Read Online Operation: Normal by Linda V. Palmer - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Linda V. Palmer
Tags: Paranormal, Young Adult
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which didn't do a thing for Heath's bad
mood.
"What's so freakin' funny?"
"I'm sorry," I answered, choking back my mirth. Heath did have a point...sort of. But he
was forgetting something important. "Kayly has his eyes, remember?"
Heath shrugged.
"Besides, he's been nothing but nice to us."
"Yeah...so far."
"I get what you're saying," I told Heath to placate him. "But I honestly believe you're
wrong about Zach. He's okay. Really. I have a gut feeling about it."
"Whatever," said Heath, unconsciously echoing Minka's earlier exasperation with me.
Clearly those two belonged together, no matter what she said. "Want to get something to
eat?"
"Sure, if we're back by eight," I answered. In spite of Zach's heartfelt concern and my
desire to please him, I did not intend to become a prisoner in my own apartment. Oh, I might not
stay out as late as usual. I could give him that. But downtown Austin offered too many
enticements for us to hide up here for long.
While Minka stuffed Kayly's bag with extra diapers and a full sippy cup, I struggled to
open her collapsible stroller in the laundry room.
"Let's go, girls. Step on it." Heath stood by the door, being his usual impatient self.
"You could help," I replied, tired of his attitude. He hadn't been this grumpy since
Minka and I went shopping instead of watching his soccer game one Saturday a few months
back. I might as well have been his girlfriend for all the time I'd spent in various bleachers
watching him.
That sudden realization stopped me cold. Was my friendship to Heath being
misconstrued as something else? Was I, in this way, leading him on?
----
Chapter Eight
The List
That thought sobered me. The last thing I wanted to do was encourage that kind of
affection. I could never think of Heath as anything but a friend. He just didn't do it for me. So
when he walked into the laundry room and opened up the stroller, I actually edged away from
him to avoid any accidental physical contact.
"Thanks," I murmured, quickly pushing the stroller into the living area so Minka could
put Kayly into it. We left the apartment shortly after and took the elevator to the first floor,
where we left the building. The clock on the bank said seven by then.
Pushing Kayly in front of us, we walked to a cool coffee shop that had patio tables,
about four blocks away. When our food got to the table, I dug some Gerber pears out of my
sister's bag and fed her with a spoon. I intended to give her a real meal once we got back
home.
After eating, we took our time returning to the apartment. Heath and Minka didn't come
upstairs with me, instead saying their goodbyes in the lobby. Kayly and I rode the elevator up to
five, then walked down the deserted hallway. Just as I pushed the stroller inside the apartment,
my cell phone rang. Guessing it was probably Mom, I quickly shut and bolted the front door.
Then I dug my phone out of my purse and answered it.
"You sound out of breath," said Mom.
"I am," I admitted, going on to explain about eating a sandwich downtown with my
friends and hurrying back so I could talk to her without distraction when she called.
"How's Sylvie working out?"
"Actually... I fired her today."
"What! Why?"
"Smoking around Kayly after I specifically asked her not to." I also told Mom about
how she'd been in my bedroom, trying on my clothes. I didn't mention that Sylvie had looked in
Mom's jewelry box and possibly taken something. I didn't want to overwhelm her with bad
news.
Mom sighed. "I guess you called the agency."
"Naturally."
"Are they sending someone else tomorrow?"
"Actually, I told them not to bother."
"Oh, Ally, I really--"
"Please let me say something before you start raising objections," I quickly interjected,
heading her off. "You do remember I'll be eighteen on Sunday, right?"
"I-- Yes, of course."
"And you know that's old enough to vote and to get married without parental
consent."
"Yes, but what's that got to do with Kayly?"
"Anyone with enough sense to
mood.
"What's so freakin' funny?"
"I'm sorry," I answered, choking back my mirth. Heath did have a point...sort of. But he
was forgetting something important. "Kayly has his eyes, remember?"
Heath shrugged.
"Besides, he's been nothing but nice to us."
"Yeah...so far."
"I get what you're saying," I told Heath to placate him. "But I honestly believe you're
wrong about Zach. He's okay. Really. I have a gut feeling about it."
"Whatever," said Heath, unconsciously echoing Minka's earlier exasperation with me.
Clearly those two belonged together, no matter what she said. "Want to get something to
eat?"
"Sure, if we're back by eight," I answered. In spite of Zach's heartfelt concern and my
desire to please him, I did not intend to become a prisoner in my own apartment. Oh, I might not
stay out as late as usual. I could give him that. But downtown Austin offered too many
enticements for us to hide up here for long.
While Minka stuffed Kayly's bag with extra diapers and a full sippy cup, I struggled to
open her collapsible stroller in the laundry room.
"Let's go, girls. Step on it." Heath stood by the door, being his usual impatient self.
"You could help," I replied, tired of his attitude. He hadn't been this grumpy since
Minka and I went shopping instead of watching his soccer game one Saturday a few months
back. I might as well have been his girlfriend for all the time I'd spent in various bleachers
watching him.
That sudden realization stopped me cold. Was my friendship to Heath being
misconstrued as something else? Was I, in this way, leading him on?
----
Chapter Eight
The List
That thought sobered me. The last thing I wanted to do was encourage that kind of
affection. I could never think of Heath as anything but a friend. He just didn't do it for me. So
when he walked into the laundry room and opened up the stroller, I actually edged away from
him to avoid any accidental physical contact.
"Thanks," I murmured, quickly pushing the stroller into the living area so Minka could
put Kayly into it. We left the apartment shortly after and took the elevator to the first floor,
where we left the building. The clock on the bank said seven by then.
Pushing Kayly in front of us, we walked to a cool coffee shop that had patio tables,
about four blocks away. When our food got to the table, I dug some Gerber pears out of my
sister's bag and fed her with a spoon. I intended to give her a real meal once we got back
home.
After eating, we took our time returning to the apartment. Heath and Minka didn't come
upstairs with me, instead saying their goodbyes in the lobby. Kayly and I rode the elevator up to
five, then walked down the deserted hallway. Just as I pushed the stroller inside the apartment,
my cell phone rang. Guessing it was probably Mom, I quickly shut and bolted the front door.
Then I dug my phone out of my purse and answered it.
"You sound out of breath," said Mom.
"I am," I admitted, going on to explain about eating a sandwich downtown with my
friends and hurrying back so I could talk to her without distraction when she called.
"How's Sylvie working out?"
"Actually... I fired her today."
"What! Why?"
"Smoking around Kayly after I specifically asked her not to." I also told Mom about
how she'd been in my bedroom, trying on my clothes. I didn't mention that Sylvie had looked in
Mom's jewelry box and possibly taken something. I didn't want to overwhelm her with bad
news.
Mom sighed. "I guess you called the agency."
"Naturally."
"Are they sending someone else tomorrow?"
"Actually, I told them not to bother."
"Oh, Ally, I really--"
"Please let me say something before you start raising objections," I quickly interjected,
heading her off. "You do remember I'll be eighteen on Sunday, right?"
"I-- Yes, of course."
"And you know that's old enough to vote and to get married without parental
consent."
"Yes, but what's that got to do with Kayly?"
"Anyone with enough sense to
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