April Shadows by V. C. Andrews Read Free Book Online Page B

take that picture of him and me when I received the basketball trophy last year and pin it on the front of our door so he would remember how to smile.'
"You wouldn't, would you?" I asked, afraid of how he might react.
"I would if I could, but I couldn't find the picture. It used to be on his desk in his office. You haven't seen it anywhere, have you?"
"No.'"
"Forget about it. Just don't mention anything about seeing him before." she told me.
We joined Mama in the kitchen, where she repeated most of what she had already told me and then suddenly realized what time it was and the fact that Daddy hadn't called or come home. She went to the phone, but Daddy's office was already closed for the day, and the answering service took over. They patched her through to his private office line, but he didn't pick up.
"He's probably on his way home," she said. "I'll order the food. I know what he likes, anyway."
She took out the take-out menu we had from the Fortune Cookie restaurant, and for the next few minutes, we debated what we should get and how much we should order.
"Maybe that's too much. Oh. I guess I can eat leftovers for lunch," Mama concluded.
Her eyes kept swinging toward the wall clock. We had yet to hear the garage door go up and Daddy drive in. I could see she was growing increasingly nervous.
"I'd better call the restaurant," she decided. "It takes a while, and he'll be disappointed if he has to wait too long to eat."
Brenda and I looked at each other, both of us thinking the same thing. Who cares if he is
disappointed? What about disappointment in him? Unfortunately, we were growing accustomed to Daddy's being late. Daddy not calling. Daddy not thinking first about us, as he used to. However, that didn't make it any easier to accept. To pass the time and not think about it. I returned to my room and my homework. Brenda did the same. A little more than an hour later. we heard the doorbell. We both came out of our rooms and went to the front door to see Mama accept the Chinese take-out and pay the bill.
She brought it into the kitchen, set it on the table, stared at it a moment, and then pressed her lips together and sucked in air through her nose.
"He's still not home, and he still hasn't called. Mama?" Brenda asked.
"No. I'll just get everything a bit warmer." she said, nodding at the bag of food. "I'm sure he'll be here any minute. Set the table, girls."
Without uttering a sound. Brenda and I did what she asked. Daddy was now hours past the time he usually came home. He was even past his record for being late. Mama told us to sit, and she brought in the food. Daddy's dish was left over a small fire to keep warm. We ate, but we were all listening so hard for any sign of his arrival that no one dared talk much. Brenda tried to keep our minds off things by describing the game, her practice, their chances to win the first-place title. Mama listened politely. but it was easy to see she was looking through us both, the words merely brushing over her ears.
Finally, the phone rang. We all jumped inside our own bodies. It was as if a bomb had gone off. Mama leaped out of her seat and went to the phone in the kitchen. Brenda and I rose and went to the passthrough window to listen.
"But why didn't you call me. Matt? I've been worried sick about you."
She listened some more.
"I don't understand." she said, her voice finally permitting some anger to show. "You could have had John call for you. You've done that before. I don't understand." she repeated. "The three of us are just sitting here like idiots waiting on pins and needles. I don't care. Do what you want," she concluded, and hung up abruptly.
She must not have realized we were standing by the pass- through window. We saw her press her forehead against the wall phone, and then we saw her shoulders start to shake.
"Mama!" I cried, and ran around first to hug her.
Brenda followed, her aims folded, and stood by as Mama turned to embrace me.
"What did he say. Mama?" Brenda asked,