Choker by Elizabeth Woods

Author:Elizabeth Woods [Woods, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781442412330
Amazon: B003UV8TEK
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2011-10-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

CARA OPENED HER EYES TO CLEAR SUNLIGHT STREAMING in her window. She glanced over at the other side of the bed, half-expecting to see Zoe gone again. But she was there, the top of her dark, glossy head only barely visible under the covers. Quietly, Cara slipped from under the warm nest of blankets and shivered as the cool dry air assaulted her sleep-warmed skin. She pulled on a hooded sweatshirt and stuck her feet into her sheepskin slippers, then ducked out of the room. Her parents’ door was still tightly shut.

Downstairs, the kitchen was stuffy. Samson strolled in, mewing when he heard her, but Cara ignored him and cracked a few windows. She sniffed appreciatively at the damp leaf smell. High puffy clouds were scudding fast across the deep blue sky. She stuck a couple pieces of bread in the toaster, humming a little to herself. Just then, the back door slammed and Mom came in, wearing her running clothes, her face pink from the outdoors. She jumped when she saw Cara.

“Oh, honey!” she said. “I didn’t know you were up.”

Why did Mom always seem so surprised to find her in her own home? Like finding a houseguest who’s stayed too long. “Yeah, I’m up.”

Samson mewed more insistently. Mom scooped him up. “Baby! Cara, you didn’t feed him?” She took a can of salmon dinner from the pantry and started cranking it open. The fishy smell made Cara want to hang her head out the window.

Mom measured coffee into the coffeemaker. Cara drummed her fingers on the counter. The silence stretched out.

“Oh! I almost forgot! How was the get-together last night? Sarit is very sweet.” Mom bumped into Cara on her way to the fridge.

“It was fine, Mom. Sarit’s nice.” The toaster dinged. Cara grabbed a plate from the cupboard, and pulled the toast out, slapping on thick layers of butter and jam.

Mom took a sip of her coffee. “Cara, I asked Cheryl to clean your room when she comes today. She’s going to shampoo the rugs, so pick up all your clothes so she can do yours, too.”

Cara whirled around. “Mom, no!” Her voice was louder than she intended.

Her mother looked taken aback. “Why not, Cara?” she asked carefully.

Cara realized she was squeezing the plate so hard her knuckles were white. She relaxed her grasp. “It’s just that I hate strangers in my room, touching my stuff. You know that.”

“Well, honey, it’s just Cheryl. And if you pick up your clothes, she won’t have to touch any of your stuff, right?” Mom chuckled at her own joke and patted Cara’s leg, but Cara jerked away without answering and pounded up the stairs.

“Room service.” She pushed open her bedroom door.

“Ooohh.” Zoe extracted an arm from beneath the covers and threw it over her eyes. “What time is it? Why is it so bright in here?” She tried to pull the covers over her head. Cara grabbed them and yanked them off. Zoe screamed and curled up like a shrimp in a T-shirt and gym shorts.

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