Read Online One Hundred Candles [2] by Mara Purnhagen - Free Book Online

and that Avery was over. I wasn’t sure what to do, so I just stood there, hoping they would retreat to another room and lower their voices.
    “We agreed that we no longer needed this kind of assistance.” Dad spoke loud and fast, like he was trying to prevent Mom from interrupting. “And yet you keep going over there. We have a massive caseload and a full schedule, and you insist on wasting valuable time listening to some head cases with no degrees whatsoever fill your head with New Age nonsense!”
    Mom kept her voice calm. “So if they had graduate degrees, you’d listen to their ideas? Their opinions would hold some value to you, is that what you’re saying? I never thought you were that pompous, Patrick. I really didn’t.”
    “Again, you’re avoiding my original point!” Dad exploded.
    “Which was?”
    “Which was that we do not have time for psychic drivel. We have a reputation to uphold, Karen. I will not allow you to destroy over twenty years’ worth of respected scientific research—”
    Now Mom exploded. “You will not allow me? Is that what you said?” she screamed. “Since when do you allow me to do anything? I thought we were a team! Or does that only apply when I’m on board with what you want? Heaven forbid that I should have an opinion that diverges from yours—”
    I’d had enough. I crossed my room and slammed the door shut. My parents immediately got quiet. I turned to Avery. “I’m really sorry you had to hear that.”
    She waved a hand. “Don’t worry about it. I heard a lot worse when my parents were getting a divorce.” Her eyes widened. “I don’t mean—”
    “No, it’s all right.” I returned to my bed and sat down next to her. “They’re not usually like that. It’s stress, I think. It’ll blow over.”
    I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince Avery or myself. I felt like I was waiting for some defining moment when my parents would finally realize how stupid and pointless all their arguing had become. Then they would make up and everything would be back to the way it was, maybe even better. They just needed a little more time.
    Avery held up the remaining two shirts and looked at them for a full minute before making a decision. “This one,” she said, holding a silky midnight-blue top next to my sling. “Perfect color. Plus, it has a square neck, which looks great on anyone.”
    “Thanks, Avery.” I knew I sounded less than thrilled, but I also knew she understood my shift in mood.
    After Avery left, I tried calling Annalise. She had already returned to Charleston. I knew that if she hadn’t been dating Mills, she would have stayed home for a few more days. She might have even overheard our parents’ most recent outburst. Then she would have finally understood how serious things were at home.
    Annalise’s phone rang once and went straight to voice mail. “It’s me,” I said. “Call me soon, okay?”
    I wanted to talk to my big sister. I wanted her to reassure me that everything would be fine. I wanted her to give me advice about Harris and my senior year and college choices. We’d been so busy helping our parents with their investigation in Ohio that we hadn’t really talked during the holidays. I felt like I’d wasted a chance.
    There was a tap at my door. “Charlotte?”
    “Come in.”
    Dad smiled nervously as he entered my room and looked around. “Hey, it’s almost clean.”
    “Give me another day and I’ll have it back to its normal messy state.”
    He pulled out my desk chair and turned it so he was facing me. I sat cross-legged on my bed and tried to keep my face blank. The last time Dad had visited my room was when he’d needed to set up equipment to monitor for potential paranormal activity. He followed a general rule of never coming into our rooms unless absolutely necessary. Annalise and I had always joked that he was worried he would glimpse our bras or something distinctly feminine.
    Dad cleared his throat. “So, um, I guess