Wholehearted by Ronica Black

Author:Ronica Black [Black, Ronica]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Tags: ! Yes
ISBN: 9781602825949
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2012-02-14T06:00:00+00:00

chapter eleven

Can I ask you an obvious question?” May asked, slurping

her Diet Coke. “Why do you care if she’s rude?”

“Because I went out of my way to be nice today,” Grace said,

still unnerved by the morning’s happenings. “I even brought Jake

fifteen minutes early. I tried to joke with her. I smiled, everything.

She just—God, she wouldn’t even look at me.”

“That is weird. Maybe she’s got it bad for you.”

“No, that’s not it. She looked almost—disgusted, and then like

maybe she was sick or something.”

“Well, maybe she was.”

“No, it was directed at me. For whatever reason, that woman

hates me.” She rubbed her forehead with the tips of her fingers.

“Maybe she thinks I’m just a terrible parent to Jake. God, maybe I

am. I let him stay way too long with Gabby.”

“Um, excuse me, but you tried to get Jake for years because

you had your suspicions. You even called protective services twice

on her for surprise visits. Your mother wouldn’t have it. She said

everything was fine, and you know your sister put on a show every

time anyone came to visit. So lay off yourself.”

“I don’t know.” She reached down absentmindedly and

scratched her collarbone.

“Oh, no.”

“What?”

May pursed her lips in a playful manner as she fingered her

own neck area. “You need to go check that out and cover it.”

• 121 •

ronica Black

“What?”

She pointed. “That.”

“What is it?”

“You tell me.”

“Huh?”

“Somebody’s been getting some.”

Grace flushed and rose to hurry to the restroom. The pale

yellow walls nearly made her panic as she stood in front of the sink

and searched below her collar. And there it was. A red mark about

the size of Ally Murphy’s mouth. Just inside her collar.

“Oh, no.” Thank God it was only May who saw it. But then

another thought entered her mind, one that made her heart triple

in pace. What if Madison had seen it? What if that was why she

was so sickened? Of course! Now she really must think her a poor

parent. Jake was hurt while she was obviously out gallivanting

around. Oh God, she’d have to explain. And say what? The truth?

She couldn’t.

“So who is it?” May was suddenly at her side, grinning with

excitement.

“No one.”

“Uh-huh, right. Was she hot?”

“May, please, not now. Just help me cover it up.”

“Way ahead of you, woman.” May slipped out a compact,

opened Grace’s shirt, and began patting on powder foundation.

“Is it really noticeable?” Had everyone seen it? Even when

she’d walked in and said good morning? Ugh. How unprofessional.

How irresponsible. How—she couldn’t even think about it. She just

wanted it gone.

“You couldn’t see all of it, but you could see enough. Any

moron would’ve known what it was.”

Grace hesitated and then voiced her fear, needing confirmation

that she was indeed just paranoid and insane, instead of oh fuck,

unimaginably right. “I think maybe Madison Clark may have seen

it.” “What?”

• 122 •

Wholehearted

Yes, the idea was indeed ridiculous. Oh, thank the heavens, she

agreed.

But May’s face twisted in both horror and excitement. “Oh my

God, you’re right! She—” She poked her finger at Grace’s chest.

“She saw it and she got jealous.”

“What? No.” What the hell?

“Yes, it makes perfect sense.” She hopped up and down slightly

with her newfound theme.

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