The Parent Plot by Pascal Francine

Author:Pascal, Francine
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-01-26T16:00:00+00:00

Seven

Elizabeth checked her reflection in her bedroom mirror. Behind her, she could see Jessica pacing nervously back and forth, twisting a strand of hair in her fingers.

"Maybe we should go to the new restaurant on Pacific Avenue," Jessica said. "Don't you think?"

Elizabeth carefully rubbed a smudge of eyeliner from her lower lid and said nothing.

Jessica made a sour face.

"Did Mom leave while I was in the shower?" Elizabeth asked, to change the subject.

Jessica stared at her as though Elizabeth had just suggested dyeing her hair green. "What do you mean?"

"I didn't know Mom was going out, that's all," Elizabeth replied. She eyed Jessica skeptically. "What is wrong with you, anyway?"

"Nothing," Jessica said. She gave Elizabeth a fake smile and shrugged. "Nothing's wrong with me, Liz. Where is Dad, anyway? Maybe he forgot, and we won't have to go."

Elizabeth shook her head in defeat. "Unbelievable," she muttered. Then she heard a car stop out front. She looked out her bedroom window. "There he is. Come on."

She grabbed her purse and headed downstairs, with Jessica following slowly behind. Elizabeth went to the front closet and grabbed her blazer.

"Whoops! I left my jacket upstairs," Jessica exclaimed.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Well, hurry up, will you?" She put her blazer on. "I'm going out to the car. I'll tell Dad you'll be out in a minute. And don't forget to lock the door."

"I'll be right out," Jessica promised.

Elizabeth grabbed her shoulder bag and headed out of the house to her father's car.

"Hi, Dad," she said, sliding into the front seat.

"Hi, sweetie," Mr. Wakefield replied. He kissed her cheek. "Where's Jess?"

"Coming," Elizabeth said. "And listen, whatever she says tonight, just ignore her, OK? She's acting like an alien took over her brain again."

"Again?" Mr. Wakefield teased. He glanced past her to the house. "Here she comes."

Jessica scrambled into the backseat. "Hi, Dad," she began. "You know, I was thinking—"

"Here we go," Elizabeth whispered.

Mr. Wakefield pulled out into the quiet street. "What, Jess?"

"Well, about Chez Sam," Jessica said. "You don't have to take us to such a fancy place, you know. I mean, it's just us, right?"

"Nothing's too good for my girls," their father said gallantly. "I want to take you there as a special treat."

"But, you know," Jessica went on, leaning forward between them, "there's this new place over on Pacific Avenue. The Leeward Isles. It's supposed to be really nice, Dad. That would be a special treat, too. Why don't we try it?"

"Next time," he said. "I can already taste the scallops in cream sauce I had last time I was at Chez Sam. I'd go into shock if my system didn't get them."

"I bet they have scallops at the Leeward Isles," Jessica persisted.

Elizabeth caught her father's eye. "See what I mean?" she said. "Alien mind control."

"That's our Jessica." Mr. Wakefield laughed. For the rest of the drive Elizabeth and her father talked about the campaign. Jessica was silent.

When they arrived at Chez Sam, Jessica trudged behind the others to the entrance. She closed her eyes for a second, took a deep breath, and then followed them in.

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