Read Online Double by Jenny Valentine - Free Book Online

after myself,” I said.
    “Erm, no offense”—Edie turned the pancakes over, tucked a long ribbon of hair behind her ear—“but you look like crap.”
    “Thanks,” I said. She winked at me.
    She said, “You’ll get used to him, Mum.”
    “I don’t want to get used to him,” Helen said, “I want to be amazed and grateful every minute that he came back.” She smiled at me, stubbed her cigarette out on the others. “If I get used to you again, somebody slap me.”
    I looked at the remains of my breakfast. Please get used to me. Please all of you get used to me, and the real Cassiel never come home, and just let me be here. Just let me have this.
    Edie sat down and smiled at me and made a little tower of pancakes on her plate, smothered in syrup. She speared them with her fork, looked out the window, the gray and green of the garden reflected in the blue and black and white of her eyes.
    Helen said she was going upstairs to make up Frank’s bed.
    “When’s he coming?” I said.
    “Soon,” she said, drifting to the edge of the room, moving through the door and into the hallway and out of sight. “Later.”
    I looked at Edie. “She’s all over the place,” I said.
    “She always has been.”
    “Really?”
    “You’ve just forgotten. She’s been worse.”
    “Was it me? Did I make her worse?”
    “Don’t flatter yourself. She was as bad when you were here as when you weren’t.”
    “Can’t we help her?”
    “I have been trying,” she said, frowning at me. “It’s just been me.”
    “What about Frank?”
    “He throws money at the problem. Mum doesn’t need money.”
    “What does she need?”
    “If I knew that . . .” Edie said.
    “I’ll help,” I said.
    “Why do I believe you?” she said. “What’s wrong with me?”
    “I mean it,” I said. “That’s why.”
    Edie smiled at me. “Would you take it the wrong way if I said you should go away more often?”
    “Yes. Why?”
    “Because you’re so much nicer now.”
    I tried to keep the smile off my face. I blushed, for God’s sake. I felt it happen. That was a compliment. That was a compliment meant for me. Edie thought I was nicer than Cassiel. Edie liked me. I allowed myself to start hoping I was safe here. I started thinking it was all going to be fine.
    My smile broke open. I couldn’t stop it. “Thanks,” I said.
    “You’re welcome, freak.”
    Some people have no idea how lucky they are. That’s what I thought when I looked at Edie. Cassiel Roadnight didn’t know. He should never have left home, the ungrateful idiot.
    She finished her breakfast, picked the plate up and licked it clean.
    “Don’t tell,” she said.
    “I won’t if you don’t.”
    “Deal. Let’s go and find you some clothes.”

E L E V E N
    F rank’s room was small and gloomy and cluttered. Helen had made the bed, the sheets pulled taut and smooth, the pillows plumped and pinched and standing at attention. There were three screen prints of a woman’s face on the wall.
    “Do you like them?” Edie said.
    They were simple, the face made in six or seven clean and definite lines. Each print was the same, the same sad and faraway expression. Only the colors were different. They were beautiful.
    “Yes,” I said. “I do.”
    “I did them,” Edie said, turning her back on them, walking away.
    “God,” I said, looking at them again, getting drawn in. “You’re good.”
    “What do you need?” Edie said, changing the subject, opening a chest of drawers.
    “Everything. I’ve got a sweatshirt I think. My jeans aren’t worth wearing.”
    “You’re going to have to dress up as Frank,” she said. “It’s not going to be pretty.”
    “I don’t care what I look like,” I said.
    “Well, that’s another change for the better.” She handed me a pile of clothes.
    “Can I have a shower?” I said.
    “What are you asking me for?” she said. “This is your house. You can do what you like.”
    No it isn’t. No I can’t.
    It brought me