Read Online SHAKESPEARE’ SECRET by Elise Broach - Free Book Online Page A

laughed. “Does she know we have about twenty copies of it?”
    Hero shrugged. “She wanted me to have my own.”
    â€œAre you really going to read it?”
    â€œI don’t know. Maybe.”
    â€œBet you won’t understand it.”
    Together they padded down the stairs into the warm yellow light of the kitchen. Their parents sat at the table, drinking coffee and trading sections of the newspaper.
    â€œThere they are,” Hero’s father said. “All right, ladies, what’s the plan for today?”
    â€œI’m going over to Kelly’s,” Beatrice replied.
    â€œI don’t have a plan,” said Hero, thinking about the diamond.
    â€œGood, sweetheart.” Hero’s mother squeezed herarm. “You can come with your father and me to the National Gallery. Are you sure you don’t want to come too, Beatrice?”
    Hero winced. “Mom, I don’t want to go to a museum. Not on the weekend.”
    â€œThere’s a Van Dyck exhibit,” her mother coaxed.
    Beatrice shook her head. “I’m going with Kelly and Sara to a movie.”
    â€œNow, Beatrice, Hero,” their father protested, “one of the advantages of living in this area is how close we are to the city. Think of all those wonderful cultural opportunities.”
    â€œI’ll go some other time,” Beatrice said. “I promised Kelly I’d come over.”
    With Beatrice standing firm, both of Hero’s parents turned to her. “We can visit the Library of Congress instead, Hero,” her father suggested. “If you’d prefer.”
    â€œNo, Dad, I’d rather just stay home.” Hero tried to think of some explanation that would sway them. “It’s a nice day,” she said. “I kind of want to be outside. I could do some yard work.”
    Her parents exchanged a look. “That’s a generous offer,” her mother said wryly. “What’s going on?”
    â€œNothing. Really. I just want to hang out here. Is that okay?”
    Her mother rubbed her forehead, surveying the kitchen. “I guess we could all stay. There’s certainly enough to keep us busy. I could finish unpacking those boxes, and we could weed the flower bed near the garage.”
    Hero envisioned the day slipping away from her, filled with errands and yard chores and her parents’ constant companionship. She made a final, desperate gamble, trying to sound casual.
    â€œOh, Mom, you do that kind of stuff every weekend. And then it’s Monday, and you complain that we didn’t have time for anything fun. You and Dad should go to the museum. Really.”
    She tried to look indifferent as her mother thought about it. Then her father intervened. “I’ve been wanting to see that Van Dyck exhibit. Let’s do it.” He winked at Hero. “The girls need some time to themselves, apparently.”
    â€œHero needs some time to herself,” Beatrice corrected. “I’m hanging out with Kelly and Sara.” She looked at Hero curiously, as though she too wanted an explanation.
    â€œAre we having pancakes?” Hero asked, reaching for a juice glass in the cupboard.
    â€œYes indeed. I was just about to get them started.” Her father scooted his chair back, and in the generalcommotion of breakfast, everyone seemed to forget about Hero’s strange request to spend the day alone.

    Nonetheless, it took them a very long time to leave. Beatrice lingered in the shower, tried on three different outfits, and then took forever to repaint her nails. Hero’s parents dug out various maps and spread them over the table, plotting their route into the city. Hero watched them restlessly, doodling on the newspaper. She took the pencil rubbing out of her T-shirt. Shielding it with her palm, she found a blank corner of newspaper and started copying the bird from the back of the pendant. She was just beginning to draw the tree branch in