Through the Shadows by Gloria Teague Read Free Book Online

small drawer of her jewelry box. She took out the rest of the items there and a few gave her sentimental twinges at the memories they stirred. She slid the box containing the ring to the back of the drawer and put the rest of the jewelry over it. The dress she placed in a garment bag and hung at the end of the rod in her closet.
    This is silly. Good grief! I act like I’m hiding those things! Who am I hiding them from? Myself? I don’t even know why I bought them! And the money I just threw away! Omigod, I must be losing my mind!
    The shrill summon of the telephone startled her, jolting Tori out her self-recrimination.
    “Hello?”
    “Good afternoon, sweetheart.”
    “Mom! How are you?”
    “I’m fine, dear. I called earlier but there was no answer.”
    “Well, Mom, that’s probably because no one was home.”
    Sharon laughed good-naturedly.
    “Don’t be such a smart-mouth, Victoria Lynn!”
    “Uh oh. Whenever I hear first and middle name, I know I’m skating on thin ice.”
    “That’s right.”
    “Okay, Mommy dearest, I’m sorry. You must have called while I was out shopping.”
    “Shopping? You, Tori? You actually went out, all by yourself, with no pressure and shopped? Are you ill?”
    Tori exhaled the sigh that all daughters reserve for when their mothers are insufferably correct.
    “Yeah. I do that, sometimes.”
    “Since when, Tori? Lydia and I beg you to go with us every time we go shopping. The few times you have conceded to join us, it was obvious you were bored to tears and only wanted to go home. Anyway, never mind all that. What did you buy?”
    “Oh, nothing. I was just looking.”
    “Looking? For what?”
    Tori hesitated, uncharacteristically annoyed with her mother’s prying.
    “Books. I was looking at books—for research.”
    “Oh, for heaven’s sake, Tori. Don’t you have enough books? Why don’t you buy a pretty dress? Oh, I forgot. You don’t like dresses, do you? I wish you did, because you look so pretty, so feminine , whenever you’re forced to wear one.”
    “Yeah, right,” Tori sighed. “I’m sorry if I just feel more comfortable in jeans and a big, ol’ sloppy t-shirt. Do I disappoint you, Mom?”
    “No, of course not, darling. I would be proud of you if you wore a burlap sack with a rope for a belt. My baby is lovely, no matter what she wears. If intelligence and love could be worn outside, you would be even more beautiful, the loveliest woman this world has ever seen.”
    “Aw, shucks, Ma’am! You’re embarrassing me. You might be happy to know that I did something totally frivolous; I did actually buy a ring. Surprise!”
    “You’re right, Tori, that does make me happy. Tell me what it looks like.”
    She didn’t know why, but Tori didn’t mention the dress.
    “Aw, the ring’s nothing special, just a gold-plated band with some kind of cheap green glass around it. I’ll show you sometime. What’re you and your partner in crime up to today?” Sharon would make such a fuss if she knew not only how beautiful, antique and expensive the ring was, but she’d probably tell Lydia. Tori wasn’t in the mood for a lecture.
    “Well, that’s one reason I’m calling. Lydia thought we girls might enjoy having dinner together, then catch a movie after. It sounds like a good idea to me. What d’you think? Want to go? Come on, honey. Spend some time with your two biggest fans.”
    Tori surprised her mother by saying yes. She felt guilty when she heard the gratitude in Sharon’s voice. She was going to have to spend more time with her mother and stop locking herself in the computer room for weeks at a time. Living alone, being your own boss, made it easy to forget about family that missed and loved you.
    They discussed meeting Lydia at the restaurant at seven o’clock. Then they talked about what movies were available.
    “Wear something warm tonight, Tori. It’s supposed to be quite chilly.”
    “Yes, Mommy.”
    “There goes that mouth, again! See you at