The McCloud Home for Wayward Girls by Wendy Delsol

Author:Wendy Delsol
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2011-06-21T00:00:00+00:00

Jill poked her head around the door, hiding her body from view. It was Keith. He was obviously fed up with leaving messages on the answering machine.

“Jill. Thank God. I’ve been so worried. No one answers your phone.” He was tan from his three months at sea and his brown curls had taken on a few golden highlights. “Didn’t you get my messages?” His eyes were bright and his tone urgent. “I’ve been back for almost a week now. What’s going on?”

Jill had been dreading this encounter. “I’m really sorry, but I can’t talk right now.”

Keith pushed his foot into the small opening that she’d allowed. “Jill, you’re acting strange. You’ve got me worried.”

It took half Jill’s strength to keep him from pushing into the foyer, and the other half from throwing the door wide open and rushing into his arms. “Please don’t worry. We’re fine. We’re just dealing with some things right now. Still deciding what to do with the place now that Dad’s not here.” She heard a rustling in the hallway behind her. “Sorry, but I have to go.”

“I don’t understand.” Keith’s eyes were wild. “Jill, it’s me. Why won’t you let me in?”

“We’re just . . . We’re just not taking any visitors right now.”

“Visitors? Visitors? Is that what I am? A visitor?”

“I can’t explain other than it’s not a good time.”

“I think you should try. I think you owe me that much.” Keith’s tone had drifted from concerned to offended.

“It’s just . . .” Jill knew she was being rude. Keith deserved better. He would never have treated her like this. She also knew there wasn’t anything she could do, at the moment, to remedy the situation.

“Is there someone else? Did you meet someone while I was gone?”

“No.” She answered quickly, hoping to dispel any concerns in that area.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“No.”

“Then what is it? Help me out here.”

“I really can’t say other than it’s not a good time.” She tried desperately to sound firm. “I really have to go.” Jill would never forget the look on Keith’s face as she kicked his foot from the door. A withering look so dry, she knew in that instant she’d done irreparable damage. She swallowed hard, thinking there’d be worse to come.

Jill shut the door and turned to find Jocelyn sitting on the stairs, just a few feet away.

“We’re making a huge mistake,” Jocelyn said.

“No. We’re not.”

“Yes. We are. A karma-busting mistake. And hurting someone in the process.” Jocelyn stood and blocked Jill’s attempt to ascend the stairs. “He really cares for you. And there’s some weird, tangible, destiny-filled magnetism between you two. I’m sorry I was so mean and green with envy about it, but it’s true.”

Jill heaved and felt her shoulders sag. “It doesn’t change anything.”

“It should.”

“So then are you going to stay?”

Jocelyn’s face flushed pink. “No.”

“We’re back where we started, then, aren’t we? I’m doing this. I’ve made up my mind. So just stick to the plan, will you?”

“And what if I don’t?”

“Then you’ll ruin everything.

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