The Edge of the Light by Elizabeth George Read Free Book Online

needs to be decided. There’s no decision because there’s only one point that needs to be considered and it’s obvious: He can’t live on his own.”
    Seth said, “He’s not living on his own. Becca lives here.”
    â€œAnd what
about
the fact that Becca lives here?” Brenda asked, giving Becca a dismissive glance. “She’s what . . . fourteen years old?” She turned to Rich Darrow and demanded, “You’re planning to put Dad’s welfare into the hands of a child? Have you lost your mind?”
    â€œBeck’s sixteen,” Seth offered.
    â€œOh wonderful!” Brenda hooted. “That makes all the difference. Is she a health care worker? Doesn’t she go to school? Or is she some kind of freeloading dropout that Dad took pity on?”
    He saw Becca wince, sort of as if she’d been smacked in the face. She put her earbud back in her ear at that point. Seth couldn’t work this one out, since he figured it would have been smarter to do the reverse. Without it, she couldn’t hear his aunt that well. With it, she could hear her perfectly. And whatBrenda was saying was pretty mean, as if Becca was an idiot or something.
    Rich said, “Bren, this isn’t the time. . . .” And to Steph Vanderslip, “Seth works in construction. He’s a fine carpenter, so any work that needs to be done isn’t a problem.”
    â€œDon’t tell me this isn’t the time!” Brenda’s voice went up. “Mike’s coming over to evaluate the property.”
    â€œNo way!” Seth said hotly. “You two don’t have
any
right to—”
    â€œDon’t you speak to me like that!”
    â€œI’ll talk to you how I feel like talking. This is my grandfather!”
    â€œThis is my father!”
    Through this, Steph Vanderslip had been like someone watching a tennis match. She finally said, “You know, I think I’ll be on my way. Obviously, there are family issues that need to be resolved here. But . . .” She looked a little regretful. “One way or another arrangements are going to have to be made for Mr. Darrow.” Saying this, she took herself out of the house, which left the rest of them with Brenda.
    Seth saw Becca ease the earbud out of her ear again as Brenda said in a hiss to Rich Darrow, “You always think you’re so clever. You arranged to have this meeting without me because you knew I’d object. He needs full-time care and he’s
not
going to get it here.”
    â€œNot that you’re volunteering to take care of him,” Seth put in.
    She swung on him. “Don’t you dare—”
    â€œSeth, let me handle this,” Rich said. “Why don’t you and Becca wait outside?”
    Seth didn’t want this. He was too scared that his aunt would strong-arm his dad. Because Brenda had money, Brenda had power. Rich was a glass blower lucky enough to make ends meet. But Seth said, “Come on, Beck,” and he went outside to the porch. On the lawn, Gus looked up from the bone he was working on, and his tail wagged happily. Seth went over to him and patted the Lab’s head.
    He said with some determination to Becca, “He’s
not
going anywhere but home, Beck.”
    â€œI know it’s important,” she replied. “It’s what he’d want.”
    â€œWe got to get him here fast. If we don’t, my uncle’s going to come over with his polished shoes and his sports jacket and his razor cut hair and believe me he’s going to have a calculator in his pocket. You ask me, he’ll be looking at the house to sell it and then we’ll be done for, especially if Grand isn’t sitting on the front porch when he shows up.”

5
    T he work on Ralph Darrow’s house was going to take two weekends. Becca and Seth had first assumed one weekend would do it. But when they had all the supplies