Beauty & the Beach (A Fairy Tale Romance) by Diane Darcy

Author:Diane Darcy [Darcy, Diane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-12-16T06:00:00+00:00

~~~

As soon as Isabelle got off work the next day, she showed up at the apartment, determined to take her sister clothes shopping. Courtney lay on the couch in her pajamas watching cartoons, hugging a pillow to her chest. “I don’t want to go.”

“You’re going. You’ve got five minutes to get ready. Now get your bratty butt into your bedroom, change into some clothes, and get out to the car.”

Courtney’s chin lifted.

“Now.”

As they drove to the mall, Courtney didn’t have anything to say. Arms crossed, she simply looked out the passenger window.

“I know it’s early, but we need to start getting you ready for college.”

Courtney shook her head. “What a joke. You know I’m not going to college. If Mr. Wilder had his way, I’d probably be in jail right now.”

“What is going on with you?”

Courtney didn’t say anything for a long moment, and then Isabelle realized she was crying. “Courtney?”

“If I just hadn’t lost that necklace…I’m so stressed out, you’re living with that horrible man. I know you blame me for it. I know you hate me. I hate myself.”

“Horrible man? What are you talking about?” Isabelle touched the necklace at her throat. “Courtney, Adam’s a great guy. He’s holding off and giving Dad a chance to find the necklace. He knows it might take a while. He’s not putting any pressure on any of us. So why are you putting so much pressure on yourself?”

Pressing her face to her hands, Courtney started to cry in earnest. “It will never be found. You know it and I know it. I’ll be spending the next five years of my life working and paying off that stupid necklace. When all my friends are graduating from college, I’ll just be starting school.”

Hearing Courtney’s conviction, the stark truth of the situation spoken out loud, made it seem more real again. If the necklace wasn’t found, if Adam agreed to come up with a payment plan rather than put their father in jail, that was exactly what would be happening for the next few years. For all of them. “Courtney, you’re not alone in this. If it comes to that, all three of us will be helping. But I’m not giving up hope. Maybe someone will try and pawn the necklace. Dad has posted pictures in all the pawnshops. The police are looking. There’s still a chance.”

Courtney pulled a couple of napkins out of the glove box and pressed them to her face. “You know that’s not going to happen,” she scoffed. They rode in silence for a while, and Courtney finally calmed, her sobs gradually stopping and her breathing evening out. “I’m thinking about giving up my scholarship and working full time right now so I can start paying Mr. Wilder back.”

“No, Courtney that’s not—”

“Stop it. I don’t want to hear it. I’ve figured it all out. If I get a nanny job during the day, and waitress at night, I could make enough to pay Adam back in five years. If…if the

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