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

the room to keep back the tears, Ashley caught Shondra’s eye. Her friend grinned, then turned back to her own partner.
    Shondra yawned and Mary Kay Sorensen frowned. “Sorry,” Shondra said. “I was up late finishing college applications.”
    Mary Kay gave her a meek smile back. “Where are you applying?”
     Harvard. Yale. Radcliffe , Shondra thought. “Oh, just some nearby schools.” She fussed with the white blouse she wore with a midcalf beige skirt. “How about you?”
    “State schools.” Mary Kay’s thin shoulders sagged, her drab blue dress way too big for her. “My parents can’t afford more.”
    “What about scholarships?”
    “I’m not smart enough. Not like you. You do everything.”
    “You’re editor of the yearbook, Mary Kay.”
    “Only because you couldn’t be that and the literary-magazine editor.
    “You’re good,” Shondra said kindly. “I’m glad you got it.” She glanced down at her notes. “We’re on number fourteen...which parent are you most like?”
    Mary Kay’s lips curved in a pretty smile. “That’s easy. My mom. We do everything together.”
    Shondra stared at the freckle-faced redhead. Did she have any idea how lucky she was to have a mother for a best friend? Shondra’s mother was the policeman of her life, and the jailer.
     You have a reputation to uphold. You have to be the best. Because of your heritage. Be proud of it.
    Ironically what the Jacobs’ ethnic pride had done to their oldest child was to make her wish she was anything but African-American.
    “If I could have your attention please.”
    All eyes turned toward Ms. Caufield. She looked pretty today in a hot-pink tunic and slinky black pants with high sandals. They made her an almost average height. Chunky gold adorned her ears, wrists and throat.
    “You’ve done very well for the past—” she glanced at the clock “—hour.”
    There were murmurs around the room; they all knew the true test of a good class was how fast the time flew.
    “Let me remind you that what you’ve shared is private. Keep it to yourselves until your partner decides if she or he wants it written up in the interview.”
    The kids stared at her in silence.
    “I’d like to see nods of agreement, verbal promises.” That wrung a smile out of them. And some noise.
    “All right.” Ms. Caufield held up a typed sheet. “This is the schedule for the volunteer placements.” “Representatives from all four organizations will be here Monday during class to talk about what positions are available. We have enough study buddies and elementary-school helpers, but the day care, and the teen clinic—” she almost stumbled over that and Shondra knew why “—have several positions open.”
    “I hope I didn’t get the clinic,” Shondra heard from behind her. It was Erica. Shondra gave her a sympathetic look.
    The teacher finished, “I tried to honor your requests, but if there’s a problem with your placement, I’ll see what I can do.”
    Sighing, Shondra waited for the papers. She’d asked to work at a medical facility, so she’d most likely get the clinic. Where that creep who dumped Ms. Caufield worked. Damn, that was all Shondra needed. It was going to be a long semester.
    o0o
    KURT HADN’T BEEN in Hotshots in more than a year. Before the breakup, he’d come to the bar often with Zoe and filled in on the teachers’ team in the weekly volleyball games when staff members had meetings or were away on vacations. The drone of the TV monitors broadcasting a football game, the smell of popcorn and beer and the rumble of voices around the courts in the back were soothingly familiar; at the same time he found the memories painful. Would he ever become immune to all he’d given up?
    “You okay, buddy?” Mitch asked from beside him. His brother had taken off his sweats and was stretching his leg muscles. Nearing fifty, Mitch was still in great shape.
    “Just fine.” Kurt had tried to hide his depression from Mitch. Knowing