Count on Me (Bayview Heights Trilogy) by Kathryn Shay Read Free Book Online

clinic will be run like the others I have in New York.”
    “This isn’t the big city, Lansing,” Jerry said.
    “No, but you have the same problems here. The difference is, you have a better chance of curtailing them, dealing with them, because you’re small. As we all know, frustrated, upset teens do dangerous things. Already, the innovative programs, like the health electives and the At Risk courses, and the general Resiliency program Seth started at the high school, have contributed to helping your teenagers cope with their lives. My clinic will support and augment all that.”
    “Will you hand out contraceptives without parental consent?” Jerry asked pointedly.
    “Each case will be dealt with individually,” Kurt replied smoothly. “And we’ll abide by the law.” He stuck his hands in his pockets and smiled at the rest of the board. “I want to be part of the good work you’re doing with kids here. I can assure you, I only want to help.”
    When Kurt sat down, Seth leaned over Zoe. “Thanks, buddy,” he whispered.
    Kurt nodded. Zoe gave him a weak smile. She appreciated his support, but damn it, one of the things she always found irresistible about the man was his dedication to his work, and his concern for kids. In that, they were perfectly matched.
    The thought scared her.
    She barely listened to Bosco’s rant about how vigilant he intended to be, both on the school board about her classes and on the council about the clinic. Her heart was thumping in her chest. It would be hard to resist getting drawn in by the man beside her. She’d have to be very careful to protect herself from him.
    At eleven, after heated discussion with the community—including praise by Philip Cartwright’s group for both the school and the clinic—the meeting broke up. Seth faced her and Kurt.
    “This could be a mess. We’re all going to have to work closely to keep Jerry Bosco out of our programs. And we need to avoid any negative publicity.”
    Her gaze locked with Kurt’s. His was apologetic. She imagined hers was fearful.
    God, she hoped she was up to this. She simply couldn’t let him break her heart again. She didn’t think she’d survive it a second time.
     

 
    CHAPTER THREE
    JUST AS JULIA was about to ask her friends whether anyone was up for shopping after school, Ms. Caufield headed toward them. She reached the group with stage-worthy flourish. “Okay, ladies, disperse and find your partners.”
    Julia sighed dramatically. She wore an electric-blue shirt, which topped a black wraparound skirt she’d gotten for a song in the city. “Just one second, Ms. C. I wanted to—”
    “No excuses, Sarah Bernhardt. Find your partner.” She gave Julia The Look—which everybody knew meant business. “Now.”
    It took a few minutes, but soon Caufield’s Chicks split up. Julia found herself seated once again with Dan Caruso. The only thing she’d known about him before this week was that he was in the At Risk classes and he dressed mostly in black. Now she’d discovered that his family called him Danny, he was two years older than she was, and he never removed the expensive-looking diamond stud from his ear. Today they’d get into heavy stuff. “Ready to bare all, Danny boy?” she asked.
    Looking bored, Dan shrugged. “It’s cool. Doesn’t matter what you think of me.”
    “So,” she said, opening her notebook and ignoring his comment. From the things he’d told her, she sensed his surliness was a cover for deep feelings. “Where do we begin?”
    “Probably with the questions we hammered out in class yesterday.” He shook his head. “You in never-never land again or what?”
    Julia’s chin came up. True, she vagued out sometimes, imagining her Broadway debut or her Tony award. But she didn’t think it was that obvious. “I was here, Caruso. Every single day this week.” She gave him a condescending look that she’d copied from Liz Taylor’s old movies. “Which is more than I can say for