Halloween IV: The Ultimate Edition by Nicholas Read Free Book Online Page A

Stupid question. Tell her I hope she feels better. Yes. All right. That’s fine. Good.”
    Behind her, Rachel popped the bagel into the microwave and set the timer. Richard reentered the kitchen, almost bumping into his daughter, working a Windsor knot into his second silk tie. Darlene hung up the phone.
    “Who’s that, dear?” he asked her.
    “Susan’s mother. She can’t babysit tonight.” He appeared half—surprised as he began to down a mouthful of his coffee. “Why not?”
    “Susan broke her ankle last night at the ice rink. Rachel…..”
    Rachel had been attempting a soundless escape into the next room from the inevitability she sensed even as her mother had returned the receiver to its cradle, her bagel still heating in the microwave. She halted at her mother’s command.
    “Mom, please.”
    “You have to watch Jamie tonight,” she told her.
    “I can’t do it,” Rachel complained. “Not tonight. You know I have this date with Brady. You know how important it is.”
    “Well tonight is very important to your father and me. ‘This dinner party could set your father up for a much deserved promotion. You wouldn’t want your date to mess that up, now would you?”
    By this time, Richard had sat down to a warm plate of french toast, virtually ignoring the
conversation, knowing his daughter had to succumb. She persisted. “Can’t you find somebody else?” “It’s too late,” was the reply.
    Silence, save for the ding of the microwave.
    “What am I supposed to tell Brady?” Rachel said. “What am I supposed to say? ‘Sorry, I’ve got to babysit my foster sister. Go have fun by yourself?”
    Darlene sighed. “It’s not the end of the world, for goodness’ sake.”
    “Sure it is,” she argued. “I think tonight, Brady was ready to make a commitment. Now my future relationship, engagement, marriage, children, and your grandchildren have all been wiped out, and all because Ihave to babysit . Oh joy.”
    Turning, Rachel nearly stepped into an apologetic Jamie. She was standing in the kitchen doorway, Sunday the Labrador at her side.
    Looking up at Rachel, she told her faintly, “I’m sorry I ruined everything. If I wasn’t here, you could go out.”
    Then she turned and disappeared with Sunday into the livingroom around the corner. Rachel was left, staring guiltily into the empty space where the little girl had been. She could feel her parents’ disapproving stares.
    “Good job, Rachel,” her father told her. “That little girl needs all the love we can give her, and all you can think about is yourself.”
    Without looking back, Rachel left the kitchen in pursuit of Jamie.
    ***
    Rachel followed Jamie and Sunday into the girl’s bedroom. Jamie didn’t bother to close the door on her, but ignored her presence just the same by slipping onto her bed and pretending to toy with a pink marshmallow doll. Rachel joined her, sitting close. A moment of silence went by, Rachel trying to summon the right words to say to her, the words that best suited a six-year-old girl with a heavy heart. Finally, the words did come, and she hoped to God they would work.
    “I’m sorry, Jamie. I didn’t mean it like that. I can go out with Brady tomorrow night. No biggie.” Jamie remained preoccupied with her doll. “Hey, come on,” Rachel continued.
    “But you wanted to go out tonight,” Jamie responded softly. It was clear that she was struggling to keep her voice calm. She was holding back tears, and being a real trooper at it, too. “It’s my fault you can’t.”
    Rachel had to think of something. Anything. “Well, tonight we’re going to do something better. We’re going to go trick-or-treating. How’s that?”
    “I don’t want to.”
    “Okay.” Let’s try something else . “How about I pick you up from school this afternoon and we go for ice cream?”
    That did it; Jamie just couldn’t hold back that smile. There was something about little kids and ice cream, and Rachel had long since