Read Online Double Trouble by Tia Mowry - Free Book Online

we’re talking about! We want a party.”
    I glanced at my sister, wondering if she was going to back me up. Judging by the look on her face, that would be a big fat no.
    â€œI do love that Italian place,” she said softly.
    â€œAre you kidding me?” I exclaimed, glaring at her. Then I turned back to Mom. “You can’t do this! I mean, it’s a miracle I actually managed to find some cool friends in this ridiculous little middle-of-nowhere town. And now you want to make me look like a loser by forcing me to cancel the party? Are you seriously trying to sabotage me like that?”
    Mom put her hands on her hips. “Cassandra,” she said in a dangerous tone I’d never heard before,way beyond scarymama. “I don’t appreciate—”
    â€œHey!” a loud voice interrupted. “Waters family!”
    I spun around. Of all people, greasy Gabe Campbell was walking toward us. Right behind him was a teenage guy I didn’t recognize, but with their matching smirks, I assumed they were related.
    Mom quickly rearranged her expression from acute fury to polite impatience. “Hello,” she greeted the boys as they reached us. “It’s Gabriel, yes?”
    â€œHi, Ms. Waters.” Gabe grinned at her. “This is my cousin Thad.”
    â€œYo,” Cousin Thad said, still sneering at us.
    â€œWhat a coincidence running into y’all here,” Gabe said. “It’s almost, you know, supernatural or something, right?”
    â€œI suppose.” Mom looked a little confused.
    Supernatural? Caitlyn and I exchanged a panicked look, both remembering Gabe lurking in the hall the other day. Did this mean he really had overheard us? Did he know our secret?
    Not that it mattered if he was about to spill it to Mom, since she obviously already knew.
    â€œWell, we’d better move along,” Gabe said. “Nice seeing y’all.”
    He and his cousin disappeared into the crowd. Mom turned her attention back to us.
    â€œNow, where were we?” she said. “About this party . . .”
    â€œNever mind that,” I blurted out. “Are we ever going to talk about how you stole our package?”
    Caitlyn’s eyes widened. Mom’s narrowed. “Cassandra!”
    â€œNo, I’m serious! It’s pretty obvious you don’t want us to know anything about our father’s side of the family. Why are you so determined to keep us in the dark about them?”
    Mom scowled. “That’s quite enough, Cassie!”
    I glanced at Caitlyn, expecting her to jump in and suggest we cool off, or change the subject to the weather, or whatever other crazy thing Miss Always-Sunny-Inside-My-Head might come up with to keep the peace.
    She didn’t notice me, though, because she was staring at Mom. “Are you ever going to tell us aboutour dad?” she asked, half-cautious and half-plaintive. “Why don’t you want us to know anything about him?”
    Mom opened her mouth, then shut it again. She blinked at us, looking as if she’d suddenly developed severe indigestion. “It’s not that—” she began. “I mean, the thing is . . .” She shook her head, her expression darkening. “Look, this isn’t the time or the place. End of discussion.”
    â€œNo way!” I yelled, so loudly that several shoppers turned to stare at us curiously. Lowering my voice, I met Mom’s steely gaze with my own. “It’s not right,” I said, trying not to let my voice shake. “He’s our father . We deserve to know. And that package came for us. Not you. It’s ours, and you should give it back.”
    â€œSorry,” Mom retorted, not sounding sorry at all, “but that’s impossible.”
    â€œNo, it’s not,” I exclaimed. “We’re not babies anymore—we’re almost twelve, and—”
    â€œNo, I mean it’s really not possible,”