Fade To Midnight by Shannon McKenna Read Free Book Online Page A

her teeth, don an evening dress and heels, and go.
    â€œOf course,” she said quietly. “I’d be proud to be there for you.”
    â€œGood. You’ll consult with Tanya and your Aunt Evelyn about your dress and hair,” he added sharply, his eyes raking her critically. “And your shoes, of course.”
    â€œOf course.” Edie forced herself to sit up straighter. She had nothing to be ashamed of. Her wavy mane was clean and brushed. The horn-rimmed glasses obscured her eyes, and she liked it that way. Her high-tops were comfy. She was what she was, ink stains and all. “If Tanya and Aunt Evelyn have time to shop with me, I’ll be glad to—”
    â€œThey’ll make time. If not, I’ll have Marta help you.”
    She kept her face carefully blank at that unspeakable idea. Shopping for an evening gown with her father’s blond, perfect thirty-six-year-old trophy girlfriend, previously his secretary, was her idea of hell. She supposed she should be glad her father had some comfort in his bereavement, if only there were something real behind Marta’s bright, lipsticked smile, but there wasn’t. Just the grinding gears of a calculating, self-interested machine. “I’m sure that won’t be necessary,” she assured him. “Please, don’t bother Marta.”
    â€œSee that it’s not.” Her father looked down at her hands, frowning at the ink stains on her fingers. “You will have a manicure before the reception? Let’s not have people thinking you work in a garage.”
    Edie snatched her hand back. “Of course,” she said.
    The waiter arrived with her goat cheese, pine nut and arugula salad, and her father’s swordfish filet. After a few bites, Edie laid down her fork and dabbed her napkin to her mouth. “Dad. I was wondering if I could come home this weekend, and spend some time with Ronnie.”
    Her father frowned. “You know the answer to that. I’ve established my terms. Dr. Katz told me you’ve missed your sessions with him for weeks now. I assume this means you’re being noncompliant with your meds. So why even ask? It’s a waste of both our time and energy.”
    She gulped. “I don’t need the meds. I feel completely calm and—”
    â€œEdie. You have hallucinations.” There was a savage edge to her father’s voice. “You are a danger to your sister, and to yourself!”
    She wanted to screech loud enough to shatter glass. She gulped it back. “Dad, it’s not like that. They’re not hallucinations. They’re—”
    â€œKeep your voice down! Does everyone have to know?”
    Edie pressed her hand to her shaking mouth. No. Crying.
    â€œYour sister is already stressed from your mother’s death,” her father raged on, his voice hushed. “Your abandonment is the final—”
    â€œAbandonment? That’s not fair!” The words burst out. “I never abandoned her! I would do anything to see her! You know that!”
    â€œShhh!” He glared at her, eyes darting around to see if anyone was listening. “She’s acting out lately. We had another incident, with her firecrackers. She ordered them over the Internet, had the packaging disguised as books. Dr. Katz thinks she’s punishing me. Showing me how explosive and destructive her rage is. The last thing Ronnie needs now are further examples of mental imbalance and rebellion. You oppose me at every turn, out of habit. Ronnie does not need to see it.”
    I oppose you because I have to, Dad. To survive.
    Edie didn’t say it. Her father would see the words as a spiteful blow. He could not hear the anguished truth behind them.
    Poor Ronnie. She wasn’t acting out with her firecrackers. She just loved things that spat bright-colored sparks and went bang. It was her bizarre karma, like Edie’s, to be born into the straitlaced Parrish