Read Online Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2) by C.A. Kunz - Free Book Online Page B

minutes still,” she said out loud, pasting a smile on her face. Fredricka, her annoying little poodle, lunged forward making Maude stumble. Maude grabbed hold of the spare tire on the back of Cat’s Jeep to stop herself from falling.
    “Fredricka, bad girl! You almost made Mummy fall,” she chastised the small pooch who had grabbed Cat’s shoelace, and began pulling it with all her might.
    “So, who does this ugly orange contraption belong to?” Maude asked. Cat knew Maude had seen her driving it, but Maude just needed confirmation.
    “It’s mine. Isn’t it gorgeous? I love orange, such a warm color, don’t you think?” Cat replied mockingly. 
    “No, I think it’s positively dreadful. Definitely not a young lady’s vehicle, that’s for sure. I don’t know what your parents were thinking when they bought it for you. It’s not even your birthday. And also with you being on restriction and all.  That’s what’s wrong with the younger generation today, spoiled rotten you are,” Maude rambled on, not noticing that Cat’s attention was centered on the small poodle that was determined to eat her shoe. Cat gently nudged her away, which Fredricka didn’t like, and reacted by viciously growling at her and clamping down on the front of her sneaker.
    “Fredricka! Leave Catherine’s shoe alone,” Maude demanded, pulling at the leash, causing the little animal to let go of Cat’s shoe and growl at her. “Do we have to go home and have a talking-to? You don’t talk back to Mummy like that, wait until I tell Daddy.” To Cat’s surprise, Maude turned around and made her way back to her house, apparently forgetting Cat was even there. She knew that Daddy, Mr. Roberts, couldn’t care less about Fredricka’s bad behavior.
    Cat’s thoughts were interrupted by Taylor’s car entering the driveway. She smiled as she saw her brother’s girlfriend, Trish, sitting in the passenger seat. The beautiful brunette’s usually spunky demeanor was absent, as she stared back at Cat with an uneasy smile. Cat realized she hadn’t seen Trish since she found out she was adopted, and not wanting to make things awkward, she knew she had to put Trish at ease. 
    “Hey guys, where have you been?” Cat asked as the two exited the vehicle. 
    “Went to the movies. Hey, what are you all dressed up for?” Taylor asked.
    “I was visiting the aunt and uncles for an early dinner. You know with the whole curfew and all. We had a really good time.”
    “What did you guys talk about?” he asked, not sure if he really wanted to know.
    “This and that. I was just going in to talk with Mom and Dad, so you might as well join the party.” 
    “I guess I should be heading home right about now anyways. Don’t want to interrupt family stuff,” Trish said.
    “Let me take you home,” Taylor stated.
    “No, that’s alright. I just live right around the block, and I’ve got about ten minutes until curfew. No big deal. This is important, Taylor. You should go,” she replied and then kissed him on the cheek. As she began to walk away she said, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Taylor. See you later, Cat.”
    “Bye, Trish.” Cat waved to her, feeling bad about her walking home alone.
    “Well let’s get this over with,” Taylor replied, as dread settled in his stomach like a huge rock.
    As they walked into the house, they heard their parents’ voices coming from the study. With Cat leading them, she pushed open the door, revealing their mom and dad sitting on the overstuffed leather couch, Sam’s arm was around Rachel.
    “I need to talk to you,” Cat blurted out, causing worry to spring into Rachel’s eyes, and a frown to appear on Sam’s face.
    “Of course, honey, come in and take a seat. Oh Taylor, come in and have a seat too.” Taylor sat down next to Sam as Cat leaned up against her dad’s desk, willing her legs to stop shaking.
    “Today, I decided to fix things with my friends, it was way overdue…I also realized that