The Care and Keeping of Freddy by Susan Hill Long

Author:Susan Hill Long
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Published: 2021-10-05T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

“I said I had to think about it.”

They’d gone to the glass house after the parade.

Maria leaned back in the chair and pushed up her glasses. “Okay. Let’s review. On the one hand, you’ve got Stanley Weathers: strong and silent. Lets you win at board games.”

“He does not!”

“Do you often win?”

Georgia frowned.

“Mmhmm. Moving on. He cooks interesting food. He knows a little about a lot of things. He doesn’t judge.”

“He doesn’t really talk!”

“Well, then he doesn’t say anything judgy, does he, and therefore, as far as we can tell, he doesn’t judge!”

Georgia thought about it. Maybe he was considerate. Maybe he was listening.

“Okay, then there’s Blythe. Tons of fun. Beautiful singing voice. You missed her when she was gone. She’s your mom, plain and simple. I’d be miserable without my mom; I’ll say it. But then again, my dad’s pretty great too. I’d also be miserable without him.”

“They moved out of the house, Maria; they left you!” said Roly.

Maria waved a hand and shook her head. “Nah, they didn’t leave us, they just leave us alone. It’s good! Why do you think Martin got his license as soon as legally possible? Because nobody would drive us around! And me and Martin and Miguel are all astounding babysitters—ask anybody. We know baby CPR. Plus, how do you think I learned to cook my signature shrimp Scampi? Get it? Shrimp Scamp-i? Because, the Scamp?” Maria arched an eyebrow. “Because we have to fend for ourselves all summer. We figure it out.”

Roly sat down on the flagstone floor. “You’re very mature about this,” he said.

Maria snorted. “Yeah, well. The truth is, my abuela told us to quit complaining and appreciate the fact we get to rule the world all summer.” Maria mimed puffing on a cigarette. “Dios mío, chiquitos—count blessings, not grievances.” Maria flicked the ash from the pretend cigarette and shrugged. “Plus, I can read in bed as long as I want!”

“This isn’t really helping me decide what to do,” Georgia said. She sat down on the ground too. Then she stretched out flat and flopped her arms and legs like a rag doll.

“Okay,” said Maria. “Let’s think about motive.”

Georgia got up on one elbow. “This isn’t your novel, Maria, it’s my life!”

Maria had started writing a book titled The Dragon in the Glass Castle: A Novel of Romance and Suspense. “I know,” Maria said, “but still. What’s Blythe’s motive in asking you to move in?”

Roly dropped his head in his hands, as if the whole thing was tiring him out.

“Well—she loves me and wants us to be a family—her, me, Rosie… and Lyle.” Georgia sat up and tugged at a weed growing between the stones.

“Right. But you don’t want anything to do with Lyle; you’ve made that super crystal clear.”

“Yeah…”

“What’s the biggest reason to move to Belmont Street?

“Rosie.”

“What’s the biggest reason not to move to Belmont?”

“Dad.”

“What’s the only thing in the middle?

“Lyle.”

“Stop with all the questions!” Roly said, lifting his head. “I can’t hear myself think!”

“Oh, you’re thinking?”

“Yes, I’m thinking!”

“Because you look like you’re taking a nap!”

Georgia sighed.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.