Read Online A Weekend of Misbehaving by Carmen Falcone - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Carmen Falcone
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lifted the bronze bottle.
“Not really, kinda strong for me.” Alice took another gulp, managed to swallow, and put the glass back on the counter. If nothing else, at least her alcohol tolerance would improve after this disastrous trip. Oh, she should have known this was a bad idea from the get-go.
Viola poured herself some whisky and winked. “You just snubbed a twenty-year-old scotch.”
Alice shrugged. “Sorry.”
“Don’t ever be sorry for speaking your mind. That’s one of the things I like about you, Alice. We haven’t known each other long, but I get this feeling you’re always genuine.”
Genuine? Alice touched her throat to will away the nausea floating up. The woman was being nice to her, and worse, maybe even liked her—and what was she doing? She was lying about an engagement that never took place. To a selfish man that no sane woman would ever commit to. “Genuine gets me in trouble.”
Viola took another step toward her. Clearing her throat, she studied Alice in such a way that Alice had no choice but to draw in a breath as deep as the Grand Canyon. Was Viola on to her? Oh no. She might hate Mr. B right now, but damn it, she still needed the money. Now more than ever. Which meant keeping the charade going.
“You didn’t know he wanted to move to New York, did you?”
Alice eyed the half-empty scotch and shook her head. “No.”
“I could tell. What do you want?”
Alice brought her hands together, her fingers fidgety. “It’s complicated to explain.” The understatement of the millennium. Jeez. If she explained her conundrum, she’d be toast. And no money—yup, somehow her fake engagement stint had to go on.
“Then don’t.” Viola flashed a reassuring smile.
“It hasn’t been about what I want for a while. And I’m not talking about Lorenzo. He’s wonderful to me.”
“Your sister?”
She nodded. Was it wrong to vent to Viola? Of course she knew it wasn’t just about her sister. Sure, Rachel was in the center of it all, but there was also Brenda. She couldn’t expect the six-year-old to raise herself. Mom was great, but she just wasn’t up for it. Such a cliché… The hard-working nurse who didn’t take good care of herself.
“I don’t want to pry into your personal life, my dear, but something I learned from my failed marriage is that you can’t rely on someone for everything.”
“I don’t. But I’ve had people rely on me for so long, I don’t know what I want anymore.” Was she lying to Viola or to herself? She had delayed, no, buried her dream of pursuing a career as a fashion designer because it was an indulgence she couldn’t afford.
“I hope you’ll sort things out. Buonasera .”
Alice licked her lips. She couldn’t tell Viola she had to drop college and decline a couple good work opportunities because of her family. She had promised Dad to look after them, and that’s what she’d been doing. He had attended and cheered her on at all her softball games as a child. He had taught her to ride a bike. He had even bought her the first professional-grade sketch pad and pens so she could practice to be a stylist one day.
How could she deny him anything?
Although caring for her sister on her bad days was draining and depressing, she knew her mother couldn’t handle it alone. And what fault did little Brenda have in all this? Wasn’t she worthy of a somewhat normal childhood, like she and Rachel had? Alice would ensure that. It was the only way Brenda would have a shot at a healthy, caring upbringing.
What do you want? The accented words from the Italian woman rang in her ears long after she’d gone to her room, showered, and slipped into a pair of pink pajamas. She sat on the bed, glanced at the empty side next to hers, and wondered where Lorenzo could be.
In three days, everything would change. They would go back to Austin, and she would have to start looking for a new job—and responsibilities would fall and crush her like a boulder.
“Not really, kinda strong for me.” Alice took another gulp, managed to swallow, and put the glass back on the counter. If nothing else, at least her alcohol tolerance would improve after this disastrous trip. Oh, she should have known this was a bad idea from the get-go.
Viola poured herself some whisky and winked. “You just snubbed a twenty-year-old scotch.”
Alice shrugged. “Sorry.”
“Don’t ever be sorry for speaking your mind. That’s one of the things I like about you, Alice. We haven’t known each other long, but I get this feeling you’re always genuine.”
Genuine? Alice touched her throat to will away the nausea floating up. The woman was being nice to her, and worse, maybe even liked her—and what was she doing? She was lying about an engagement that never took place. To a selfish man that no sane woman would ever commit to. “Genuine gets me in trouble.”
Viola took another step toward her. Clearing her throat, she studied Alice in such a way that Alice had no choice but to draw in a breath as deep as the Grand Canyon. Was Viola on to her? Oh no. She might hate Mr. B right now, but damn it, she still needed the money. Now more than ever. Which meant keeping the charade going.
“You didn’t know he wanted to move to New York, did you?”
Alice eyed the half-empty scotch and shook her head. “No.”
“I could tell. What do you want?”
Alice brought her hands together, her fingers fidgety. “It’s complicated to explain.” The understatement of the millennium. Jeez. If she explained her conundrum, she’d be toast. And no money—yup, somehow her fake engagement stint had to go on.
“Then don’t.” Viola flashed a reassuring smile.
“It hasn’t been about what I want for a while. And I’m not talking about Lorenzo. He’s wonderful to me.”
“Your sister?”
She nodded. Was it wrong to vent to Viola? Of course she knew it wasn’t just about her sister. Sure, Rachel was in the center of it all, but there was also Brenda. She couldn’t expect the six-year-old to raise herself. Mom was great, but she just wasn’t up for it. Such a cliché… The hard-working nurse who didn’t take good care of herself.
“I don’t want to pry into your personal life, my dear, but something I learned from my failed marriage is that you can’t rely on someone for everything.”
“I don’t. But I’ve had people rely on me for so long, I don’t know what I want anymore.” Was she lying to Viola or to herself? She had delayed, no, buried her dream of pursuing a career as a fashion designer because it was an indulgence she couldn’t afford.
“I hope you’ll sort things out. Buonasera .”
Alice licked her lips. She couldn’t tell Viola she had to drop college and decline a couple good work opportunities because of her family. She had promised Dad to look after them, and that’s what she’d been doing. He had attended and cheered her on at all her softball games as a child. He had taught her to ride a bike. He had even bought her the first professional-grade sketch pad and pens so she could practice to be a stylist one day.
How could she deny him anything?
Although caring for her sister on her bad days was draining and depressing, she knew her mother couldn’t handle it alone. And what fault did little Brenda have in all this? Wasn’t she worthy of a somewhat normal childhood, like she and Rachel had? Alice would ensure that. It was the only way Brenda would have a shot at a healthy, caring upbringing.
What do you want? The accented words from the Italian woman rang in her ears long after she’d gone to her room, showered, and slipped into a pair of pink pajamas. She sat on the bed, glanced at the empty side next to hers, and wondered where Lorenzo could be.
In three days, everything would change. They would go back to Austin, and she would have to start looking for a new job—and responsibilities would fall and crush her like a boulder.
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