Читать книгу Straight from The Onion Vine. Book 3 Lasting Past - Jody Scottsmith - Страница 5

“Annie’s mother has already called about a time,” Mom said, rolling her eyes a little. “I want to hear what everyone thinks, then you can listen to a plan I outlined.”

Mom stopped there. Kara already had her phone out and read their answers on Blizor.us. She looked up, her eyes resting on Scott.

“I take it you have more to say,” she said, referring to his blog.

Scott chose his words carefully. “I know how important your friends are. You have a lot of them, so why make Annie your problem?”

Kara nodded in understanding. “I’m as surprised we’re here as you are, especially after all she’s done.”

She paused to sip her latte, feeling Scott’s hand on shoulder.

“Why can’t she live with her dad?” Suzanne questioned.

“She doesn’t want to leave her friends,” Kara confirmed.

“Maybe that’s what she needs,” Neil observed. “I’ve seen her ‘friends’; they’re out for themselves, like she is. Why didn’t she call one of them for a ride?”

“One more thing,” Scott added. “It’s eady to say ‘no’ here, if that’s what you decide. But it’s much harder to her face.”

Everyone nodded with a few ‘yeahs’, and waited for Mom. She put her glasses on and picked up the pad.

“If we do this, it’s for Annie and not her mother. Suzanne, when you mentioned ‘escaping’, her mother wants ‘out’ as much as Annie does. It won’t be like it used to be, when Annie came come over, before. If she lives here, these are the rules. She can stay Monday through Thursday. She’ll take the bus to school each day and Friday go her house for the weekend. No cell phone, tablet or computer.”

“She can borrow someone’s phone on the bus,” Suzanne pointed out. “What if she needs a computer for homework?”

“A lot of kids use the computer lab,” Neil added.

“Annie and her mother expect us to take her in…like forever,” Kara realized. “What about a curfew, and her friends?”

“There’s no curfew because she can’t go anywhere, or have friends over.” Mom reassured. “Her mother can deal with Annie’s social life on weekends.”

“No second chances?” Kara included.

Mom shook her head. “It looks like I’m hoping she won’t agree to this. Annie has to decide if Lakewood is worth all the rules, or go to her Dad’s.”

Mom looked at everyone. “Anyone else?”

Scott focused on Kara. “Remember that talk we had about ‘us’? You don’t mind if I…” He waited for her nod, since things were said in private. “This is what Dad would say. If you decide to be a therapist, it’s a lot like being a doctor. It’s not enough to offer help. Annie has to be willing to accept it. I’m not sure she can.”

He paused, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “I just don’t want you to ‘crash’ over something that’s not your fault.”

Kara took his advice to heart. He was clearly worried about the effect Annie living here would have on her.

Neil couldn’t stand it any longer and dug into the bag of bagels. He found the tub of cream cheese and generously helped himself before passing it around. Kara scraped what was left from the bottom. Everyone stared at the thick layer on Neil’s bagel.

Suzanne looked at him. “This is about those onions, right?”

“Maybe…” Neil answered, acting a little aloof.

“Will you quit whining about that?” Suzanne scolded. “So you found out why Onion volunteers are called Weepers. Get over it!”

“The onions weren’t the worst part.” Neil paused to get everyone’s attention. “It’s the way you knew what was going on, and didn’t say anything. Made me feel…stupid.”

“I think ‘stupid’ is not admitting you had enough,” Kara pointed out.

“Yeah,” Scott added. “No one forced you to keep chopping.”

“Ok I’ll drop it,” Neil resigned, holding his hands up in defeat.

Everyone applauded while Mom found more cream cheese in the fridge.

“It’s not like Weepers ever look at an onion,” Neil finalized. “I thought they were called that because it rhymes with sweeper.”

“He had to get the last word in,” Suzanne apologized, looking at Kara. “We don’t have to go to the mall, today. You and Mom have a lot to talk over.”

Kara swallowed the last bite. “No way!” She answered, picking up her cell. Everyone held their breath, listening.

“Hi An. Mom and I talked it over and decided you can live here Monday through Thursday. On Friday you take the bus home for the weekend. Think about it and call me tomorrow.”

Kara showed everyone the ‘call ended’ display. “Guess that’s our answer.”

“You could block her calls,” Scott suggested.

“I’m not going to,” Kara firmly stated.

Scott gave her a hug. “You aren’t EVER giving up, are you?”

Kara didn’t have to answer. The way his eyes sparkled back said he knew what it was. She gently kissed his lips, instead.