Read Online Moon Shadow: The Totally True Love Adventure Series (Volume 1) by R.L. Fox - Free Book Online Page B

attitude, one I’m sure you’re familiar with, that fosters discipline and commitment.”
    Oh God. Talk about beating your daughter’s drum.
    I blush to the roots of my hair, my face going all pink and agitated, just like when I was introduced to Dan.
    Once everyone is quietly seated again, Frank breaks the silence with an echo of Dan’s words, “I’ll think about it.” He shakes his head disappointingly and says slowly, with an edgy tone of sarcasm that seems unbearably heavy and graceless, “Should I say, good enough? Why?”
    Then Frank shrugs, and he turns to me. “Well, Sarah, you’ll begin your junior year in the fall?” He knits his brows earnestly and shows his teeth.
    My voice cracks as I reply with timid cordiality. “Yes, Coronado High School, uh, Frank.”
    Frank chuckles. “Call me Mr. Rosen if it’s easier for you, honey.”
    Then my mother rescues me as she says to Julie, “The pearls you’re wearing suit you well, dear. They’re gorgeous. Such fine luster. Where ever did you find them?”
    Julie fingers her necklace. “Mike found them.”
    “I sure did,” Mike says valiantly. He busies himself with a long swig of his beer.
    “I’ve heard nothing but excellent reviews of Grossmont Hills Shopping Center,” my mother goes on. She’s resurrected the condescending smile I’ve seen her use when she doesn’t really like someone. My mother wears a silky white evening dress, strapless, with white heels. Her small, unadorned white hat cuts a crescent on her forehead. In my opinion, my mother pays too much attention to clothes. It wouldn’t be so bad if she kept her obsession to herself, but she’s always trying to spark a similar interest in me. We’ve had a few screaming, door-banging arguments about clothes.
    Julie answers, “We should have lunch, do a little shopping.”
    My mother quickly accepts Julie’s invitation. “My dear, how thoughtful of you. Yes, I’d love to.” Then my mother throws Julie a rueful look, her way of closing the subject, and she begins to tell her captive audience all about herself, Cate Hartford of the Los Angeles Hartfords, by marriage. She drones on about the Hartfords’ eastern railroad fortune, their well-bred humor and refined malice, etc., etc.
    While my mother is speaking, I take the opportunity to walk over to the jukebox and play (not loud enough) U2’s “One Love.” That’s about the coolest song I can find because most of the selections, like “Moon River,” are geared towards the elderly.
    When the song ends, Frank breaks off from his conversation with my mother. He looks at Dan. “Dan, I have a proposal for you.” Dan turns to face him. “I’ve spoken with Mr. Garcia—his rancho in the San Pasqual Valley has thrived since I helped him with a water rights problem two years ago. Your brother used to help Garcia get his avocados to market, two summers running.
    “I’ve arranged a deal for you, Dan. Good, honest hard work, with fantastic pay, and weekends off. What do you say? It’ll get you ready to tackle the books in the fall. And by the way, with everything that’s happened—Mike and Julie looking for their own place as well—I’ve decided to let the house go, you know, sell it. I have the penthouse downtown. I’ll set you up on campus, of course.” Frank stops to take a sip of his wine and then finishes with, “Best move I ever made was to come to Southern California.”
    As we all wait for Dan’s reply, he sits nearly motionless, only chewing his food. He seems irritated. When he finishes chewing he says, curtly, “Don’t pressure me, Dad.” Then he slides his chair away from the table and stands. He looks at Julie with a hint of confusion in his eyes, and he meets Frank’s stare with what I interpret as desperate anger, indignation.
    As Dan turns and walks away, I’m wondering, Where’s he going? Duh, to the restroom.
    Dinner is winding down, and there’s an interlude of quiet before the black-forest cake will be