” She stuck out her foot to display a blue flowering vine circling her delicate ankle.

“You’re twenty, and Lark is fourteen. You’ve earned the right to make your own decisions. Anyway, it’s illegal.”

“Good point. If I’d gotten a tattoo when I was your daughter’s age, my mom would have skinned me.”

“Exactly.” She turned to walk behind the small counter. “I’m working on a suitable punishment. I don’t think Lark will be seeing Rose for the rest of the summer.”

“She isn’t going to like that one bit.”

Rachel glanced up from counting the change in the cash register. “It’s a punishment. She’s not supposed to like it.”

“If it’s any consolation, I think you’re making a wise decision. That Rose girl is trouble. I don’t know what Lark sees in her.”

“Her sixteen-year-old brother is cute, and he has a car.”

“That would explain it.”

She slid the register drawer shut. “You’re all set. I have some paperwork to do in back. Call me if things get too busy.”

“Will do.”

Stopping to pour coffee into a mug with her name on it, Rachel headed to her office. Sitting at her desk, she reached for the file holding time cards, ready to tackle payroll.

Her hand shook as she pictured her daughter wandering through one of San Francisco’s less savory neighborhoods. Anything could have happened. The police—

A vivid memory of Kane’s steady blue gaze intruded on her thoughts.

The attraction between them had been instant, and the idea of seeing him again was enticing. A vacation might well be the answer to her current problem. At the moment, her goal was to keep Lark away from Rose. A camping trip to the Sierras would certainly accomplish that. She turned on her computer, waited until it hummed to life then pulled up the website for Granite Lake Retreat.

Photos portrayed a crystal clear lake surrounded by mountains. Tiny cabins dotted a shoreline where several canoes were tied to a dock. The number to call for reservations was prominently displayed in the top right corner. Rachel was tempted enough to reach for paper and pen to jot it down. Jade and Ivy would have a blast. They deserved a vacation. So did she.

She flipped open her day planner. Nothing important was scheduled before the end of the month except an orthodontist appointment for Jade that could be changed. The week following, Jade had soccer camp, Ivy had swim lessons and Lark was enrolled in a jazz dance clinic at the community college. She and the girls would be in Tahoe the last few days in June for her ex-mother-in-law’s sixtieth birthday party. The camping trip would have to come before the party. Taking a breath, she dialed the number.

“Granite Lake Retreat.” A pleasant female voice chirped the greeting. “How may I help you?”

“Hi. I was wondering if you have any openings starting next Thursday.”

“How many people in your party, ma’am?”

“Four.”

“Actually, we do. We just had a cancellation that opened up two cabins. How many days will you be staying?”

“Seven nights.” May as well jump in with both feet.

“Terrific. Let’s go over a few details.”

Rachel grabbed a note pad to write down the list of items she’d need, along with directions to the pick-up point. Apparently customers hiked to the actual campsite.

When the woman asked, Rachel provided her pertinent information and credit card number. She was about to hang up when she remembered Daisy.

“Are dogs allowed?”

“Only if they’re obedient and kept on a leash. Would you like to bring your pet?”

“Yes, she’s a golden retriever and very well behaved.”

“I’ll make a note of it on your reservation. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“No, I think I have all the information I need.”

“Great, we’ll see you next week. Have a nice day.”

“I’ll try. You, too.”

Rachel hung up the phone. Behind her, a board creaked. She spun around in her chair expecting to see Chandra, but the doorway was empty. The back door to the shop closed with a thud. Frowning, she left her office to open it and check behind the building. Her SUV was parked alongside Chandra’s compact car. Otherwise, the small lot was deserted. Shrugging, she went back inside.

The next couple hours were spent finishing payroll and helping with a rush of customers.

It was noon when the bell over the door jingled and Ellen Patterson sailed through. “I came in a little before I was supposed to. I thought maybe you could use the extra time, Rachel.”

“That was sweet of you. School is dismissed early today, and I have to take Jade home to change before the promotion ceremony.”

“I guessed as much.” Efficient and eager to please, Ellen had been with Rachel since she opened the shop soon after her divorce.

“Now that you’re here, I have a question. How would you feel about putting in some overtime at the end of the month?”

Ellen set her purse on a shelf and glanced over. “I’d love to. I could use the extra money.”

Chandra looked up from itemizing a stack of books. “I don’t have a problem with it either. Are you expecting the shop to be extra busy?”

“No, I was thinking about taking a vacation, a camping trip to the mountains with the girls.”

Ellen’s smile lit her plain face. “That’s great. You never take any time off.”

Chandra nodded. “Between the three of us, we can handle the shop. I’m sure Tim won’t mind working a few extra hours.”

“Thanks, both of you. I appreciate it.”

Rachel finished in the office and left to pick up her kids. All three girls were full of talk about the last day of school. Even Lark made an effort to be pleasant. The cynical side of Rachel assumed it was an attempt to butter her mother up before a punishment was handed down.

Jade’s promotion ceremony went smoothly. With her hair flowing in curls down her back and wearing a short, lavender dress, she looked so beautiful Rachel’s heart ached.

Her mother leaned forward and squeezed her hand. “It’s like seeing you again at that age.”

“And you, Mom. We’re definitely three peas in a pod.”

After the brief reception following the ceremony, Rachel drove the girls home for a short rest before they had to take off again.

She was sitting on the couch, sorting through the mail when a piece of paper floated into her lap.

She glanced up at Lark standing above her. “What’s this?”

“My report card.”

Unfolding the paper, a smile spread. “You got all A’s. Honey, I’m proud of you.”

Lark frowned. “Ivy isn’t the only one who can get straight A’s around here.”

“I never thought she was. This is terrific. Your teachers have given you nothing but good comments.”

“I hope you’ll take my grades into account when you decide on my punishment.” She stuffed her hands into her pockets. “I don’t know why I got the tattoo. It seemed like the thing to do at the time.”

Her daughter’s eyes were filled with misery. It would be so easy to let her off the hook, but that wasn’t an option. If Lark thought she could get away with breaking the rules once, God only knew what she’d do next. The tattoo was beyond serious. Just thinking about it raised her blood pressure.

“I’ve given your behavior a lot of consideration, and I’m pleased you recognize you made a mistake. I don’t want it to happen again.”

“It won’t, cross my heart. I won’t get any more tattoos, and I’ll let my hair go back to its natural color.”

“The hair and the tattoo aren’t the only problem.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She scowled at the floor. “I thought you were mad about the tattoo.”

“Oh, I am, but I’m equally upset you left town without telling me. I’m your mother. I need to know where you are all the time.”

“I promise I’ll tell you from now on.”

“I certainly hope so, but for a while you won’t be going anywhere with Rose. You’re not allowed to spend time with her until I say differently.”

“That’s not fair! Rose is my best friend.”

“She hasn’t always been. Why don’t you hang around with Amy or Natalie anymore?”

“Because they still act like kids. Rose doesn’t. Anyway, it’s not her fault I got a tattoo. I made my own choice.”

“You certainly did, and it was an extremely poor one. You used to have better judgment. Rose—”

“You can’t pick my friends for me, Mom.”

Rachel sighed, hating the defiance in her daughter’s eyes. “You’re right, I can’t. But I can choose who you spend your time with, and this summer it won’t be Rose.”

“All summer? You can’t do that!”

“If your choices improve over the next couple of months, we’ll re-evaluate when school starts.”

Lark’s eyes narrowed. “Dad would never have been this mean. I wish he hadn’t died. I wish...” She clamped her lips together.

“I wish he hadn’t either. I don’t like making these decisions on my own.”

“Is that all?” Lark’s chest heaved as she drew in a ragged breath.

Thinking about the camping trip, Rachel held her tongue. “It is for now. Why don’t you go get dressed? We need to leave in about an hour.”

“Am I allowed to talk to Rose at our graduation, or is that asking too much?” Sarcasm accompanied the defiance in her voice.

Rachel’s temper flared. Silently she counted to ten. “Of course you can talk to her. You just can’t go anywhere with her or with her brother.”

“Fine!” With one last icy glare, Lark stomped off.

Rachel collapsed against the back of the couch.

“Is the coast clear?” Grace stepped into the doorway.

“Gracie! I thought you weren’t going to be able to make it today.”

“I changed my work schedule. Rough day?”

“The worst.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Maybe later. I can’t face a rehash right now.”

“You can tell me all the gruesome details after dinner. I was planning to spend the night at Mom and Dad’s, but I’ll stay here instead.”

“You know you’re welcome. If we’re lucky, seeing her favorite aunt will improve Lark’s mood and make the evening bearable.”

“We can hope.” Grace smiled. “Come on, let’s go rally the troops.”

After the earlier theatrics, the eighth-grade graduation ceremony was anticlimactic—the only bit of drama created when Lark walked across the stage wearing a summer dress that bared her tattoo for the world to see. Rachel’s mother sagged in her seat, her gasp audible through the applause.

A short time later, Audrey Hanover entered the kitchen of her big, rambling farmhouse, still in a huff. “Neither of you would have gotten away with a stunt like that when you were teenagers.”

Though she’d grown plump over the years, and her red hair was mostly gray, she was still a beautiful woman—and a force to be reckoned with. She cast another dark look in her granddaughter’s direction.

“Believe me, Lark isn’t getting away with it either.” Rachel washed her hands and dried them on a dish towel. “Now, what can I do to help with dinner?”

Audrey ignored her daughter’s attempt to change the subject. “Then why wouldn’t you let me speak my mind when we were at the school?”

“Because I didn’t want a public scene. I’m handling the situation, and Lark is well aware of my displeasure. Please, can we just drop it for now?”

Grace took her mother’s sweater from her and hung it on the hook by the door. “Don’t worry, Mom. Lark is in serious trouble. Rachel let her have it earlier. Now, let’s get the ham out of the oven and eat. I’m starving.”

Her sister led their mother away, and Rachel reached up to massage her temples.

“Here.” Will handed her two aspirin and a glass of water. “You look like you could use these.”

“My savior.” She gulped down the tablets.

“Is Mom giving you grief?”

“She doesn’t bother me. It’s the situation in general. Lately I feel like my life is one disaster after another.”

“Keep your chin up, kid. You’ll survive.”

“If you say so.”

Dinner was eaten with the usual noise and confusion that accompanied a Hanover family gathering. Afterward, Grace followed Rachel home. When she came downstairs after changing into a pair of old sweats, her sister handed her a glass of wine.

“Are the kids asleep?” Grace leaned against the kitchen counter and tapped one polished nail on the granite surface.

“Jade and Ivy are. They were both exhausted. Lark is listening to her iPod and ignoring me.”

“She’ll get over it.”

“Maybe not after I throw her the next curve ball.” Rachel took a sip of wine then set down her glass to pull flour and sugar out of the pantry.

“What curve ball are you talking about?”

She set to work mixing up a batch of apple bran muffins. “The camping trip I’m planning. It’ll be easier to enforce the no Rose rule if they aren’t in the same town.”

Grace eyed her sister with raised brows. “This camping trip wouldn’t have anything to do with the retreat Kane Lafferty was talking about, would it?”

“It might. I booked a reservation for seven days starting next week.” Rachel cracked the last egg into the bowl then stirred vigorously.

“I knew it! I told Nolan you had a thing for his buddy. You could barely keep your eyes off him while we were having drinks.”

Rachel squirmed as she poured the batter into prepared tins. “I don’t have a thing for Kane. Sure, I think—thought he was attractive. Who wouldn’t? But it’s not like I ran off and jumped into bed with the man.”

“Are you sure?”

“Grace!” Rachel shut the oven door and turned to glare at her sister. “Of course I’m sure.”

“Just checking. Did he kiss you?”

“No, he walked me to my car and left. End of story.”

“Obviously not or you wouldn’t have planned this camping trip.”

“The trip isn’t about Kane. It’s about giving Jade and Ivy a great vacation and getting Lark away from her friend. I looked up Granite Lake Retreat online and it seems like a really fun place. That’s all there is to it. Honestly.”

“I hope so.”

Rachel set the timer and turned. “Why? I thought you’d be thrilled I’m actually interested in someone for a change.”

“Normally I would be, and I’ll admit Kane is very sexy in that macho way you seem to go for. Not my type, but seriously hot.”

“Do you have a point?”

“I was getting to it. Nolan told me all about Kane, and he doesn’t sound like someone you want to be involved with at the moment.”

She sat down at the table across from her sister. “Why not? He seems nice.”

“He is, and Nolan has a lot of respect for him. But Kane has some problems. He was involved in a shooting that left his partner and a sixteen-year-old kid dead. Kane was wounded. Their lieutenant ordered him to take some time off to get his head together. Which means he isn’t the ideal candidate for a relationship.”

“That’s awful. I thought I had problems.”

“You do. So find a nice, uncomplicated man who’s good in bed and isn’t an emotional mess. Kane is probably more trouble than you want to tackle right now.” Grace reached over and took Rachel’s hands. “I don’t want you to get hurt again. You aren’t tough like me, and taking on a project the size of Kane Lafferty seems like more pain than it’s worth.”

“You’re probably right. It’s too bad, though, because I really did like him.”

“Hey, if you could have a fling with the guy and walk away, I’d say go for it.”

“What makes you think I can’t?”

“Come on. I know you. You’d do something stupid like falling in love.”

“I slept with Alan, and I didn’t fall in love with him.”

Grace wrinkled her nose. “Let’s face it, Alan was a little on the boring side. He was certainly no Kane Lafferty.”

“True.”

Outside a vehicle slowed and idled, its headlights illuminating the empty street.

Rachel stepped to the window to peek out. “I wonder who that is.”

Grace joined her as the pickup drove away. “Someone must be lost.”

“I suppose.” The timer dinged, and Rachel pulled the muffins from the oven. “Let’s go to bed. I’m really tired. Plus, tomorrow I have to break the news about the camping trip to Lark.”

“Do me a favor and wait until after I’ve left to talk to her. I don’t want to get hit by the fallout.”

Grace ducked when Rachel threw a potholder at her.

“Aren’t you sweet and supportive. Good night, Gracie.”