The Wallflower by Jan Freed

Author:Jan Freed
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Harlequin Treasury
Published: 2011-06-06T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

TRUE TO HER WORD, Sarah said good-night to Kate and left the Morgan’s house by ten o’clock. By ten-thirty, she was walking up the stone pathway to the Kaiser guest house. By eleven, she. was tucked in bed like a good little girl. Safe—but far from sound.

Her body rigid, her gaze fixed blindly on the ceiling fan humming above, she replayed those first few minutes in the foyer over...and over...in her head. She didn’t know which image made her more miserable.

The one of Jack, stepping off the pages of GQ magazine with a virility no narcissist male model could fake. Or Donna, his beautiful perfect Vogue match. Or herself, looking tacky and feeling like a selfish petty little worm.

Seeing them together had made her writhe on a barbed hook of jealousy. Slipping off to extend a civil goodbye to the couple had nearly ripped out her guts. But she’d done it. Then made the mistake of sneaking a final glance over her shoulder just as Jack had ushered Donna out the door. The sight of his big hand splayed on her lower back had promptly rethreaded Sarah on the hook. And there was no one to blame but herself.

Donna had warned against leaving the guest house. But no-o-o, Sarah couldn’t stay put. So here she lay squirming, victim of her own stupidity and stubbornness.

Rising on one elbow, Sarah punched her pillow into a new shape, fell back, twisted this way and that, rose and punched some more. She finally settled down with a huff and glared at the whirring blur of motion above her head.

She’d been so curious about the household Jack headed on tax forms and in fact. So curious about the mother who’d abdicated responsibility for Kate. So curious about the place where he’d pursued big dreams in solitude. Where he’d created fictional worlds that transformed his usual sternness to impassioned animation. She’d been curious, and so very eager for any excuse to see him again.

In her defense, which she found herself needing desperately, she’d also responded to the restless boredom in Kate’s voice when she’d called. A dangerous mood for an “imprisoned” teenager. The kind of mind-set that might’ve sent her crawling out a window to seek excitement.

The same kind of rebellion against confinement that had made Sarah reckless enough to accept Kate’s invitation. Allowing her to see Donna and Jack together. The perfect couple.

Back full circle to the foyer scene. As repetitious as the turning fan blades. Think about something. else, Sarah commanded herself, and Vera Morgan popped into mind. Scary, but diverting.

Talk about a piece of work! She’d come into the kitchen after Jack and Donna had left and immediately found fault with everything Kate did.

Use the good glasses for company, not the plastic Astrodome cups. Refill the ice trays. Don’t leave the cans on the counter. Watch out, you’re spilling it! Honestly, Kate, why can’t you be more careful?

Sarah had bitten her tongue to keep from interfering. It would only have embarrassed the girl more.

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