Turned by Clare Revell Read Free Book Online Page B

cookies. “Oh yummy, homemade ones. They always taste heaps better. Did Daddy make them?”
    Again Vicky shook her head. Oh, this was hard, but she wasn’t going to give up.
    “Grandma?”
    This time she got a small nod.
    Yelling echoed from above them. A door slammed, opened and slammed again.
    “I think Jodie’s in trouble,” Amy said.
    Vicky nodded.
    Dane’s voice increased in volume. “Jodie, don’t you dare walk away from me! Get back here now!”
    “No!” Footsteps hurtled down the stairs, and the front door opened and slammed shut.
    Amy looked at Vicky. If anything, she’d shrunk even further. “What about you? You get into trouble?”
    She shrugged and made a wobbly hand gesture.
    Amy leaned forwards conspiratorially and put a hand to the side of her mouth. “I get in trouble sometimes. Everyone does. It doesn’t mean people don’t love us though.”
    Vicky dunked the cookie into the milk. Her eyes were fixed on the door, but her tilted head showed she was still listening.
    “I was wondering what we could do tomorrow after school. Do you like going to the park?”
    Vicky nodded slightly.
    Amy filled the kettle and put it on to boil. “Cool, because I love parks. We could feed the ducks. Maybe find the swing and slides. Would you like that?”
    There was a slight nod.
    “Brilliant, because I love going on the swings.”
    Vicky glanced at her and then waved her hands, making a tall and wide gesture.
    Amy read between the lines and winked. “No one’s ever too big to go on the swings. We’ll go tomorrow.”
    Dane came in as the kettle boiled, his face set and his eyes glittering. “You read my mind.” His voice was as taut as his shoulders.
    “Tea or coffee?”
    “Coffee, please, with just a little milk.” He leaned against the counter, folding his arms tightly against his chest. “So, you got this letter about your homework then, Vicky?”
    Amy made the coffee as Vicky pulled it from her bag and handed it to him. Amy added the milk and looked for sugar. She couldn’t find any. She glanced over at Dane who was frowning over the letter. “Is there any sugar?”
    He shook his head. “No, we don’t have any. Vicky, I can’t work this out. I’ll look at it again later.”
    Amy watched as Vicky’s face fell. She held out a hand. “May I?”
    Dane handed it to her. “Be my guest.”
    She read the letter through twice. It could have been phrased in a much easier way, but she got the gist of it. “So you need to make a boat. We’ll need something that floats then.” She looked at her. “Does your glass float?”
    Vicky pointed to the milk in it.
    Amy clicked her fingers. “Good point. Why didn’t I think of that? Try this one.” She handed her an empty one.
    Vicky put water in the sink and dropped the glass into it. She shook her head.
    “Then we try something else. How about we check the recycling box?”
    Vicky looked at her father.
    “Go on. It’s in the garden. I’m right here, not going anywhere.”
    Vicky slowly headed to the back door.
    Dane looked at Amy. “Go with her. So long as she knows where I am, she’ll be fine.”
    Amy followed Vicky into the large, well-cared for garden. Plants lined the borders, and a neat lawn filled the gaps between. She glanced at her employer through the kitchen window, wondering where he found the time to keep tabs on this as well as the house. He stood slumped against the counter, hands hung loosely by his side and his eyes downcast.
    Vicky tugged on her hand. She held up a box, milk carton, washing up liquid bottle, a tin, and some wood.
    She gave Vicky a thumbs up. “Let’s go and try them out. Then we can design a boat. Take them inside to Daddy.”
    She followed Vicky inside. There must be a way to reach her. She just wished she knew what it was.
     
    
     
    Dane trudged into the lounge and flopped onto the couch exhausted. At least Vicky was asleep now and Jodie was in bed. Well, upstairs in her room, would be more accurate. The