Read Online Relative Happiness by Lesley Crewe - Free Book Online Page A

for lunch yesterday. She had three days off, but she wasn’t at Karen’s. She never called to cancel.” Her mother stopped peeling and looked out the window. “I don’t know. It isn’t like her, not to let me know.”
    â€œShe isn’t like anyone.”
    Since Gabby worked for an airline, she met most of her high flyers catering to businessmen in first class. She was gone most of the time. The family never knew her schedule. She flew all over the world and could have lived anywhere. She shared an apartment in Toronto with three co-workers because it was convenient for international flights. When she flew into Sydney, she stayed with her parents or Karen, a pal from high school.
    Because everyone said Gabby should have gone to Hollywood, Lexie and her sisters basked in second-hand glory. Lexie got a kick out of people when they’d do a double take as she walked by. The woman herself never noticed. But on Lexie’s crabbier days, it ticked her off that people held doors open for her sister but not for her.
    Their worst moment together was when they walked down the street one day after school. A gang of teenage boys spotted Gabby and started to drool. One of them shouted, “Look, its Beauty and the Beast.” Lexie’s cheeks went blood red. She was so humiliated. As they walked by, Gabby put her arm around her. She tilted her head and whispered, “I hate it when boys call me the Beast.”
    Lexie presented Adrian with a big piece of cake after supper. He looked up and smiled.
    â€œYou spoil me.”
    She sat down with a piece for herself. “That’s okay. I like to spoil people.” She took a bite. It was good.
    â€œYou do too much for everyone. Why don’t you save some kindness for yourself?”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œI mean, you never give yourself credit for anything. You give and never take. Most people are selfish, Lexie.”
    â€œI like to do things for people I…like.”
    He stabbed his cake with a fork. “I don’t deserve someone like you. I’ve always been selfish.”
    â€œAdrian, you’re so kind. Why do you say you’re selfish?”
    He put his fork down. “I think of myself first.”
    â€œThere’s nothing wrong with that.”
    â€œYou don’t.” His hand went through his hair. She loved that. She wanted to reach out and do it too.
    â€œSure I do. You said you wanted mashed potatoes last night. I was too lazy and threw on French fries.”
    â€œOh, Lexie, that’s not what I mean.”
    â€œWell, what then?”
    â€œYou took in a stranger you didn’t know. You treat me better than I deserve and yet you expect nothing in return.”
    She held up her finger and pointed at the ceiling. “As Mark Twain once said, ‘Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest.”
    He looked miserable. She lowered her arm and said gently, “You’re my friend, Adrian. How else should I treat you?”
    â€œI’m so glad you’re my friend, Lexie.” He reached across the table and grabbed her hand. “Always remember that. I love you for what you’ve done for me. You opened your heart and let me in. I never deserved it.”
    It was hard to focus on anything except the way his skin felt against hers. “Of course you did.”
    â€œI’ll never forget this. Never. You are the one memory I’ll cherish forever.”
    She cleared her throat and took her hand away. “Adrian, just have your cake. And eat it too.”
    A week went by. Lexie was preoccupied. Everyone said so at the library.
    â€œWhat’s wrong with that one?” she heard Marlene gripe. Marlene was a big mouth. She cracked gum all day and passed judgement on everyone she came across. Lexie couldn’t begin to imagine how she ever got her job. Her vocabulary was atrocious and her people skills were even worse.