Read Online Seven Point Eight by Marie A. Harbon - Free Book Online Page A

had always been there for him, and in his father’s absence he’d stayed with Ava’s family many a time. Therefore, Sam had high regards for Ava and the rest of the clan.
    “So,” Robert said, “what are you doing nowadays? Have you finished school yet?”
      “No, I’m in my final year,” Sam answered.
    “Oh, so that must mean you’re ready to take your exams. What are your specialist subjects?”
    “Music and art, they’re my passion. Do you remember when Aunt Caroline bought me the piano, and kept it at your house?”
    Jack interjected. “Where’s the money in music and art? I can’t say your father was too pleased.”
    Sam transposed from a placid manner to one decidedly cockier.
    “Well, Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ was number one on the album chart for thirty seven weeks and it generated seven top ten singles, making him $125 million. U2’s ‘Joshua Tree’ sold more than fourteen million copies worldwide and the tour grossed $40 million. I think that could be regarded as more substantial than mere pocket money. Would you like me to continue?"
    Jack appeared embarrassed at his snappy response. Everyone looked at their plates with sudden interest, and silence fell upon the room, only broken by the sound of knives cutting chicken. A few people cleared their throats. Caroline sensed the imminent explosion and used diplomacy.
    “Do you play any other instrument besides the piano?”
    Sam smiled and stated proudly, “The guitar, not like my father cares but I have my own path to follow. It’s as valid as anyone else’s.”
    Ava gave him a supportive look. “You must play for me sometime, I haven’t heard you perform for about five years now.”
    “Yeah, I’ve improved enormously since Yankee Doodle Dandy,” he joked.
    Once the meal concluded, Caroline helped shift all the dirty plates to the sink, and Jason began browsing their CD collection for the early evening entertainment. Emma wanted commercial pop, while Jason insisted on the Smiths and the Sisters of Mercy, plus a little Bauhaus when everyone had consumed too much wine.
    “This is my birthday, not my funeral,” Ava objected, “and we have conservative guests today.”
    Jason sighed in concession, and chart music won. Ava laughed inwardly though. Conservative her family may be, but they were like dynamite and earthquakes together sometimes.
    Kylie Minogue kicked off the evening with a song entitled ‘I Should Be So Lucky.’
    “One hit wonder,” Jack scoffed.
    At this point, the door bell rang again and Caroline answered it. A few minutes later, a bohemian looking woman a little older than Ava breezed in, with her boyfriend in tow. She had a henna rinse on her hair and wore a stripy long sleeved t -shirt. Handing Ava a bottle of wine, she gave her a hug.
    “Sorry sis, we couldn’t make the meal, we only got back from Goa last night. Happy birthday!”
    “Glad you finally made it, Nettie, just in time for the wine!”
    Jack butted in, clutching a bottle of Budweiser and looking more arrogant than usual.
      “If you don’t find a suitable job, you can always start as my assistant. You’ll soon work your way to the top.”
    Sam cut in, after eavesdropping. “I think my father is interested in recruiting you, Ava, when you’ve finished your degree of course. You know how he has a vested interest in science.”
    “It’s okay, I’ll find something, there’s an abundance of jobs in the scientific field.”
    She used Sam as a cue to exit Jack’s company, and the monotonous train of conversation concerning finance and accounts.
    “Shall we open this bottle and dispense the wine?”
    They moved into the kitchen, and Ava rummaged in the drawers for a corkscrew. Sam watched her uncork the wine, with the adulation of a teenager in love for the first time.
      “You become more beautiful every day,” he said.
    Ava stood looking at him with the bottle in her hand, unsure about his intentions. Prince began to sing ‘When Doves