Read Online Taking Terri Mueller by Norma Fox Mazer - Free Book Online

full of used tissues next to her.
    Terri indicated Leif’s thumb. “I didn’t know he did that.”
    â€œOh . . . just when he gets upset.” Nancy’s voice trailed away. She looked pretty upset herself.
    They stood around for a few minutes, making talk about the weather and Aunt Vivian’s plane trip. Then Nancy said in an exhausted voice, “You guys go. I’m not fit company.” Phil kissed her again, and they all trailed out.
    â€œShe seems very nice,” Vivian said when they were inthe truck, but the way she said it, Terri wasn’t sure if she meant it.
    â€œNancy’s usually much nicer,” she said. “She’s never quiet like today. She must really be sick. I never saw Nancy so blah.”
    â€œTerri’s right,” her father said. “It was an awful way for you to meet her, Viv.”
    â€œI’m sure . . .” She started asking questions about Nancy—how old she was, where her family lived, and how she supported herself and Leif. She didn’t say anything outright negative, but Phil sounded edgy as he answered, and Terri felt right in the middle. By the time they got home everyone was in a grouchy mood. Her father turned on the TV and her aunt stretched out on the couch saying she must be having jet lag.
    â€œTerri, would you get my cigarettes? I have a pack of Players in my purse. It’s on your bureau, dear.”
    â€œYou should stop smoking, Viv,” her father said.
    â€œWell, I’ve tried, dear, but when I get nervous I want a cigarette.”
    â€œI’m sure it’s not good for your ulcer, either.”
    â€œNow, Philly—”
    â€œI’ll get the cigarettes,” Terri said hastily. In her room she poked around in Aunt Vivian’s pocketbook—it was more like a huge carpetbag with wooden handles, full of a jumble of things. As she fumbled inside, Vivian’s wallet fell open and Terri saw a picture of her aunt, standing in front of a house with two cute grinning boys, neither much older than she was, both with their arms around Vivian.
    Terri stared. Who were they? Were they brothers? They looked alike and stood slouched on one hip in exactly the same easy manner. Did they work in the shoe store with her aunt? There was something careless about the way they stood with her between them, as if they’d known her for a long time.
    The plastic envelope fell over and there was another picture, this one of a man in a green shirt, holding up a fish. Stop, she told herself, you are snooping, but she kept staring at first one picture, then the other. Who were these people? Why did Vivian have their pictures in her wallet? She flipped the plastic envelopes rapidly. More pictures... no one she knew . . . naturally. But why did Aunt Vivian have these pictures in her wallet and not a single one of her or her father? Weren’t they all Aunt Vivian had in the world, just as she was all they had?
    â€œTerri?” Aunt Vivian called. “Did you find them?”
    â€œYes. Coming.” Disturbed, she took out the cigarettes and closed the wooden handles.
    Sunday morning when she woke up she saw that her aunt was also awake. She sat up, pushing the hair out of her face. “Good morning, Aunt Vivian.”
    â€œGood morning, darling. Did you sleep well on that cot?”
    â€œOh, fine,” Terri said.
    Aunt Vivian lit a cigarette. “It’s sweet of you to let me have your bed.”
    â€œNo, I’m glad to do it. It’s nice waking up with someone else right here to talk to.” She yawned and pushed herpillow up behind her head. Then, coming more awake, she said, “Aunt Vivian? Could I ask you something?”
    â€œOf course.” She pursed her lips and blew a smoke ring.
    For a moment Terri was distracted. “I didn’t know you could do that!” Vivian grinned and blew another ring, but this one was only half-formed.
    â€œWe all have our little