Read Online Pieces of the Heart by Karen White - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Karen White
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glanced around at the solemn faces. “Everything okay in here?” He gave a pointed glance at Caroline. “Anybody throwing things?”
She felt her grandmother put an arm around her shoulders. “Everything’s fine. I’m going to get Jewel another cup of tea; then you can take her home.” She threw a look over her shoulder at Caroline. “And think about helping us out with the quilt. You really have a gift, and I could sure use the help.”
Jewel stared back at Caroline through the pain swallowing her head and saw a lost girl who seemed to be drowning on solid ground and didn’t know how to come up for air. She closed her eyes again and let her grandmother lead her from the room.
CHAPTER 6
July 3, 1986
The Colliers have come back to their house for the summer. Jude has grown about four inches and is taller than Caroline now. I think that really pisses her off. I think she always thought of her height as something she could point out to people—especially her mom—as if to say that at least in one area of her life she was bigger than Jude.
We all went swimming in the lake yesterday. The water is still freezing, so after a quick jump I was back on the dock. Jude didn’t want me to be lonely so he tucked us up in a big towel and we sat together and watched Caroline swim. She’s so beautiful in the water. She wraps the water around her body like it’s a part of her, and nobody can move faster. She’s got a closetful of trophies to prove it.
Jude says that Caroline only feels beautiful when she’s in the water. Which is silly, really. Caroline could be really pretty if she made any effort. But maybe that’s what happens to a person whose trophies are hidden away in a closet.
Caroline rapped on the neighbors’ door, hoping that Jewel was home. She’d seen Drew drive away in his truck but hadn’t seen anybody in the passenger seat. Knowing this might be her only chance, she’d fled from her house and run next door.
It took a few minutes for anyone to answer, and Caroline was halfway down the back steps before Jewel opened the door, a surprised look on her face.
“Sorry I took so long. I was . . . reading.”
Caroline tried hard to hide her surprise at how much Jewel resembled her mother, Shelby. It would take a while of being around her to get over the shock. But right now it was a little like seeing a ghost. She smiled. “That’s all right. I’m sorry to disturb you.”
Jewel shrugged. “It’ll still be there when I get back to it.” She looked at Caroline expectantly.
Caroline glanced back over her shoulder, making sure she didn’t see her mother marching across the yard toward her. “Um, can I come in? I have a favor to ask.”
“My dad’s not here, but he should be back in a couple of hours.”
“Actually, I wanted to talk with you.”
Jewel moved back and Caroline entered the house, quickly closing the door behind her and effectively hiding her from her mother’s sight. She felt all of thirteen years old again, sneaking out to the lake in the middle of the night with Jude.
The young girl motioned for her to follow. “Want a Coke or something?”
“Yes. Thanks.” She tried not to be nosy as she followed Jewel’s bouncing ponytail into the kitchen, but Caroline couldn’t help but notice the incredible furniture that seemed to be crammed against every available wall. The pieces all reflected good lines and artistry, much like her trophy cabinet, and she wondered if they had all been made by the same man.
Caroline slid onto a black-painted bar stool, its four legs twisted like corkscrews. She resisted the urge to squat down next to the chair and examine it more closely and instead focused her attention on Jewel as the girl placed a Coke can in front of her and then, as if on second thought, pulled a glass from the cabinet and placed it on the counter.
Jewel sat down across from her on a matching stool and rested her chin in her hands. “So, what did you want to talk
She felt her grandmother put an arm around her shoulders. “Everything’s fine. I’m going to get Jewel another cup of tea; then you can take her home.” She threw a look over her shoulder at Caroline. “And think about helping us out with the quilt. You really have a gift, and I could sure use the help.”
Jewel stared back at Caroline through the pain swallowing her head and saw a lost girl who seemed to be drowning on solid ground and didn’t know how to come up for air. She closed her eyes again and let her grandmother lead her from the room.
CHAPTER 6
July 3, 1986
The Colliers have come back to their house for the summer. Jude has grown about four inches and is taller than Caroline now. I think that really pisses her off. I think she always thought of her height as something she could point out to people—especially her mom—as if to say that at least in one area of her life she was bigger than Jude.
We all went swimming in the lake yesterday. The water is still freezing, so after a quick jump I was back on the dock. Jude didn’t want me to be lonely so he tucked us up in a big towel and we sat together and watched Caroline swim. She’s so beautiful in the water. She wraps the water around her body like it’s a part of her, and nobody can move faster. She’s got a closetful of trophies to prove it.
Jude says that Caroline only feels beautiful when she’s in the water. Which is silly, really. Caroline could be really pretty if she made any effort. But maybe that’s what happens to a person whose trophies are hidden away in a closet.
Caroline rapped on the neighbors’ door, hoping that Jewel was home. She’d seen Drew drive away in his truck but hadn’t seen anybody in the passenger seat. Knowing this might be her only chance, she’d fled from her house and run next door.
It took a few minutes for anyone to answer, and Caroline was halfway down the back steps before Jewel opened the door, a surprised look on her face.
“Sorry I took so long. I was . . . reading.”
Caroline tried hard to hide her surprise at how much Jewel resembled her mother, Shelby. It would take a while of being around her to get over the shock. But right now it was a little like seeing a ghost. She smiled. “That’s all right. I’m sorry to disturb you.”
Jewel shrugged. “It’ll still be there when I get back to it.” She looked at Caroline expectantly.
Caroline glanced back over her shoulder, making sure she didn’t see her mother marching across the yard toward her. “Um, can I come in? I have a favor to ask.”
“My dad’s not here, but he should be back in a couple of hours.”
“Actually, I wanted to talk with you.”
Jewel moved back and Caroline entered the house, quickly closing the door behind her and effectively hiding her from her mother’s sight. She felt all of thirteen years old again, sneaking out to the lake in the middle of the night with Jude.
The young girl motioned for her to follow. “Want a Coke or something?”
“Yes. Thanks.” She tried not to be nosy as she followed Jewel’s bouncing ponytail into the kitchen, but Caroline couldn’t help but notice the incredible furniture that seemed to be crammed against every available wall. The pieces all reflected good lines and artistry, much like her trophy cabinet, and she wondered if they had all been made by the same man.
Caroline slid onto a black-painted bar stool, its four legs twisted like corkscrews. She resisted the urge to squat down next to the chair and examine it more closely and instead focused her attention on Jewel as the girl placed a Coke can in front of her and then, as if on second thought, pulled a glass from the cabinet and placed it on the counter.
Jewel sat down across from her on a matching stool and rested her chin in her hands. “So, what did you want to talk
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