Read Online Losing Penny by Kristy Tate - Free Book Online

his children.”
    “Melinda and Trevor hired you?”
    Drake’s eyebrows lifted. “You know
Melinda?”
    Penny swallowed and nodded. “I used to spend
my summers here with my aunt.”
    “Were you friends with Melinda?” he asked,
and his voice said her answer mattered, but Penny didn’t know why
it would.
    She shrugged. “Not really. We were…” on
different planets. She cleared her throat.
    “But you two know each other?” he
pressed.
    “I know her, but I’m pretty sure she never
noticed me.”
    “Good.” Drake’s shoulders relaxed. “I have an
idea, but you might not like it.”
    Penny frowned at him as he handed her the
plate of French toast. She shook her head.
    “Are you sure?” he asked, looking down at the
food. “I followed the recipe exactly—it’s fabulous.”
    “Oh, it is fabulous. But remember, fabulous
is just another F-word.”
    “I made it for you.” He sounded hurt.
    “You’re trying to fatten me up.”
    “Don’t be silly. I like the new Penny, not
that I didn’t like the old—”
    “The heavy Penny.”
    “I didn’t say that.” Drake swallowed and then
balanced the plate in his lap. “I guess I’m trying to butter you
up.”
    “Why?”
    Drake picked up the fork and cut into the
French toast. Satisfaction flashed across his face. “I have an
idea.”
    “You mentioned that. You also said that I
wouldn’t like it.”
    “But you might. You might like it a lot.”
    There was a light tapping at the screen door.
“Hello? Anyone home?”
    Melinda.
    Penny sat frozen, struck with horror as
Melinda breezed into the room. Drake hurriedly set down the plate
and fork and stood as if to protect Penny. Melinda had been her
neighbor every summer for nearly twenty years, but she had never
spoken to Penny. Melinda’s beauty and sparkling confidence had
always dumbstruck Penny. Next to Melinda, Penny had felt about as
witty and charming as a flatulent elephant.
    She hadn’t seen Melinda in years, but surely
Melinda would recognize her. Melinda’s gaze fastened on Penny’s
face with disbelief, and something like horror, before her eyes
flashed to Drake. “Oh! What happened to your face?”
    Drake touched his fat lip and smiled faintly.
“Domestic violence, I’m afraid.”
    “Do-mes-tic—” Melinda slowly drew out the
three syllables.
    Drake nodded slowly and glanced at Penny.
    She frowned at him, trying to read him,
trying to predict what he would say next.
    “This is my wife—”
    “Your wife?” Melinda asked at the same time
Penny asked, “Your what?”
    “My wife, Magdalena.”
    Hurt and confusion filled Melinda’s eyes. “I
thought you had a thing with Blair.”
    “I did. First there was Blair—I was with
Blair for a very long time,” he said to Melinda, but also to Penny.
“And then, briefly, Magdalena.”
    Melinda crossed her arms. “So you’re not
together now.”
    “Oh no,” Penny said, standing.
    Drake laughed. “Well, obviously, we are.” He
turned to Penny. “We’re both here, right now.”
    “And she hit you?” Melinda talked as
if Penny wasn’t there.
    “She was provoked. She’s easily provoked. It
comes with her hair, you know.”
    Melinda tried to gather her composure then
crossed the room, her hand extended. “Well, it’s nice to meet
you….”
    “Magdalena,” Drake said.
    “Magdalena,” Melinda repeated.
    “Magdalena,” Penny whispered, taking
Melinda’s cool, dry hand in her own. She had no idea what was
happening or why Drake was lying to Melinda.
    Melinda dropped her hand and Penny sank back
onto the sofa. She pulled the quilt over her nightgown and tried
not to look at Melinda’s perfect hair and teeth and her meticulous
make-up.
    “Well. This. Is. A. Surprise,” Melinda
said.
    “Yes, it is,” Penny said.
    Drake raised his eyebrows. “I had no idea
Magdalena was in town. She surprised me too.”
    Melinda tried to laugh, but it sounded like
breaking glass.
    The door thump-thumped.
    “More house guests?” Melinda