[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
through puberty again.
I can t imagine where you re going with that line of thought. I just saw most
of you, and you look like puberty is far behind you.
Just the emotional aspects. I was snapping at my mom like the dickens, and
I blurted out that I want to break my contract. It was weird. It s like I have no
control.
Page 226
The Lies That Bind
Her voice softening, Katie said, Maybe that s not such a bad thing, sweetheart.
You re awfully buttoned-up for such a young woman.
Erin let out a stream of air that made her lips flap noisily. Maybe. I actually
said something like that when I was fussing at my mom. I know I need to be
more genuine, but it s hard for me. It s scary, she added quietly.
Oh, sweetheart. I m sorry it s hard for you. I wish I could offer you some
advice, but I have no idea what it s like to hide my feelings. She chuckled softly,
and Erin could just picture her half-smile.
I think you hide your feelings just like most people do, but you probably don t
have much experience in keeping your mouth shut just to make other people
happy.
That s never worked for me, Katie agreed. In the first place, I don t think
it works. In the second, it s not my nature. But I think it is your nature, and I m
sure it s hard to change that.
Thanks for understanding. My mom seems very perplexed.
She probably is, especially if this has always been your style. Were you always
this way?
I m not sure, Erin said thoughtfully. I don t have the best memory. I have a
hard time remembering things that happened much before high school.
With a sick feeling hitting the pit of her stomach, Katie s mind flashed on a
young Erin closing her mind to the pain of losing her father and brother, as well
as shutting the door to the good memories. She could just picture a sweet little
girl trying to keep her needs at a minimum, to help Gail make her way through
the ocean of grief she must have been drowning in after losing her husband and
son.
Katie s protective instincts kicked in, and she had an overwhelming urge to go
right back to Essex and hold Erin in her arms. She tried to sound lighthearted
when she said, Kids are boring. I m sure you didn t start to get interesting until
you were in high school.
I m not sure I m interesting yet, Erin said, chuckling. I think you might be
interested in me just to get free medical care.
Darn, I hoped you wouldn t notice that I took one of your prescription
pads.
Giggling, Erin chanted, Katie said darn & Katie said darn.
Argh! I m supposed to be a bad influence on you. You re not supposed to be
a good influence on me.
I like the way you curse. You look so sweet and angelic it s funny to hear those
words coming out of your mouth.
Page 227
Susan X Meagher
Which words are those, Erin?
I can see you batting your eyes at me, but I m a Dartmouth M.D. And M.D.
doesn t stand for me dummy. I m not falling for your trick so easily.
I need to look for a dumber girlfriend. I think I made a critical error.
No, you didn t, Erin said, her voice gentle and soft. I m really glad you
decided to make me your girlfriend. She rolled onto her side and tucked her
legs up behind herself, careful to move the phone so she still didn t have to hold
it. I wish you hadn t gone home. I miss you.
I miss you, too. We have to find a way to move our cities closer together.
Or just our bodies.
Yeah, those are the important things.
Hey, have you thought about what I should do if I can get out of my contract?
My mom asked me, and I stood there like a dunce.
Sure, Katie said immediately. I ve also thought about what you can do if
you don t.
Are you going to tell me before I do it?
Katie laughed. I might. If you re good, I ll give you notice.
There s only one thing I really care about, and that s being with you as much
as possible.
Then we re on the same page, pup. That s number one on my list.
Page 228
Chapter Fourteen
hen Erin got home the next night, she was pleased and a little surprised
W to find Dan sitting on the sofa. Erin s home, he called out when she
opened the door.
Oh, good. Gail looked out through the kitchen door. Hi, honey. Dinner s
almost ready. Are you hungry?
Of course. You know I m always hungry for your cooking.
As Erin walked into the living room, Gail said, No matter what people say,
everyone loves to be complimented on her cooking.
I don t have to fake it, Mom. She started to walk into the living room, but
Dan was in front of her before she d taken a step.
I owe you a big apology. I lost my head yesterday when I saw Katie s car here.
I m very, very sorry for causing a scene and for getting you and your mother
involved. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl ocenkijessi.opx.pl
through puberty again.
I can t imagine where you re going with that line of thought. I just saw most
of you, and you look like puberty is far behind you.
Just the emotional aspects. I was snapping at my mom like the dickens, and
I blurted out that I want to break my contract. It was weird. It s like I have no
control.
Page 226
The Lies That Bind
Her voice softening, Katie said, Maybe that s not such a bad thing, sweetheart.
You re awfully buttoned-up for such a young woman.
Erin let out a stream of air that made her lips flap noisily. Maybe. I actually
said something like that when I was fussing at my mom. I know I need to be
more genuine, but it s hard for me. It s scary, she added quietly.
Oh, sweetheart. I m sorry it s hard for you. I wish I could offer you some
advice, but I have no idea what it s like to hide my feelings. She chuckled softly,
and Erin could just picture her half-smile.
I think you hide your feelings just like most people do, but you probably don t
have much experience in keeping your mouth shut just to make other people
happy.
That s never worked for me, Katie agreed. In the first place, I don t think
it works. In the second, it s not my nature. But I think it is your nature, and I m
sure it s hard to change that.
Thanks for understanding. My mom seems very perplexed.
She probably is, especially if this has always been your style. Were you always
this way?
I m not sure, Erin said thoughtfully. I don t have the best memory. I have a
hard time remembering things that happened much before high school.
With a sick feeling hitting the pit of her stomach, Katie s mind flashed on a
young Erin closing her mind to the pain of losing her father and brother, as well
as shutting the door to the good memories. She could just picture a sweet little
girl trying to keep her needs at a minimum, to help Gail make her way through
the ocean of grief she must have been drowning in after losing her husband and
son.
Katie s protective instincts kicked in, and she had an overwhelming urge to go
right back to Essex and hold Erin in her arms. She tried to sound lighthearted
when she said, Kids are boring. I m sure you didn t start to get interesting until
you were in high school.
I m not sure I m interesting yet, Erin said, chuckling. I think you might be
interested in me just to get free medical care.
Darn, I hoped you wouldn t notice that I took one of your prescription
pads.
Giggling, Erin chanted, Katie said darn & Katie said darn.
Argh! I m supposed to be a bad influence on you. You re not supposed to be
a good influence on me.
I like the way you curse. You look so sweet and angelic it s funny to hear those
words coming out of your mouth.
Page 227
Susan X Meagher
Which words are those, Erin?
I can see you batting your eyes at me, but I m a Dartmouth M.D. And M.D.
doesn t stand for me dummy. I m not falling for your trick so easily.
I need to look for a dumber girlfriend. I think I made a critical error.
No, you didn t, Erin said, her voice gentle and soft. I m really glad you
decided to make me your girlfriend. She rolled onto her side and tucked her
legs up behind herself, careful to move the phone so she still didn t have to hold
it. I wish you hadn t gone home. I miss you.
I miss you, too. We have to find a way to move our cities closer together.
Or just our bodies.
Yeah, those are the important things.
Hey, have you thought about what I should do if I can get out of my contract?
My mom asked me, and I stood there like a dunce.
Sure, Katie said immediately. I ve also thought about what you can do if
you don t.
Are you going to tell me before I do it?
Katie laughed. I might. If you re good, I ll give you notice.
There s only one thing I really care about, and that s being with you as much
as possible.
Then we re on the same page, pup. That s number one on my list.
Page 228
Chapter Fourteen
hen Erin got home the next night, she was pleased and a little surprised
W to find Dan sitting on the sofa. Erin s home, he called out when she
opened the door.
Oh, good. Gail looked out through the kitchen door. Hi, honey. Dinner s
almost ready. Are you hungry?
Of course. You know I m always hungry for your cooking.
As Erin walked into the living room, Gail said, No matter what people say,
everyone loves to be complimented on her cooking.
I don t have to fake it, Mom. She started to walk into the living room, but
Dan was in front of her before she d taken a step.
I owe you a big apology. I lost my head yesterday when I saw Katie s car here.
I m very, very sorry for causing a scene and for getting you and your mother
involved. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]