Family Pictures by Jane Green Read Free Book Online

Mark strokes her thumb. “I promise. Don’t let’s fight. I don’t want to spoil a beautiful evening.”
    Sylvie nods. He’s right. Neither does she.

8
    Sylvie
    Eve is huddled in a sweater, despite the warmth outside.
    “Aren’t you hot?” Sylvie walks into the living room, her dark hair flowing over a beaded orange caftan, pauses before opening a closet and reaching down to pull out thick turquoise wrapping paper for Angie’s gift.
    “I’m freezing .” Eve shivers. “Can we turn the air-conditioning off?”
    “It is off,” Sylvie says. “Evie, I’m really worried about you. I think you’re cold because there’s nothing to keep you warm.”
    “What are you talking about?” Eve is almost sneering as Sylvie mentally backs down.
    “I just think you might feel better if you ate something. Where’s Papa?”
    Eve shrugs, filling the kettle with water and placing it on the stove, before pulling a lemon out of the fridge and carefully cutting off a wedge. This is what she has had for two days now. One day was easy. So easy, why not make it two, she thought.
    “He said he had to run into town.”
    “What are you going to do for dinner?”
    “Oh God, Mom! Why is it always about food!” Eve’s voice is a shout.
    “It’s not, okay?” Sylvie deliberately keeps her voice calm. “I was just worried we didn’t have anything.”
    “So I’ll go grab a pizza at Sammy’s.”
    Please do, thinks Sylvie. Please, please let that happen. “Are you doing anything tonight?”
    Eve shrugs again. “I might go hang out at the beach. A group of people are going down there. Maybe,” she says sarcastically, “we’ll make s’mores !”
    “That sounds great.” Sylvie doesn’t take the bait, busying herself with wrapping the scarf she has painted for Angie, not dissimilar to an Alexander McQueen one Angie had been obsessed with a few months ago, a pale gray chiffon that looks almost floral, until you look closely and realize the flowers are in fact intertwined skulls. Sylvie changed the design slightly, adding flowers, and even she is delighted with the result.
    The side door slams as Mark walks into the kitchen. “Hey, guys! You look beautiful,” he murmurs to Sylvie, planting a kiss on the top of Eve’s head. “How’s it going, kid?” Eve, flicking through a magazine, barely looks up.
    “I ran into town to get some wine to bring,” Mark said. “Simon’s such a wine snob, I thought I’d better get something special. And guess what?” He turns to Eve. “Girard was about to close, but I persuaded them to let me in for this.” He brandishes a paper bag from behind his back with a grin.
    “An almond croissant?” Eve says, the conflict evident in her eyes.
    “A Girard almond croissant. Here.” He tosses it on the table nonchalantly, as if it were no big deal, pretending not to notice when Eve slowly opens the bag and smells.
    Sylvie grabs her wrap, trying not to look as Eve takes one slivered almond from the top and places it on her tongue, then suppresses a smile as Eve grabs the whole croissant out of the bag and takes a huge bite.
    “Told you!” Mark whispers, referring to Sylvie doubting him when he told her of his plan.
    Sylvie bends down to place a kiss on the top of Eve’s head. “Slow down!” She laughs. “You don’t want to choke!”
    A levity settles around Sylvie as they climb in the car and wind down the valley on the way to Angie’s house.
    “That was amazing.” Sylvie turns to Mark with a smile. “That’s the first thing I’ve seen her eat in days.”
    “I have far more up my sleeve.” Mark grins some more. “Chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, for starters.”
    Sylvie laughs. “Remember how she used to love them when she was little? The smiley faces?”
    “Damn!” He slaps his thigh. “I thought I was so clever in remembering the strawberries, but I forgot the whipped cream. Don’t let me forget to pick some up on the way.”
    They keep smiling at each other, each