The Gingerbread Boy by Lori Lapekes Read Free Book Online Page A

least once a day, every day, over the past year. It never got easier.
    Convinced she could deal with it one more time, she opened her eyes and walked stiffly down the hallway toward her husband’s room.
    As usual, she wondered whether or not it would be for the last time.
    ****
    The annoying peck of a sharp fingernail on Catherine’s shoulder slowly drew her back to consciousness.
    “Get up! It’s only seven-o’clock at night,” came Beth’s voice. “All you do is sleep or study all the time, miss perfect. Get up and do something!”
    Catherine groaned, turning over on the sofa. Beth’s platinum blond locks and sharp blue eyes came into focus.
    “I am doing something, I’m resting.” Catherine mumbled at the cross-armed figure standing over her. “I’ve had a l-o-n-g week, Beth.”
    “Even if I had to saw up horse parts, I wouldn’t be as morose as you,” Beth said. “You’re hopeless, Sealey.”
    “Thank you for your opinion,” Catherine murmured. She turned toward the back of the couch to bury her face. She wouldn’t let Beth Shaker get to her, she wouldn’t. To think, the pampered rich girl was studying psychology . What a joke.
    All too soon that pointed fingernail was pecking at her shoulder again.
    “You don’t know how to have fun, Sealey. I really think you hate men. That’s what everyone is saying.”
    Catherine rolled over. “What do you mean?”
    “Isn’t it obvious? You never go out. You’re studying in a man’s field, you never wear make-up…”
    “That’s not true.” Catherine glared. “And veterinary medicine is not a man’s field, not anymore. Most men interested in medicine want to be doctors because there’s more money in it. Only a third of our whole class are men!” She then sighed, trying to control her anger. “And so what if I don’t wear much make-up? Maybe I’d like people to see the real me, not a make-up smeared mug.”
    Beth eyed her coldly, her arms still crossed. “So prove it, Sealey. I challenge you. Go with Penny and me to Harper’s tonight . They’ve got a great band out there and you’ll get the chance to meet real men, not guys who play doctor with puppies and kittens.”
    “Yeah,” said Penny, strolling into the room. “Real men like that lead singer of the band playing there. Now he’s worth skipping homework assignments for.”
    Beth turned abruptly toward the bob-haired redhead. “Remember, I saw him first.”
    Catherine shook her head. “Forget it. Don’t waste your time. You’d have to knock me out and carry me over your shoulder to get me into a bar.”
    Oddly enough, Beth smiled. That sly, devious little grin of hers usually meant trouble.
    “Not even if a tall, handsome man came to the door earlier today, wanting you to meet him there tonight?” she asked.
    Catherine bolted upright. “What?”
    “You had a visitor here around three o’clock, while you were still in class. Quite an interesting fella, Sealey. Since you weren’t home, he asked me to convince you to meet him at the nightclub tonight.”
    Catherine’s mouth went dry. Could it be? Could it possibly be Daniel? Finally? “What was his name?” she asked in a flat voice, praying her roommates wouldn’t sense her excitement.
    “He didn’t say, and I didn’t ask. But he certainly didn’t look like a veterinary student,” Beth said, arching an eyebrow. “He was hot. I was amazed, actually.”
    Catherine remained quiet, forcing herself to breathe slowly. That way, the pounding of her heart might calm enough not to be heard throughout the house. It had to be Daniel . He’d walked her home, he knew where she lived. But why meet her in a bar?
    “Well?” Penny asked, grinning innocently over Beth’s shoulder.
    Catherine liked Penny. She seemed genuinely excited about Catherine’s mystery visitor. It was too bad the girl was such a follower. When Penny met Beth, she’d latched on to the platinum blonde like the proverbial air-headed sidekick.
    “Did Joanne