Read Online Most Precious Blood by Susan Beth Pfeffer - Free Book Online Page B

them off in front of the Farrell house. He never drove off until he was sure Val was safely inside. This time was no exception.
    â€œThere’s a guy out there,” he said, pointing toward Kit’s front door. “Want me to check him out?”
    â€œIt’s all right,” Kit said. “Just my cousin. Thanks anyway, Bruno.”
    â€œI’ll wait around,” Bruno said. “Just to be on the safe side.”
    Val got out of the car. She felt past the point of needing protection. “Your cousin?” she asked Kit.
    â€œMy cousin,” Kit replied. “I invited him over this morning. I didn’t know you’d be coming over.”
    Val felt hurt, even though she knew it was irrational. Somehow she felt Kit should have known she would need her. “Why did you ask him?” she said. “I didn’t know you were that close to any of your cousins.”
    â€œHi, Malcolm!” Kit shouted at him. Val could see he was young, maybe a year or two older than they were. He had a preppy look to him. She remembered Kit referring to a cousin who was going to college nearby. The Farrells had had him over for dinner a couple of times.
    â€œHi, Kit!” he called back. That seemed to satisfy Bruno, who finally drove off. Val almost cried for him to come back and get her. She felt that Kit was cutting her off too, that the last part of her life that was secure and reliable was being lost to her.
    â€œYou’re early,” Kit said to her cousin as she reached the front door. She took out her keys and unlocked it.
    â€œMy class was cancelled,” Malcolm replied. “So I figured I’d come straight over. I’ve only been waiting a couple of minutes.”
    â€œThis is Val,” Kit said. “Val Castaladi. Val, this is my cousin, Malcolm Scott.”
    â€œIt’s nice to meet you,” Val said.
    â€œGood meeting you,” Malcolm said. He smiled, and Val could see he was good-looking. Light brown hair, blue eyes. He didn’t look anything like a Farrell, so he must come from Amanda’s side of the family.
    â€œI did a lot of work on the house last night, but I couldn’t fix everything,” Kit said. “The kitchen’s in okay shape, but, the more I looked, the more I saw Mother had done. And Pop didn’t get in until really late last night. So the living room still has some problems. But we can sit down in it and everything. It’s just I had to take down some of the paintings, so they’re on the floor.” She smiled apologetically.
    â€œIt looks fine to me,” Malcolm said. “I guess Jamey’ll use it as an excuse to buy some new paintings.”
    â€œI don’t know,” Kit said. “I don’t think so. I don’t think the insurance is going to cover the damage, since Mother did it, and the clinic she’s at is real expensive.”
    â€œOh,” Malcolm said. “Sorry.”
    â€œIt’s not the end of the world,” Kit replied. “Would either of you like something to drink?”
    â€œGinger ale, if you have it,” Malcolm said. He sat down on the sofa, beside a blank wall. Val remembered the painting that had hung there. It wasn’t the one she’d seen slashed the day before. Amanda must really have gone mad on Sunday.
    â€œMe too,” she said.
    â€œOkay,” Kit said. She walked to the kitchen, then came back almost instantly. “I forgot,” she said. “Pop got home so late yesterday we didn’t buy any groceries. There’s a can of frozen lemonade, if you want me to make that instead.”
    â€œSounds good,” Malcolm said.
    â€œI don’t know how Mother missed it,” Kit called from the kitchen. “She went through the freezer. She found an ice cream carton and threw it into the broom closet. That was a mess to clean up, let me tell you.”
    â€œI wish you’d called me,” Malcolm said. “I would