Read Online The Guest List by Fern Michaels - Free Book Online Page A

give him a few more years. Ten-year-olds are kinda … well, you know.”
    “I know,” Abby said as she rolled her eyes.
    “Bobby adores you, Abby. He’ll be as proud of you as I am. And Donovan is just going to bust wide open.”
    Abby hugged Carol, her eyes full of tears. “You have been so good to me, Aunt Carol. I couldn’t love you more if you were my real mother. Sometimes I think I should have called you mom. Why didn’t I?”
    Carol hugged Abby back. “Because that title is reserved for your real mother. No one else. I know how you feel about me. That’s all that is important.”
    “My mother, she—She didn’t even like me,” Abby said, remembering the hurtful things her mother had said to her— things Mallory had taken delight in repeating. “I know it was because of my face. She used to call me a freak.”
    “She was a shallow, selfish woman, Abby. And she didn’t deserve to have a daughter like you. But that’s all in the past now. Don’t go dredging it all up unless you’re sure it’s a place you want to visit emotionally.”
    “I suppose you’re right …”
    “I’m troubled about Mallory,” Carol said, changing the subject. She stood back and stared at the wall.
    Abby wished now she hadn’t mentioned Mallory’s letter, at least not until she’d decided what she wanted to do. For almost as long as she could remember, the mere mention of Mallory’s name had sent Carol into a tailspin. She wasn’t sure what Mallory had done that made Carol and Donovan send her away, but it must have been bad. Neither of them ever did anything without a good reason. “You know what? Now that I’ve thought about it, I think I’ll just send Mallory a card and a graduation gift. She’ll understand.”
    A look of relief washed over Carol’s face. “I want you to do whatever feels right to you. Mallory is your sister, your only living blood relative. Maybe she’s changed. For her sake, I hope so.”
    “Me too,” Abby said, nodding.
    The two stood in thoughtful silence for a few moments,before Carol said, “Let’s do something wonderful with our hair and makeup tonight.”
    “I say we pile it on top of our heads and use those new little butterfly clips that I got. Hair jewelry, it’s called. Then we’ll do our eyes—liner pencil, mascara, eye shadow—the works. And I’ll wear my pancake makeup. With that on, and at night, no one will even notice my birthmark.” Abby twirled around, giggling, “Look out Charleston, here we come!”
    “I’ll call Donovan and pick up Bobby. I have to stop at the grocery store for cold cuts. I should be back in about an hour or so. Take some time to reread Mallory’s letter and to bask in your good fortune.” She gave Abby a quick hug. “I’m so happy for you, honey. This is just a wild guess on my part, but I bet someday you are going to be a famous writer. Donovan and I will be able to say we knew her when.”
    Abby flushed, the port-wine stain turning a deep, purplish color.
    Carol fought off the tears at the sight of the ugly birthmark.
    “You’re right as usual,” Abby replied, her mind already someplace else. “That’s exactly what I want to do. When you see me next, I’ll be one-half of the ravishing Mitchell team.”
    Abby headed for her bedroom and closed the door behind her. The sudden silence was so startling, she looked around to see why. Normally Bobby was in the next room, whooping and hollering or had his television blaring. The silence unnerved her. Or was it Mallory’s letter? Why did it have to come today of all days? Why not tomorrow or the day after? “You always had a knack for spoiling everything for me, Mallory,” Abby muttered as she sat down at her desk.
    If only Mallory hadn’t been so mean-spirited and difficult, Abby thought. She would have liked growing up with her, would have loved sharing this room with her. They could have had pillow fights, fought over the shower and the blow-dryer, worn each other’s clothes,