Read Online April Fools by Richie Tankersley Cusick - Free Book Online

her, Cobbs. Just put the stuff in my
    car."
    "If you're sure it's convenient, sir." 70
    "Fm positive. Take the afternoon off or something."
    Cobbs hesitated. "Actually ... I would like to stop by the hospital and inquire after Mr. Thorne -- "
    "Go ahead. Stay as long as you want. I'll get her where she needs to go on time."
    Mrs. Thome brightened. "Oh, darling, how very sweet of you -- it'll give us a chance to talk and catch up. I miss you when I don't see you, you know that." She blew him an absentminded little kiss as Cobbs reached to open the other door.
    Noel's smile seemed oddly forced. "Sure you do, Mom," he said, more to himself than to her. He turned to Belinda with an apologetic shrug. "Sorry about all this chaos. I'm Noel Ashby. And you're --"
    "She's Belinda Swanson," Mrs. Thome said. "Do hurry, and let's get going --"
    "Nice to meet you, Belinda." This time the smile was genuine, the grip strong yet gentle as he shook her hand. "I guess I missed something -- was there a reason you were running out of the house?"
    BeUnda fumbled for an answer, conscious of Mrs. Thome's disapproving look. "I... I had something to do -- I forgot -- I had to get home."
    "Oh, then, I've probably made you late. Pm sorry."
    "No, that's all right, you didn't." She smiled at his concern.
    ^Where's your car? Did you drive over?"
    "Noel --" his mother said impatiently.
    "No, I took the bus," Belinda said.
    "I'll take her home, sir." Cobbs started back toward the other car.
    "No, m take her. It's the least I can do."
    "Honestly, Noel!" Mrs. Thome fumed. "Who is going to take me --"
    "Just hang on. Mom. Go inside and make yourself comfortable -- I'll be right back."
    "But the plane --"
    "I'm sure we have plenty of time, don't we, Cobbs?"
    "Oodles."
    "Oh, no, you don't have to do that," Belinda protested. "It's not far, really . . . I'll just --"
    "I don't trust buses," Noel said firmly, digging in his jeans pockets for his keys. "They're not safe, and you can never count on the schedules. Come on. This place always gives me a craving for fresh air." He gave her a conspiratorial wink as his mother went back into the house.
    Belinda hesitated, then gave in to a laugh. "Okay, then. Thanks."
    "Oh, and this is Sasha. Sasha -- Belinda. Hope you like dogs."
    "I love dogs."
    "Then Sasha and I are your, friends for life, right. Sash?"
    Sasha gave a happy bark as they climbed into the car, and Noel brushed frantically at the dog hair on the front seat.
    "So I make allowances," he grinned. "She's my best girl."
    Belinda smiled back and settled herself comfortably beside him, but as she looked back at the house she saw something move at one of the upstairs windows. A curtain pulling back ... a silhouette watching them leave. She shivered and glanced over at Noel. Apparently he hadn't noticed it; he was too busy fooling with the tape deck.
    "I haven't been here in a while." Noel tried to peer around Sasha, who had managed to squeeze herself between the bucket seats. "I always go through the park first before anything else. It's one of my favorite places."
    "So . . . you've lived here a long time."
    He shook his head. "No, we lived in Washington before Mom married Fred. But I've been here for holidays and things. I really like the town, but I'm usually not here long enough to look it all over. How about you?"
    "I was bom here. My mom's a nurse at Charity Hospital."
    "I see. Now, maybe it's none of my business, but I'm still a little confused. How do you know Adam?"
    **Well," Belinda looked away, "we're not really friends."
    Noel's glance was surprised. "No? Oh, sorry, I just assumed --"
    "I'm just helping him study. Mrs. Thome hired me to be his tutor, since he can't go to school."
    "That should be fun," Noel said offhandedly, then glanced at her. "Oh. Sorry again."
    "So you don't like him, either?"
    "Hey ... I didn't say that. He's . . . different."
    "He won't let me see him. He keeps his room dark, and he won't let anyone close to him. I think Cobbs