My Lost and Found Life by Melodie Bowsher Read Free Book Online Page A

to mention all those hot-looking surfers. But I need you to ruin Scott’s trip and make sure he doesn’t have any fun.”
    She didn’t even crack a smile.
    â€œAnyway, your mother will never let you drop out now,not after she’s already paid big bucks for the nonrefundable deposit.”
    â€œI’ll make her understand,” she muttered.
    â€œDon’t waste your breath. You know and I know that whether you sing or say it, your mother isn’t going to listen, not even if you get down on your knees.”
    â€œAbout my mother...,” Nicole began, and then stopped.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI asked her if you could come and stay with us until your mother comes back but …”
    I hooted with sarcastic laughter. “Wow, I can imagine what she said to that. I’ll bet your mother is really enjoying the mess I’m in.”
    Nicole flushed. She didn’t say anything, just reached up and began twisting a lock of her hair around her finger. We both knew that Cindy had never been my biggest fan, even in grade school. She told Nicole that I was “insolent.” Nicole’s dad liked me, though; he said I was spunky. But when he took off with the other woman, Cindy’s mild dislike of me intensified. Junior year, when Nicole dropped out of the school’s production of
My Fair Lady
and I took over the lead role, Cindy was furious. She also blamed me when Nicole wouldn’t try out for cheerleader, and she was livid when I was named homecoming queen, even though I made sure Nicole was a princess in my court. Cindy just wouldn’t accept that her daughter hated the spotlight and nothing was going to change that. For years I tried to coach Nicole and teach her how to put on the whole self-confident act I’m so good at, but she just couldn’t do it.
    Really, it was sweet of Nic to try to persuade her mother to take me in, though I could have told her it would never happen.
    â€œThanks anyway,” I said. “But honestly, I need to stay at my house in case my mother calls.”
    She was still mechanically twisting her hair, so I reached up and grabbed her hand. “And stop yanking on your hair!” I scolded her. “You’ve already got a tiny bald spot there.”
    She dropped her hand. “Sorry. I’m trying to stop, really I am. I’m just so worried about what’s going to happen. I don’t just mean Hawaii, but about college and everything. What if your mother doesn’t …?” Her voice trailed off.
    For years Nicole and I had been planning to room together at an East Coast college. After applying to at least a dozen, we both had received acceptance letters in April from Boston University.
    â€œYou worry too much,” I said, without admitting I was having the same fears. “My mother will probably show up tomorrow. When she does, I have a plan.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI’ll make her pop for a ticket so I can join you in Hawaii.”
    â€œThat’s a great idea,” Nicole said eagerly. “She should buy you a first-class ticket. It would only be fair, after all she’s put you through.”
    I nodded agreement without telling her how unlikely I thought that was. I was beginning to doubt there would be any quick and easy solution to this mess. My mother would come back, of that I was sure. But when she reappeared, she would almost certainly be hauled off to jail and wouldn’t be in any position to pass out money for first-class tickets to Hawaii.
    The last couple of nights I’d been troubled by dreams in which my mother was captured and dragged off in handcuffs while TV cameras filmed her humiliation (and mine). It seemed too horrible to even hope for such an ugly conclusion. Yet at least I would know where she was and if she was all right.
    Nicole eventually went home to finish packing for Hawaii. When I hugged her good-bye, I held on tight for a few extra seconds,