Swept Away by Nicole O'Dell

Author:Nicole O'Dell
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781616262525
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2011-02-14T10:00:00+00:00

Chapter 2

MY LILLY

“Want to go out and get something to eat?” Jason looked hopeful. “All that raking made me hungry.”

“What, and leave this haven of bliss even for a moment?” Lilly gestured around her dark house from the dining room table where they sat talking. Stan had returned from pouting and taken his throne in front of the television where he’d likely remain all evening, even through dinner. Mom puttered in the kitchen making bologna sandwiches—those and a bag of ruffled potato chips to rest on his belly, and Stan would be in heaven. Lilly rolled her eyes at the thought.

“Right.” Jason smirked and shook his head.

“As much as I’d love to, you know as well as I do, he isn’t going to let me.” Lilly shrugged and jerked her head toward the family room. “He doesn’t let you in my room. I’m not allowed out after dark, even on the weekends. No way he’ll let me go out to dinner on a school night unless it’s for a school or church activity.”

“Why don’t you ask your mom? Why even ask Stan?”

Lilly dropped her voice to a whisper. “Because my mom doesn’t have an opinion about things these days—you know that. She isn’t given a say in what goes on.” She looked toward the kitchen entrance. “Watch. I’ll show you.”

Sliding her chair back, Lilly walked into the kitchen and stepped up behind her mom, who stood at the counter spreading Miracle Whip on white bread. Mom preferred real mayonnaise, but Stan hated it. So, no more real mayo. “Mom?”

She whipped around with a stunned expression—must not have heard Lilly approach. “Ooh. You scared me.” She laughed while she fanned her face and patted her chest. “What is it, Lill?”

“Calm down … it’s just me.” Lilly laughed, relieved at the lightened mood. Must act casual. “I wanted to ask if Jason and I could go for a quick burger.”

Mom’s eyes darted toward the family room.

“You’ll have to ask Stan about that.” She returned her focus to the sandwiches, slapping even more Miracle Whip onto the bread.

Gross. Lilly grimaced and shook her head. “Mom. Can’t you make the call? You parented me alone after Dad left until I turned twelve. If I remember correctly, you did a pretty good job of it those six years. You make the decision for once.”

She gripped the counter and leaned her head down, almost between her elbows. “Don’t put me in that position, Lill. Not today.”

Enough’s enough. “If not today, when, Mom? Don’t you think this is all going too far?”

“What’s going too far?” Stan spoke from the doorway.

Mom’s arms stiffened and her shoulders tensed, but she didn’t turn around at the sound of Stan’s voice. “We were talking about how Lilly and Jason want to go out to grab a burger right now.”

Stan snorted. “Yeah, like that’s going to happen.” He grabbed a handful of chocolate chip cookies from the cookie jar and left the room, leaving a trail of crumbs behind him.

Lilly waited, but her mom never turned around or commented.

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